Poem by Rabindranath Tagore

COME JUST AS YOU ARE
Come just as you are, don’t waste time on your toilette,
If your braid is undone, or your hair not straight,
If you haven’t tied the ribbon around your waist, it doesn’t matter,
Come just as you are, don’t waste time on your toilette.
Come across the grass with hurried steps!
If the dew soaks your feet, if you’ve left your sandals behind,
If the pearls fall from your necklace, don’t worry.
Come across the grass with hurried steps!
Do you see the clouds gathering in the sky?
A line of storks flies high and the wind rushes through the bushes.
Frightened animals flee toward their shelters.
Do you see the clouds gathering in the sky?
You light the lamp in vain to adorn yourself; the wind flickers it out.
And who would even notice if soot hasn’t touched your eyelids?
Aren’t your eyes darker than the rain clouds?
You light the lamp in vain to adorn yourself; the wind flickers it out.
Come just as you are, don’t delay with your toilette.
If you haven’t woven your crown, it’s all right!
If you haven’t fastened your bracelet, just leave it that way!
It’s late; the sky has turned dark with clouds.
Come just as you are, don’t delay with your toilette.