| Synopsis: |
Love and mysticism combine in this visionary work of unparallelled depth and beauty by India's Nobel Prize winning poet Tagore. "After the forgetfulness of his own divinity, man will remember again that Heaven is always in touch with his world, which can never be abandoned for good to the hounding wolves of the modern era, scenting human blood and howling to the skies." - R. Tagore Tagore, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, author of 15 philosophical works, 100 volumes of verse and 50 plays, was hailed by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan as "the greatest figure of the Indian Renaissance". And Romain Rolland, talking of the East and West, said that Tagore contributed more than any other to- ward "the union of these two hemispheres of spirit". The text is that of the original 1918 edition, and though the two parts may be considered separately, the reader will derive more enjoyment by reading the two in sequence as they relate to each other, if not in a strict narrative fashion yet in their spiritual context.As for the essay 'The Essence of Poetry', this is the first time it has been published with Tagore's poetry, and we hope that the reader will understand the nature of poetry from two different perspectives: firstly - from that of a poet at the peak of his powers, expressing ideas with effortless ease through verse, and secondly, from that of a poet taking a moment's pause to reflect on what this art form is by writing about it "in theory". Each illuminates what poetry is. "Sailing through the night I came to life's feast, and the morning's golden goblet was filled with light for me. I sang in joy, I knew not who was the giver, And I forgot to ask his name. In the mid-day the dust grew hot under my feet and the sun overhead. Overcome by thirst I reached the well. Water was poured to me. I drank it. And while I loved the ruby cup that was sweet as a kiss, I did not see him who held it and forgot to ask his name." This volume comprises, not only two poetical works by Sir Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), but also an essay on the nature of poetry by his contemporary Sri Aurobindo (1872 - 1950).Here is an extract from the first part of the work, which should give a better idea of the style of this great poet: The Crossing: The sun breaks out from the clouds on the day when I must go. And the sky gazes upon the earth like God's wonder. My heart is sad, for it knows not from where comes its call. Does the breeze bring the whisper of the world which I leave behind with its music of tears melting in the sunny silence? Or the breath of the island in the far-away sea basking in the Summer of the unknown flowers? When the market is over and they return homewards through the dusk, I sit at the wayside to watch thee plying thy boat, crossing the dark water with the sunset gleam upon thy sail; I see thy silent figure standing at the helm and suddenly catch thy eyes gazing upon me; I leave my song; and cry to thee to take me across. |