After Geetanjali, it was time for another classic by Tagore – Stray Birds. Even in this classic, I’m amazed by his simple words coming out with profound truths. This is not a review of the composition, rather my admiration of it. Below are some of the ‘birds’ that I enjoyed:

• IF you shed tears when you miss the sun, you also miss the stars.
• THE bird wishes it were a cloud. The cloud wishes it were a bird.
• THE sparrow is sorry for the peacock at the burden of its tail.
• TAKE my wine in my own cup, friend. It loses its wreath of foam when poured into that of others.
• WRONG cannot afford defeat but Right can.
• WE read the world wrong and say that it deceives us.
• EVERY child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.
• HE who wants to do good knocks at the gate; he who loves finds the gate open.
• LIFE has become richer by the love that has been lost.
• THOSE who have everything but thee, my God, laugh at those who have nothing but thyself.
• THE little flower lies in the dust. It sought the path of the butterfly.
• LET the dead have the immortality of fame, but the living the immortality of love.
• I SHALL die again and again to know that life is inexhaustible.
• LET me live truly, my Lord, so that death to me become true.
• LET this be my last word, that I trust in thy love.