Product Description I have carried the manuscript of these translations about with me for days, reading it in railway trains, or on the top of omnibuses and in restaurants, and I have often had to close it lest some stranger would see how much it moved me. These lyrics-which are in the original full of subtlety of rhythm, of untranslatable delicacies of colour, of metrical invention-display in their thought a world I have dreamed of all my live long. The work of a supreme culture, they yet appear as much the growth of the common soil as the grass and the rushes. A tradition, where poetry and religion are the same thing, has passed through the centuries, gathering from learned and unlearned metaphor and emotion, and carried back again to the multitude the thought of the scholar and of the noble. -W. B. Yeats
A journey through the SacredMay 8, 2008 I stumbled over these poems for the first time a few years ago and was immediately captivated by the depth,humility and transcendence of spirit that speaks through them. It is almost overwhelming and a great companion for any meditation or prayer practice. For me Tagore definitely ranks among the highest mystic master poets of all time and this collection of "songs" reminds the reader of Rumi quite a bit. Unfortunately I don't speak Sanskrit and can only imagine the " true music" created by these poems in their original tongue - and it wouldn't surprise me if the English translation is not more than a meager shadow of its original self - still...that being said the reading of it nevertheless manages to transfer its divine beauty and truly draws the reader's heart close to its spiritual source. It is almost like a healing elixir for heart and mind - and for me the impact is being in breathtaking awe of the sacred origin of all!!! For any lover of poems,prayers and sacred,verbal inspirations this is a treasure rarely found in today's world!
Please dont buy this copy as it is poorl y formatted and I am sure there may be a copyright violationMarch 13, 2008 2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This version from Filiquarian is not formatted properly. I myself want to return this book but it would be a hassle for just 4$.
I will be complaining with Amazon to check for the copyright issue with the publishers.
ExtraordinaryNovember 15, 2007 The shipment and the condition of the book were perfect, and the poems convey unparalleled feelings.
GitanjaliOctober 5, 2007 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Simply one of the best books I have ever read. Very moving, and more importantly gives you a real perspective on life.
What a master of wordsAugust 20, 2007 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I don't think I am qualified enough (in Literature) to even comprehend the full meaning of every poem, but his gift is apparent from the first one's. He had an amazing eye for things in life most people will never care to even notice, and he had the talent to put forth those images and feelings in writing. No wonder he is hailed has one of the greatest literary minds in India. for people who want to explore more about Tagore, poetry wasn't his talent..he was a writer (plays and novels), a composer, an artist, and a Humanitarian.
