Hello everyone,

This is my poetics night – yes but I have to tell you that your bartender today is turning thirty-four today and breathing a sigh that getting older isn’t fun or special in any way. I don’t get many gifts these days or even if I do it is not something to look forward to feel cheered about. So I was kind of hoping that talking to the wonderful poets around the world could be a gift in itself, to be able to hear and resonate with the finest of expressions, is probably the true gift, I can enjoy being a writer myself.

I wanted to share a very special poem by Tagore with all of you, this was a part of his publication ‘Song Offering’ (or ‘Geetanjali’ in Bengali) about a hundred years ago. I have read it in both original and translation and love it. Since my childhood, this poem has helped me find an answer to the rhetorical question – what is the true gift. Perhaps what we get in return is what we have the heart to offer. I hope you like this.

“I had gone a-begging from door to door in the village path, when thy golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous dream and I wondered who was this King of all kings!

My hopes rose high and me thought my evil days were at an end, and I stood waiting for alms to be given unasked and for wealth scattered on all sides in the dust.

The chariot stopped where I stood. Thy glance fell on me and thou camest down with a smile. I felt that the luck of my life had come at last. Then of a sudden thou didst hold out thy right hand and say `What hast thou to give to me?’

Ah, what a kingly jest was it to open thy palm to a beggar to beg! I was confused and stood undecided, and then from my wallet I slowly took out the least little grain of corn and gave it to thee.

But how great my surprise when at the day’s end I emptied my bag on the floor to find a least little grain of gold among the poor heap. I bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to give thee my all.

Tonight, I look forward to poetic presents from you – a gift that you would like to give with your poetry. Oh! It’s not my gift; it could be anything that you would like to give to the world.

Looking forward to what you bring on board. Thanks everyone.

If you are new to Dversepoets, here is what you have to do.

• Write a poem and post it to your site/blog.
• Enter a link to your poem and your name by clicking Mr Linky below.
• You will find links to other poets. Read and comment on other poet’s work.
• If you are promoting your work on social media, use the tag #dversepoets.
• Lastly, please visit others and read their work.

Thank you all. Have fun.