THE INDIAN UPON GOD I PASSED along the water’s edge below…
““THE INDIAN UPON GOD I PASSED along the water’s edge below the humid trees, My spirit rocked in evening light, the rushes round my knees, My spirit rocked in sleep and sighs; and saw the moor-fowl pace All dripping on a grassy slope, and saw them cease to chase Each other round in circles, and heard the eldest speak: Who holds the world between His bill and made us strong or weak Is an undying moorfowl, and He lives beyond the sky. The rains are from His dripping wing, the moonbeams from His eye. I passed a little further on and heard a lotus talk: Who made the world and ruleth it, He hangeth on a stalk, For I am in His image made, and all this tinkling tide Is but a sliding drop of rain between His petals wide. A little way within the gloom a roebuck raised his eyes Brimful of starlight, and he said: The Stamper of the Skies, He is a gentle roebuck; for how else, I pray, could He Conceive a thing so sad and soft, a gentle thing like me? I passed a little further on and heard a peacock say: Who made the grass and made the worms and made my feathers gay, He is a monstrous peacock, and He waveth all the night His languid tail above us, lit with myriad spots of light.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem personifies nature and divine beings, exploring humanity’s relationship with creation and the search for meaning through metaphorical dialogue.
In simple terms: Nature and gods speak, showing our quest for purpose and connection.
Key Takeaway
Listen to the world’s whispers for insight.
Themes
spirituality
nature
mythology
philosophy
creativity
Mood
contemplative
poetic
inspirational
Type
literary
mythic
When to use this quote
- meditation
- creative writing
- environmental appreciation
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
personification
dialogue
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the lotus symbolize for you?
- How does nature guide your inner thoughts?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations can vary; meaning is subjective.