Let Me Not Forget by Rabindranath Tagore. Performed by Sam John
3All content rights belong to Rabindranath Tagore.
May 15, 2020: I decided to launch this page after discussions about content and growth with my greatest collaborator and brother, Brian Shaji.
May 15, 2021: The 100th post of this channel is now up. A tribute to my culture, my heritage, and the legacy I hope to leave someday.
I had no idea I could perform a piece that had roots in my home country of India. As strange as that may sound, when my Professor, Isaiah Johnson, suggested it to me and said that I didn’t have to restrict myself to other cultures of color, I was shocked. This idea that seems obvious had never once come to my mind. I am still deciphering and working on why. Part of me thought that my culture didn’t mean much here, but then I realized that as long as it means something to me, that’s what matters. That is exactly what I felt with Let Me Not Forget by Rabindranath Tagore. This poem tore into the very fabric of who I am and gripped me with its imagery and beauty.
I cannot put into words the process for this piece. What I can do is describe the chain of events. I went to Forsyth Park, here in Savannah, and sat with the text. I could see myself saying every word that was on the page. It connected with me so deeply in terms of my desire to have a home and family someday. I began writing halfway through the analysis. Time got away from me, and that evening was the greatest artistic period I have had. The next day, I began the recording process. In the third session, I found my way into the story with visuals of my own life and hopes for my future and lost myself in the performance, completely entranced by the beauty of the dream.
I am so honored and privileged to present you all with the 100th post on this page. Let Me Not Forget by Rabindranath Tagore.
Content: Rabindranath Tagore
Performance: Sam John