Leave This

Rabindranath Tagore

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Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads!
Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut?
Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee!

He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground
and where the pathmaker is breaking stones.
He is with them in sun and in shower,
and his garment is covered with dust.
Put off thy holy mantle and even like him come down on the dusty soil!

Deliverance?
Where is this deliverance to be found?
Our master himself has joyfully taken upon him the bonds of creation;
he is bound with us all for ever.

Come out of thy meditations and leave aside thy flowers and incense!
What harm is there if thy clothes become tattered and stained?
Meet him and stand by him in toil and in sweat of thy brow.

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Comments2
  • Godce42

    I remember reading this Rabindranath Tagore poem when i was younger. It's such a beautiful reminder to seek God in our everyday lives and actions, not just in religious rituals. So insprining and realistc!

    • roseanna7137

      Hmm, I admit I struggled a bit with this one. Didn't quite resonate with me, maybe I'm missing something? The tone and message didn't hit home as I hoped it would. 🤔 Can anyone clarify what "deliverance" the narrator is seeking? Even in its religious context, it felt a bit vague. 😅 Maybe it's just not my cup of tea! 🍵