Pangs of Grace

Mother, I shall weave a chain of pearls for thy neck with my tears of sorrow.
The stars have wrought their anklets of light to deck thy feet, but mine will hang upon thy breast.
Wealth
and fame come from thee and it is for thee to give or to withhold them.
But this my sorrow is absolutely mine own, and when I bring it to thee
as my offering thou rewardest me with thy grace.
* * * * * * *
It is the pang of separation that spreads throughout the world and gives birth to shapes innumerable in the infinite sky.
It
is this sorrow of separation that gazes in silence all nights from star
to star and becomes lyric among rustling leaves in rainy darkness of
July.
It is this overspreading pain that deepens into loves and
desires, into sufferings and joy in human homes; and this it is that
ever melts and flows in songs through my poet's heart.
* * * * * * *

Rabindranath Tagore
Gitanjali