Gitanjali and Fruit-gathering (1918) (14596889579)

Identifier: gitanjalifruitga00tago (find matches)
Title: Gitanjali and Fruit-gathering
Year: 1918 (1910s)
Authors: Tagore, Rabindranath, 1861-1941 Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), 1865-1939 Tagore, Abanindranath, 1871-1951, illus Basu, Nandalala, 1883-1966
Subjects:
Publisher: New York, The Macmillan Company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation



Text Appearing Before Image:
helands to reach the silent courtyardwhere the lamp is burning and to findher who sits in the dust and waits. FRUIT-GATHERING 155 What is the quest that makes hisboat care not for storm nor dark-ness? Is it heavy with gems and pearls? Ah, no, the Boatman brings withhim no treasure, but only a white rosein his hand and a song on his lips. It is for her who watches alone atnight with her lamp burning. She dwells in the wayside hut. Her loose hair flies in the wind andhides her eyes. The storm shrieks through herbroken doors, the light flickers in herearthen lamp flinging shadows on thewalls. Through the howl of the winds shehears him call her name, she whosename is unknown. It is long since the Boatman sailed. It will be long before the day breaksand he knocks at the door. 156 FRUIT-GATHERING The drums will not be beaten andnone will know. Only light shall fill the house, blessedshall be the dust, and the heart glad. All doubts shall vanish in silencewhen the Boatman comes to the shore.
Text Appearing After Image:
Painted by Nandalal BoscI cling to this living raft, my body FRUIT-GATHERING 157 XLII I CLING to this living raft, my body, inthe narrow stream of my earthly years.I leave it when the crossing is over. And then.f^ I do not know if the light there andthe darkness are the same. The Unknown is the perpetual free-dom: He is pitiless in his love. He crushes the shell for the pearl,dumb in the prison of the dark. You muse and weep for the daysthat are done, poor heart! Be glad that days are to come! The hour strikes, O pilgrim! It is time for you to take the partingof the ways! His face will be unveiled once againand you shall meet. 158 FRUIT-GATHERING XLIII Over the relic of Lord Buddha KingBimbisar built a shrine, a salutationin white marble. There in the evening would comeall the brides and daughters of theKings house to offer flowers and lightlamps. When the son became king in histime he washed his fathers creedaway with blood, and lit sacrificialfires with its sacred books. The autumn