Deity of the ruined temple! [German translation]

Deity of the ruined temple!

The broken strings of Vina

sing no more your praise.

The bells in the evening proclaim

not your time of worship.

The air is still and silent about you.

In your desolate dwelling

comes the vagrant spring breeze.

It brings the tidings of flowers --

the flowers that for your worship are offered no more.

Your worshipper of old wanders

ever longing for favour

still refused.

In the eventide, when fires and shadows mingle

with the gloom of dust,

he wearily comes back to the ruined temple

with hunger in his heart.

Many a festival day comes to you in silence,

deity of the ruined temple.

Many a night of worship goes away

with lamp unlit.

Many new images are built by masters of cunning art

and carried to the holy stream of oblivion

when their time is come.

Only the deity of the ruined temple

remains unworshipped in deathless neglect.

• Artist:Rabindranath Tagore