Singing the Living Tradition ‎#191

191. Now I Recall My Childhood

1 Now I recall my childhood when the sun
burst to my bedside with the day’s surprise;
faith in the marvelous bloomed anew each dawn,
flowers bursting fresh within my heart each day.

2 Then looking on the world with simple joy,
on insects, birds, and beasts, and common weeds,
the grass and clouds had fullest wealth of awe;
my mother’s voice gave meaning to the stars.

3 Now when I turn to think of coming death,
I find life’s song in star-songs of the night,
in rise of curtains and new morning light,
in life reborn in fresh surprise of love.

Text Information

• First Line: Now I recall my childhood when the sun
• Title: Now I Recall My Childhood
• Author: Rabindranath Tagore, 1861-1941
• Meter: 10.10.10.10.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1993
• Topic: Wisdom from the World's Religions: Our Common Ground; Change; Children; Elders; Parents; Seasons and Cycles
• Source: Recast, based on poem LXXI in Tagores Crossing

Tune Information

• Name: SURSUM CORDA
• Composer: Alfred Morton Smith, 1879-1971
• Meter: 10.10.10.10.
• Key: D Major
• Copyright: © Church of the Ascension, Atlantic City, New Jersey
• Notes: Now Public Domain