Dec 08 2007
Tagore & the Artist (Again…)
I can’t seem to get enough of Tagore. I’ve posted many of his poems here because he so intimately understands the process of creativity.
Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life.
This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales, and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new.
At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable.
Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine. Ages pass, and still thou pourest, and still there is room to fill.
-Rabindrath Tagore, Gitanjali 1
I love his image of the artist as a musical instrument through which the Divine Song enters into the world. As artists it is our job not to write the music, but to empty ourselves of it & keep the instrument clean and open so that the breath of The One can blow through us.
I also love his descriptions of the emanations of the Divine…”thou pourest, and still there is room to fill.” Beautiful, like sweet honey flowing into the world. Who wouldn’t want to connect with that?
…i am but a hollow reed
Beautiful. As always.
I love the idea of being an instrument for the Divine.
It’s a very optimistic way of viewing the artistic process - I’m saying this from last night seeing, “La Vie En Rose”, which presents the artistic life as being possible only through interludes of insurmountable tragedy and suffering. The idea of viewing emptiness not as painful, but as an invitation to be filled with creativity, is quite lovely.
thats one of my most favorite song of Tagore that you mentioned in poetry format. i can send u the original bengali song. drop me an email if you wish!
i am a bengali and i love Tagore deeply deeply. his songs, poetry are truly inspirational and prophetic in its spiritual value.
peace!