Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection:
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is lead forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action–
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
Tag: Poem
Last Curtain by Rabindranath Tagore
I know that the day will come
when my sight of this earth shall be lost,
and life will take its leave in silence,
drawing the last curtain over my eyes.
Yet stars will watch at night,
and morning rise as before,
and hours heave like sea waves
casting up pleasures and pains.
When I think of this end of my moments,
the barrier of the moments breaks
and I see by the light of death
thy world with its careless treasures.
Rare is its lowliest seat,
rare is its meanest of lives.
Things that I longed for in vain
and things that I got
—let them pass.
Let me but truly possess
the things that I ever spurned
and overlooked.
The poem ‘Last Curtain’ explains the vulnerability one feels at the time of death. The actual treasures one can take to the grave are none but his deeds of good. The poem conveys the message that the things that matter the most at death, are those virtues that are considered as least important by many men during their lives.
நான் – பாரதியார் கவிதை
நான்
I
வானிற் பறக்கின்ற புள்ளெலாநான்
All birds flying in the sky, I am
மண்ணிற் றிரியும் விலங்கெலாநான்
All beasts roaming the sands, I am
கானிழல் வளரு மரமெலாநான்
All shady trees growing in forests, I am
காற்றும் புனலுங் கடலுமேநான்.
Winds, floods, seas, I am
விண்ணிற் றெரிகின்ற மீனெலாநான்
All stars that burn in the sky, I am
வெட்ட வெளியின் விரிவெலாநான்
All the expanse of empty space, I am
மண்ணிற் கிடக்கும் புழுவெலாநான்
All worms that lie on land, I am
வாரியி லுள்ள வுயிரெலாநான்.
All life forms inside water, I am
கம்ப னிசைத்த கவியெலாநான்
All poems written by Kamban, I am
காருகர் தீட்டு முருவெலாநான்
All imagery created by painters, I am
இம்பர் வியக்கின்ற மாட கூடம்
Mansions and halls that induce awe in people
எழினகர் கோபுரம் யாவுமேநான்.
Towers of the beautiful city, I am
இன்னிசைமாத ரிசையுளேனான்
Inside the sweet music of women, I am
இன்பத் திரள்க ளனைத்துமேநான்
All accumulations of joy, I am
புன்னிலை மாந்தர்தம் பொய்யெலாநான்
All lies of wretched people, I am
பொறையருந் துன்பப் புணர்ப்பெலாநான்.
All bonds of pain and impatience, I am
மந்திரங் கோடி யியக்குவோனான்
Operator of a million spells, I am
இயங்கு பொருளி னியல்பெலாநான்
All nature of things that operate, I am
தந்திரங் கோடி சமைத்துளோனான்
Creator of a million tricks, I am
சாத்திர வேதங்கள் சாற்றினோனான்.
Teacher of Sastras and Vedas, I am
அண்டங்கள் யாவையு மாக்கினோனான்
Maker of all universes, I am
அவைபிழை யாமே சுழற்றுவோனான்
Spinner of them flawlessly, I am
கண்டநற் சக்திக் கணமெலாநான்
All star formations that limit energies, I am
காரண மாகிக் கதித்துளோனான்.
The cause and the knower, I am
நானெனும் பொய்யை நடத்துவோனான்
Conductor of the illusion called me, I am
ஞானச் சுடர்வானிற் செல்லுவோனான்
Traveler in the bright sky of wisdom, I am
ஆன பொருள்க ளனைத்தினு மொன்றாய்
Unifying everything created
அறிவாய் விளங்கு முதற்சோதி நான்.
The first light of knowledge, I am
Invictus – William Ernest Henley
“Invictus” is an adjective in Latin meaning ‘unconquerable’. Here are the reasons why Invictus is a powerful poem.
-
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.In the first four lines we understand that there is pitch black darkness disguised as a gloomy problem or despair and there seems to be no way out of it. He ‘prays’ to the gods in most agnostic way possible by saying ‘whatever gods may be’. But even as he prays, he doesn’t ask for strength to deal with the crisis looming overhead, he simply thanks them for the strength he already has. That itself is an indication of how is soul is invincible.
-
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.The second stanza stands tall and continues to tell the tale of a courageous soul that never complained once in the wake of difficult circumstances; a soul that never flinched once even as the problems were staring into its eyes. The power is demonstrated as the poet writes ‘ bloody, but unbowed’ which tells us that he’d rather endure the beating than call for a surrender.
-
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.I know that I am living a life filled with constant threats and I know that the future holds a greater problem (death, perhaps). But I know that all the troubles I have sustained over the years have prepared me to face what lies ahead.
-
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.The meaning of ‘strait gate’ is judgement day and even then, he recognizes no one but himself as his own master. Only he can decide what is to be done with his soul and hence, his fate. This is makes it evident that he has strong will.
The poem continues to inspire many because of the feeling it incites that you alone can control your fate, you alone know what is best for you and you alone know which path you choose. It is a poem that’s strong at heart and strong-headed.
Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande – मोको कहां ढूढे रे बन्दे
मोको कहां ढूंढे रे बंदे
Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande
Where are you searching for me, Oh Servant,
मैं तो तेरे पास में
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
I am with you
ना तीर्थ मे ना मूर्त में
Na Teerath Mein, Na Moorat Mein
Not in holy pilgrims, Not in images,
ना एकान्त निवास में
Na Ekant Niwas Mein
Not in solitary living
ना मंदिर में ना मस्जिद में
Na Mandir Mein, Na Masjid Mein
Not in a temple, not in a mosque,
ना काबे कैलास में
Na Kabe Kailas Mein
Not in Kabas or Kailash
ना मैं जप में ना मैं तप में
Na Mein Jap Mein, Na Mein Tap Mein
Not in praying, not in meditation,
ना मैं बरत उपास में
Na Mein Barat Upaas Mein
Not in ritual fasting
ना मैं किर्या कर्म में रहता
Na Mein Kiriya Karm Mein Rehta
Nor I live in action or karma
नहिं जोग सन्यास में
Nahin Jog Sanyas Mein
Neither in yoga or renunciation
नहिं प्राण में नहिं पिंड में
Nahin Pran Mein Nahin Pind Mein
Not in life force, Not in the flesh of body,
ना ब्रंह्याण्ड आकाश में
Na Brahmand Akas Mein
Not in universe or sky
ना मैं प्रकति प्रवार गुफा में
Na Mein Prakuti Prawar Gufa Mein
Not in the womb of nature,
नहिं स्वांसों की स्वांस में
Nahin Swasan Ki Swans Mein
Not in the breath of the breath
खोजि होए तुरत मिल जाउं
Khoji Hoye Turat Mil Jaoon
Search and I can be found quickly
इक पल की तालाश में
Ik Pal Ki Talas Mein
In a moment of search
कहत कबीर सुनो भई साधो
Kahet Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
Says Kabir, listen brethren holy men,
मैं तो हूँ विश्वास में
Mein To Hun Viswas Mein
I exist in faith