The Royal Guest

The day work is done and the night
is pitch dark, with doors in hamlet
all shut make us think the last
guest too had arrived for the night.

But some said the King was to come
making us laugh, believe it cannot be
though we felt some knocks on the door
and we said it was nothing but the wind.

We put out the lamps too and lay down to sleep
when some thought the messenger had come
making us laugh, saying, it must be the wind
though there was a sound in dead of the night.

We sleepily thought it must be a thunder
when the earth shook and walls rocked
and it indeed troubled us in our sleep
as some held it was the sound of wheels.

Lazily, in mind, we murmured, ‘clouds rumbling’
for the night was still dark as the drum sounded
with the voice, ‘Wake up! Delay not!’
Trembling we pressed our hands on our hearts.

But some said, ‘Behold the King’s flag’
as we stood on our feet wailing, ‘There is no time
to delay for the King has come, but where are the lights
and the wreaths and the throne to seat him?’

‘Where is the hall and where are the decorations?’
But someone said, ‘Pointless is this cry, greet Him
with empty hands leading Him to your empty rooms.
Open your doors and sound the conch-shells!

In the depth of the night as thunder roars
the King has come to our dark and dreary home!
Bring out your tattered piece of mat and spread
in the yard since our King has come suddenly. 

Adopted from Tagore’s Gitanjali, poem 51

Henry Victor          09.12.2012

Note: Compare this with the Parable of Jesus sometimes given the title "Parable of the Foolish Bridesmaids" found in Matthew 25:1-13.