“If thou of fortune be bereft,
And in thy store there be but left
Two loaves—sell one, and with the dole
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.”
This famous poem, often attributed to the Persian poet Saadi or James Terry White, advises prioritizing beauty and spiritual nourishment over pure material survival. It suggests that if one has only two loaves of bread, one should sell one to buy hyacinths to feed the soul.
Key Interpretations & Context:
Source: The poem is frequently linked to a 13th-century Persian poet, Saadi (or Muslih-un-Din Saadi), and his work Gulistan (“The Rose Garden”). However, it is also highly associated with American writer James Terry White, who published it under the title “By Bread Alone” in 1907.
Meaning: It is a metaphor for prioritizing art, beauty, and emotional well-being (the hyacinth) alongside essential sustenance (the bread).
Popularity: The poem is a well-known testament to resilience and finding joy in beauty during times of scarcity.
Photo by me of plaque found at Bretton Hall, Yorkshire. (2013)
Hyacinths photo by Swetlana Hasenjäger – Creative Commons
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