- If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
- If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
- O thou unlucky one,
- open thy mind and speak out alone.
If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,
- O thou unlucky one,
- trample the thorns under thy tread,
- and along the blood-lined track travel alone.
If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm,
- O thou unlucky one,
- with the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart
- and let it burn alone.
Rabindranath Tagore