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Monday, November 16, 2009

Everything he wrote is golden

Hindu Ascetic, Varanasi, India by Sanjay Nayar
Hindu Ascetic, Varanasi, India by Sanjay Nayar


Obstinate are the trammels, but my heart aches when I try to break them.

Freedom is all I want, but to hope for it I feel ashamed.
I am certain that priceless wealth is in thee, and that thou art my best friend, but I have not the heart to sweep away the tinsel that fills my room.
The shroud that covers me is a shroud of dust and death; I hate it, yet hug it in love.
My debts are large, my failures great, my shame secret and heavy; yet when I come to ask for my good, I quake in fear lest my prayer be granted.

 - Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian poet, playwright and essayist;
won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913



This is Number Six in a randomly-posted, continuing series of quotes by Tagore.
Number One
Number Two
Number Three
Number Four
Number Five


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9 comments:

  1. NancyNovember 16, 2009 at 8:38 AM

    Great quote. "My debts are large, my failures great,..."

    Absolutely beautiful picture.

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  2. francessaNovember 16, 2009 at 11:56 AM

    Lydia, I loved to read Rabindranath Tagore when I was about 16 and I think I should start again reading him. Thanks for reminding me!

    There was one beautiful quote: "Depth of friendship does not depend on length of acquaintance".

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  3. DarleneNovember 16, 2009 at 1:58 PM

    Certainly these great quotes give one much to contemplate.

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  4. OwenNovember 16, 2009 at 2:43 PM

    Simply lovely Lydia... "I have not the heart to sweep away the tinsel that fills my room."... If we could but find simpler ways to live...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Maggie MayNovember 16, 2009 at 7:22 PM

    i love this...it's very nourishing.

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  6. LydiaNovember 16, 2009 at 11:43 PM

    @Nancy- Yes, both the writing and the photo are timeless.

    @Francessa- That is a beautiful quote, and it is by Tagore? That's interesting you were reading him when you were 16. That's when I was reading Kaklil Gibran.

    @Darlene- I agree. And tonight we are having a big storm with powerful gusts of wind so I'm contemplating my mortality (oh, those big trees all around our house.....)!

    @Owen- So true. Your comment reminded me of the latest post by Wicked Witch of the Web.

    @Maggie May- I agree. Love your new profile photo!

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  7. Margaret PangertNovember 17, 2009 at 11:06 AM

    Hi Lydia! These lines are golden! I love the humanity in them, the way he polarizes all his thoughts and feelings. I like the poetry of Rumi, too. This reflection is amazing! What a beautiful image! xxox

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  8. MelindaNovember 17, 2009 at 12:42 PM

    I have to say, Lydia--you always find the best quotes, poetry, and pictures. That moved me so much.

    Melinda

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  9. LydiaNovember 17, 2009 at 11:30 PM

    @Margaret- Your comment was an excellent short critique of his writing! Rumi is def. another favorite of mine too. I think this image is beautiful too, spectacularly-composed.

    @Melinda- :)
    Thank you for your expression of appreciation!

    ReplyDelete

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