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Elizabeth H. Cottrell's avatar

Wonderful, and so inspiring, Jeanette! What comes immediately to mind is a piece of Sanskrit writing my father and grandfather had me memorize called “Salutation to the Dawn.” I’ll link to the whole thing, but the end is the key, “For Yesterday is but a dream, and Tomorrow is only a vision, but Today, well lived, makes every Yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day. It has helped me get through the rough days and rejoice in the good ones. Such is the Salutation of the Dawn.” Here’s the rest: https://heartspoken.com/why-today-is-so-important/

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Maria Nieves Campistrus's avatar

What a beautiful story, Jeanette! I, too, have stored in my memory verses learned in adolescence.

An example is the following, by Gustavo Adolfo Becquer:

"No digáis que agotado su tesoro,

de asuntos falta, enmudeció la lira:

podrá no haber poetas; pero siempre

habrá poesía."

My translation into English:

Don't say that its treasure is exhausted,

lacking in subjects, the lyre has fallen silent:

there may be no poets.

but there will always be poetry.

The poem continues; you can see it on Google as Rima IV.

Thank you for sharing your worthwhile words.

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Jeanette Martin's avatar

I know that piece and also my mother had it pinned to the kitchen wall. Beautiful and wise.

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