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by Rabindranath Tagore — a poem card from Justes Mots

The speaker builds walls of identity and name around themselves, losing sight of their true self in the shadow of ego. The poem critiques attachment to social identity and reputation, suggesting that self-made constraints obscure authentic being. It suits meditations on ego, identity, and the spiritual path to self-realization.

He whom I enclose with my name is weeping in this dungeon. I am ever busy
building this wall all around; and as this wall goes up into the sky day by day
I lose sight of my true being in its dark shadow.

I take pride in this great wall, and I plaster it with dust and sand lest a
least hole should be left in this name; and for all the care I take I lose
sight of my true being.…

Themes: sympathy · grief · reflection