Fruit-Gathering | Page 5

her forth into the road to beg.
She went from door to door, and many a time when her bowl was
nearly full she was robbed.
At the end of the weary day she came to your palace gate holding up
her pitiful bowl, and you came and took her hand and seated her beside
you on your throne.

XXXI
"Who among you will take up the duty of feeding the hungry?" Lord
Buddha asked his followers when famine raged at Shravasti.
Ratnâkar, the banker, hung his head and said, "Much more is needed
than all my wealth to feed the hungry."
Jaysen, the chief of the King's army, said, "I would gladly give my
life's blood, but there is not enough food in my house."
Dharmapâal, who owned broad acres of land, said with a sigh, "The
drought demon has sucked my fields dry. I know not how to pay King's
dues."
Then rose Supriyâ, the mendicant's daughter.
She bowed to all and meekly said, "I will feed the hungry."
"How!" they cried in surprise. "How can you hope to fulfil that vow?"
"I am the poorest of you all," said Supriyâ, "that is my strength. I have
my coffer and my store at each of your houses."

XXXII
My king was unknown to me, therefore when he claimed his tribute I
was bold to think I would hide myself leaving my debts unpaid.
I fled and fled behind my day's work and my night's dreams.
But his claims followed me at every breath I drew.
Thus I came to know that I am known to him and no place left which is
mine.
Now I wish to lay my all before his feet, and gain the right to my place
in his kingdom.

XXXIII
When I thought I would mould you, an image from my life for men to
worship, I brought my dust and desires and all my coloured delusions
and dreams.
When I asked you to mould with my life an image from your heart for
you to love, you brought your fire and force, and truth, loveliness and
peace.

XXXIV
"Sire," announced the servant to the King, "the saint Narottam has
never deigned to enter your royal temple.
"He is singing God's praise under the trees by the open road. The
temple is empty of worshippers.
"They flock round him like bees round the white lotus, leaving the
golden jar of honey unheeded."
The King, vexed at heart, went to the spot where Narottam sat on the
grass.
He asked him, "Father, why leave my temple of the golden dome and
sit on the dust outside to preach God's love?"
"Because God is not there in your temple," said Narottam.
The King frowned and said, "Do you know, twenty millions of gold
went to the making of that marvel of art, and it was consecrated to God
with costly rites?"
"Yes, I know it," answered Narottam. "It was in that year when
thousands of your people whose houses had been burned stood vainly
asking for help at your door.
"And God said, 'The poor creature who can give no shelter to his
brothers would build my house!'
"And he took his place with the shelterless under the trees by the road.
"And that golden bubble is empty of all but hot vapour of pride."
The King cried in anger, "Leave my land."
Calmly said the saint, "Yes, banish me where you have banished my
God."

XXXV
The trumpet lies in the dust.

The wind is weary, the light is dead.
Ah, the evil day!
Come, fighters, carrying your flags, and singers, with your war-songs!
Come, pilgrims of the march, hurrying on your journey!
The trumpet lies in the dust waiting for us.
I was on my way to the temple with my evening offerings, seeking for
a place of rest after the day's dusty toil: hoping my hurts would be
healed and the stains in my garment washed white, when I found thy
trumpet lying in the dust.
Was it not the hour for me to light my evening lamp?
Had not the night sung its lullaby to the stars?
O thou blood-red rose, my poppies of sleep have paled and faded!
I was certain my wanderings were over and my debts all paid when
suddenly I came upon thy trumpet lying in the dust.
Strike my drowsy heart with thy spell of youth!
Let my joy in life blaze up in fire. Let the shafts of awakening fly
through the heart of night, and a thrill of dread shake blindness and
palsy.
I have come to raise thy trumpet from the dust.
Sleep is no more for me--my walk shall be through showers of arrows.
Some shall run out of their houses