La détente

 

"Now when at night they take up their lanterns and go by different roads to their different homes, allow me to linger here for a moment, standing at your feet, and hold up my lamp and see your face."

 

25

 

Light that signal, Father, for us who have strayed far away from thee.

 

Our heart is bent under the load of despair and we insult thee when we grovel to dust at every favor or threat that mocks our manhood.

 

For thus is desacrated the dignity of thee in us thy children, for thus we put out our light and in our abject fear make it seem that our orphaned world is blind and godless.

Rabindranath Tagore