THE GIFT OF INDIA

IS THERE AUGHT YOU NEED THAT MY HANDS WITHHOLD ,
RICH GIFTS OF RAIMENT OR GRAIN OR GOLD?
LO.I HAVE FLUNG TO THE EAST AND WEST
PRICELESSTREASURES TORN FROM MY BREAST,
AND YIELDED THE SONS OF MY STRICKEN WOMB
TO THE DRUM-BEATS OF DUTY ,THE SABRES OF DOOM.

GATHERED LIKE PEARLS IN THEIR ALIEN GRAVES
SILENT THEY SLEEP BY THE PERSIAN WAVES,
SCATTERED LIKE SHELLS ON EGYPTIAN SANDS,
THEYLIE WITH PALE BROWS AND BRAVE, BROKEN HANDS
THEY ARE STEWN LIKE BLOSSOMS MOWN DOWN BY CHANCE
ON THE BLOOD -BROWN MEADOWS OF FLADERS AND FRANCE.

CAN YE MEASURE THE GRIEF OF THE TEARS I WEEP
OR COMPASS THE WOE OF THE WATCH I KEEP?
OR THEPRICE THAT THRILLS THRO' MY HEART'S DESPAIR

AND THE HOPE THAT COMFORTS THE ANGUISH OF PRAYER?
AND THE FAR SAD GLORIOUS VISION I SEE
OF THE TORN RED BANNERS OF VICTORY?

WHEN THE TERROR AND TUMULT OF HATE SHALL CEASE

AND LIFE BE REFASHIONED ON ANVILS OF PEACE,
AND YOUR LOVE SHALL OFFER MEMORIAL THANKS
TO THE COMRADES WHO FOUGHT IN YOUR DAUTLESS RANKS,

AND YOU HONOUR THE DEEDS OF THE DEATHLESS ONES,
REMEMBER THE BLOOD OF MY MARTYRED SONS .

THE GIFT OF INDIA -SAROJINI NAIDU.