Gabriela Mistral: Those Who Do Not Dance

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Those Who Do Not Dance

Gabriela Mistral, Gabriela Mistral poetry, Secular or Eclectic, Secular or Eclectic poetry, poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry, Christian poetry

by Gabriela Mistral
(1889 - 1957) Timeline

English version by
Helene Masslo Anderson

Original Language
Spanish

Secular or Eclectic

Christian : Catholic

20th Century

A crippled child
Said, "How shall I dance?"
Let your heart dance
We said.

Then the invalid said:
"How shall I sing?"
Let your heart sing
We said

Then spoke the poor dead thistle,
"But I, how shall I dance?"
Let your heart fly to the wind
We said.

Then God spoke from above
"How shall I descend from the blue?"
Come dance for us here in the light
We said.

All the valley is dancing
Together under the sun,
And the heart of him who joins us not
Is turned to dust, to dust.

Themes

Death

Heart

Light

Sun

Recommended Books

	Selected Poems of Gabriela Mistral, Translated by Ursula K. LeGuin
	Women in Praise of the Sacred: 43 Centuries of Spiritual Poetry by Women, Edited by Jane Hirshfield

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Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World