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Stray Birds VII (61–70)

by Rabindranath Tagore
From Stray Birds (1916)

61. Take my wine in my own cup, friend. It loses its wreath of foam when poured into that of others.

62. The Perfect decks itself in beauty for the love of the Imperfect.

63. God says to man, "I heal you therefore I hurt, love you therefore punish."

64. Thank the flame for its light, but do not forget the lampholder standing in the shade with constancy of patience.

65. Tiny grass, your steps are small, but you possess the earth under your tread.

66. The infant flower opens its bud and cries, "Dear World, please do not fade."

67. God grows weary of great kingdoms, but never of little flowers.

68. Wrong cannot afford defeat but Right can.

69. "I give my whole water in joy," sings the waterfall, "though little of it is enough for the thirsty."

70. Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?

This poem is in the public domain. Source text: Project Gutenberg.

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