Stipple engraving by James Denison-Pender on two sheets of optical crystal, each engraved on both
sides, mounted in a stainless steel frame. Sandblasting has been used on the front surface to
divide the four pictures.
1. I sit on the grass and gaze upon the sky and dream of the sudden splendour of thy coming - all the lights
ablaze, golden pennons flying over thy car, and they see thee come down from thy seat to raise me up from the dust,and
set me at thy side this ragged beggar girl a-tremble with shame and pride, like a creeper in a summer breeze.
Height 25cm, width 12cm, depth 2cm.
The four pictures are based on some of the poems in Rabindranath Tagore's collection Gitanjali, or Song Offerings.
These are in fact the lyrics of some of his songs, and are the poems he chose to translate from Bengali into English
himself.
But time glides on and still no sound of the wheels of thy chariot. Many a procession passes by with noise and shouts
and glamour of glory. Is it only thou who wouldst stand in the shadow silent and behind them all? And only I who would
wait and weep and wear out my heart in vain longing?
2. The morning sea of silence broke into ripples of bird songs; and the flowers were all merry by the roadside; and the
wealth of gold was scattered through the rift of the clouds while we busily went on our way and paid no heed.
We sang no glad songs nor played; we went not to the village for barter; we spoke not a word nor smiled; we lingered not
on the way. We quickened our pace more and more as the time sped by.
The sun rose to the mid sky and doves cooed in the shade. Withered leaves danced and whirled in the hot air of noon.
The shepherd boy drowsed and dreamed in the shadow of the banyan tree, and I laid myself down by the water and stretched
my tired limbs on the grass.
My companions laughed at me in scorn; they held their heads high and hurried on; they never
looked back nor rested; they vanished in the distant blue haze. They crossed many meadows and hills, and passed through
strange, far-away countries. All honour to you, heroic host of the interminable path! Mockery and reproach pricked me to
rise, but found no response in me. I gave myself up for lost in the depth of a glad humiliation - in the shadow of a dim
delight.
Thev repose of the sun-embroidered green gloom slowly spread over my heart. I forgot for what I had travelled,
and surrendered my mind without struggle to the maze of shadows and songs.
At last, when I woke from my slumber and opened my eyes, I saw thee standing by me, flooding my sleep with thy smile. How
I had feared that the path was long and wearisome, and the struggle to reach thee was hard!
3. I asked nothing of thee; I uttered not my name to thine ear. When thou took'st thy leave I stood silent. I was alone by
the well where the shadow of the tree fell aslant, and the women had gone home with their brown earthen pitchers full to the
brim. They called me and shouted, 'Come with us, the morning is wearing on to noon.' But I languidly lingered awhile lost
in the midst of my vague musings.
I heard not thy steps as thou camest. Thine eyes were sad when they fell on me; thy voice was tired as thou spokest low -
'Ah, I am a thirsty traveller.' I started up from my day-dreams and poured water from my jar on thy joined palms. The
leaves rustled overhead; the cuckoo sang from the unseen dark, and perfume of babla flowers came from the bend of the road.
4. Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing heart-sweetening light!
Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my light; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love;
the sky opens, the winds run wild, laughter passes over the earth.
The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lillies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.
The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion.
Mirth spreads frm leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure. The heaven's river has drowned its banks
and the flood of joy is abroard.