Strings Whispered Quote by Eiji Yoshikawa
““The large strings hummed like rain, The small strings whispered like a secret, Hummed, whispered—and then were intermingled Like a pouring of large and small pearls into a plate of jade. We heard an oriole, liquid, hidden among flowers. We heard a brook bitterly sob along a bank of sand. . . . By the checking of its cold touch, the very string seemed broken As though it could not pass; and the notes, dying away Into a depth of sorrow and concealment of lament, Told even more in silence than they had told in sound. . . . A silver vase abruptly broke with a gush of water, And out leapt armored horses and weapons that clashed and smote— And before she laid her pick down, she ended with one stroke, And all four strings made one sound, as of rending silk.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Tale of the Heike, 1935
The poem juxtaposes large and small sounds, weaving them into a complex, sorrowful harmony that reflects life's intertwined joys and pains.
In simple terms: Large and small sounds blend into a sorrowful harmony.
Key Takeaway
Embrace both grandeur and subtlety.
Themes
contrast
harmony
transience
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
literary
poetic
When to use this quote
- music composition
- poetry analysis
- emotional processing
Key Concepts
impermanence
interconnectedness
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions does the imagery evoke?
- How do contrast and harmony appear in your life?
A Different Perspective
The dense imagery may obscure clear meaning for some readers.
