Little Shubunkin

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By Bread Alone

By Bread Alone

“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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7 responses to “By Bread Alone”

  1. Hazel Avatar
    Hazel

    The interpretation of the poem is amazing. I can’t see the meaning immediately by reading the poem once. It needs deep analysis, that’s why I’m not so good at reading poetry.🙈

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Little Shubunkin Avatar
      Little Shubunkin

      One of my favourite poems is “The Emperor of Ice Cream” by Wallace Stevens. The first time I read it, I thought it was about ice cream. The second time I read it, I thought it was about death. The third time I read it, I thought it was about poetry (or art in general}. The last interpretation is arguably the best one.

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      1. Hazel Avatar
        Hazel

        See? How complex! My mind can’t do well for it🤭🙈

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Little Shubunkin Avatar
        Little Shubunkin

        I’m the same when I read the bible. Well, a good proportion of it. Often it’s not how clever we are but more to do with confidence. Either way it’s good to get help with interpretations. To think of an example, where Jesus was in the temple talking about Abraham. The people He was talking to didn’t understand Him, and I’m not sure I “get it” either. But that’s OK… an element of mystery is not necessarily a bad thing.

        Yvonne thought she was rubbish at maths. One year I went with her to night class, and we did the coursework and homework together. And guess what, she passed the exam with flying colours. I was dead chuffed. 😊

        By the way, your Filipina English is very good, and only ever seems to diverge from the English of native anglophones in very subtle ways. Maybe it’s all that reading you do?

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Hazel Avatar
        Hazel

        Passed with flying colours! Wow. I’m pretty sure Yvonne is just so humble, so she surprised you.🤭

        Thank you for the compliment, Little. I think by reading every day, I learn new vocabulary and how to construct simple sentences, but we are taught English in school from primary school. Our legal papers here are English, too. You can see many English announcements, signage, etc here. The Philippines used English more often than Filipino language, I think, especially on professional matters.

        My writings are all simple, for me. I think it’s good also for everyone to understand since our readers are not all English speakers.

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      4. Little Shubunkin Avatar
        Little Shubunkin

        KIS… keep it simple… I think it’s a very good policy, Hazel. 👍🏻

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Hazel Avatar
        Hazel

        Gratitude and love, Little. I will!

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