I AM ONLY WAITING FOR LOVE

I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands.

That is why it is so late and why I have been guilty of such omissions.

They come with their laws and their codes to bind me fast; but I evade them ever, for I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands.

People blame me and call me heedless; I doubt not they are right in their blame.

The market day is over and work is all done for the busy. Those who came to call me in vain have gone back in anger. I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands.

I AM HERE TO SING THEE SONGS

I am here to sing thee songs. In this hall of thine I have a corner seat.

In thy world I have no work to do; my useless life can only break out in tunes without a purpose.

When the hour strikes for thy silent worship at the dark temple of midnight, command me, my master, to stand before thee to sing.

When in the morning air the golden harp is tuned, honour me,commanding my presence.

I ASK FOR A MOMENT’s INDULGENCE TO SIT BY THY SIDE

 I ask for a moment's indulgence to sit by thy side. The works that I have in hand I will finish afterwards.

Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor

respite, and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil.

Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and

murmurs; and the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.

Now it is time to sit quite, face to face with thee, and to sing

dedication of live in this silent and overflowing leisure.

LEAVE THIS CHANTING AND SINGING AND TELLINGS OF BEADS

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 of 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 le
ave 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

IF THE DAY IS GONE

If the day is done, if birds sing no more, if the wind has flagged tired, then draw the veil of darkness thick upon me, even as thou hast wrapt the earth with the coverlet of sleep and tenderly closed the petals of the drooping lotus at dusk.

From the traveller, whose sack of provisions is empty before thevoyage is ended, whose garment is torn and dustladen, whose strength is exhausted, remove shame and poverty, and renew his life like a flower under the cover of thy kindly night.

I MUST LANCH OUT MY BOAT

I must launch out my boat. The languid hours pass by on the

shore—Alas for me!

The spring has done its flowering and taken leave. And now with the burden of faded futile flowers I wait and linger.

The waves have become clamorous, and upon the bank in the

shady lane the yellow leaves flutter and fall.

What emptiness do you gaze upon! Do you not feel a thrill

passing through the air with the notes of the far-away song floating

from the other shore?