The furthest distance in the world,

Is not the distance between life and death.

But when I stand in front of you,

Yet you don't know that I love you.

The furthest distance in the world,

Is not when I know you love me,

But when mutual affection turns into silence.

The furthest distance in the world,

Is not silence between lovers,

But standing together,

When hearts are no longer yearning for each other.

The furthest distance in the world,

Is not hearts no longer yearning for each other,

But using one's indifferent heart,

To dig an uncrossable moat between lovers.

The furthest distance in the world,

Is not using one's indifferent heart,

But both parties suffering from silence,

And pretending to be calm when passing each other.

The furthest distance in the world,

Is not pretending to be calm when passing each other,

But knowing there is a bond between,

Yet being unable to connect.

The furthest distance in the world,

Is not being unable to connect,

But when the soul has already departed,

The body still remains.

This poem, written by Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel Prize-winning poet from India, expresses the deep emotions and complexities of love. It reflects on the various stages of a relationship and the emotional barriers that can exist even when two people are physically close. Each verse delves into the different forms of separation that can occur in love, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual. The poem resonates with readers because it captures the universal experience of longing and heartache in relationships.

Tagore's words remind us that the greatest distances in love often lie within ourselves, in our ability—or inability—to truly connect and understand one another.