রৌদ্রতাপ ঝাঁঝাঁ করে
জনহীন বেলা দুপহরে।
শূন্য চৌকির পানে চাহি,
সেথায় সান্ত্বনালেশ নাহি।
বুক ভরা তার
হতাশের ভাষা যেন করে হাহাকার।
শূন্যতার বাণী ওঠে করুণায় ভরা,
মর্ম তার নাহি যায় ধরা।
কুকুর মনিবহারা যেমন করুণ চোখে চায়
অবুঝ মনের ব্যথা করে হায় হায়;
কী হল যে, কেন হল, কিছু নাহি বোঝে--
দিনরাত ব্যর্থ চোখে চারি দিকে খোঁজে।
চৌকির ভাষা যেন আরো বেশি করুণ কাতর,
শূন্যতার মূক ব্যথা ব্যাপ্ত করে প্রিয়হীন ঘর।

ON THE DAY when the lotus bloomed, alas, my mind was straying, and I knew it not. My basket was empty and the flower remained unheeded.
Only now and again a sadness fell upon me, and I started up from my dream and felt a sweet trace of a strange fragrance in the south wind.
That vague sweetness made my heart ache with longing and it seemed to me that it was the eager breath of the summer seeking for its completion.
I knew not then that it was so near, that it was mine, and that this perfect sweetness had blossomed in the depth of my own heart.

I HAD GONE a-begging from door to door in the village path, when thy golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous dream and I wondered who was this King-of all kings!
My hopes rose high and methought my evil days were at an end, and I stood waiting for alms to be given unasked and for wealth scattered on all sides in the dust.
The chariot stopped where I stood. Thy glance fell on me and thou camest down with a smile. I felt that the luck of my life had come at last Then of a sudden thou didst hold out thy right hand and say 'What hast thou to give to me?'
Ah, what a kingly jest was it to open thy palm to a beggar to beg! I was confused and stood undecided, and then from my wallet I slowly took out the least little grain of corn and gave it to thee.
But how great my surprise when at the day's end I emptied my bag on the floor to find a least little grain of gold among the poor heap. I bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to give thee my all.