The day was when I did not keep myself in readiness for thee [German translation]

The day was when I did not keep myself in readiness for thee;

and entering my heart unbidden

even as one of the common crowd,

unknown to me, my king,

thou didst press the signet of eternity

upon many a fleeting moment of my life.

And today when by chance

I light upon them and see thy signature,

I find they have lain scattered in the dust

mixed with the memory

of joys and sorrows of my trivial days forgotten.

Thou didst not turn in contempt

from my childish play among dust,

and the steps that I heard in my playroom

are the same that are echoing from star to star.

• Artist:Rabindranath Tagore