The Astronomer

by Rabindranath Tagore

　　But dâdâ [elder brother] laughed at me and said, "Baby, you are the silliest child I have ever known. The moon is ever so far from us, how could anybody catch it?"

　　I said, "Dâdâ how foolish you are! When mother looks out of her window and smiles down at us playing, would you call her far away?"

　　Still said, "You are a stupid child! But, baby, where could you find a net big enough to catch the moon with?"

　　I said, "Surely you could catch it with your hands."

　　But dâdâ laughed and said, "You are the silliest child I have known. If it came nearer, you would see how big the moon is."

　　I said, "Dâdâ, what nonsense they teach at your school! When mother bends her face down to kiss us does her face look very big?"

　　But still dâdâ says, "You are a stupid child."