তোমার বীণার সাথে আমি
          সুর দিয়ে যে যাব
    তারে তারে খুঁজে বেড়াই
          সে সুর কোথায় পাব।
    যেমন সহজ ভোরের জাগা,
          স্রোতের আনাগোনা,
    যেমন সহজ পাতায় শিশির,
          মেঘের মুখে সোনা,
    যেমন সহজ জ্যোৎস্নাখানি
          নদীর বালু-পাড়ে,
                 গভীর রাতে বৃষ্টিধারা
          আষাঢ়-অন্ধকারে
    খুঁজে মরি তেমনি সহজ,
          তেমনি ভরপুর,
    তেমনিতরো অর্থ-ছোটা
          আপনি-ফোটা সুর--
    তেমনিতরো নিত্য নবীন,
          অফুরন্ত প্রাণ,
    বহুকালের পুরানো সেই
          সবার জানা গান।
    আমার যে এই নূতন-গড়া
          নূতন বাঁধা তার
    নূতন সুরে করতে সে যায়
          সৃষ্টি আপনার।
    মেশে না তাই চারি দিকের
          সহজ সমীরণে,
    মেলে না তাই আকাশ-ডোবা
          স্তব্ধ আলোর সনে।
    জীবন আমার কাঁদে যে তাই
          দণ্ডে পলে পলে,
    যত চেষ্টা করি কেবল
          চেষ্টা বেড়ে চলে।
    ঘটিয়ে তুলি কত কী যে
          বুঝি না এক তিল,
    তোমার সঙ্গে অনায়াসে
          হয় না সুরের মিল।

MOTHER, I do want to leave off my lessons now. I have been at my book all the morning.
You say it is only twelve o'clock. Suppose it isn't any later; can't you ever think it is afternoon when it is only twelve o'clock?
I am easily imagine now that the sun has reached the edge of that
rice-field, and the old fisher-woman is gathering herbs for her supper by the side of the pond.
I can just shut my eyes and think that the shadows are growing darker under the madar tree, and the water in the pond looks shiny black.
If twelve o'clock can come in the night, why can't the night come when it is twelve o'clock.

WHY DO YOU sit there on the floor so quiet and silent, tell me, mother dear?
The rain is coming in through the open window, making you all wet, and you don't mind it.
Do you hear the gong striking four? It is time for my brother to come home from school.
What has happened to you that you look so strange?
Haven't you got a letter from father today?
I saw the postman bringing letters in his bag for almost everybody in the town.
Only, father's letters he keeps to read himself. I am sure the postman is a wicked man.
But don't be unhappy about that, mother dear.
To-morrow is market day in the next village. You ask your maid to
buy some pens and papers.
I myself will write all father's letters; you will not find a single mistake.
I shall write from A right up to K.
But, mother, why do you smile?
You don't believe that I can write as nicely as father does!
But I shall rule my paper carefully, and write all the letters beautifully big.
When I finish my writing, do you think I shall be so foolish as father and drop it into the horrid postman's bag?
I shall bring it to you myself without waiting, and letter by letter help you to read my writing.
I know the postman does not like to give you the really nice letters.