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Ever in my life have I sought thee with my songs. It was they who led me from door to door, and with them have I felt about me, searching and touching my world.
It was my songs that taught me all the lessons I ever learnt; they showed me secret paths, they brought before my sight many a star on the horizon of my heart.
They guided me all the day long to the mysteries of the country of pleasure and pain, and, at last, to what palace gate have they brought me in the evening at the end of my journey?
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| Gitanjali Poem no. 101 |
Summary
The lyric sings the might of the poet's song through which he has attained the truth of heaven, the secret path to His abode is clear and open only through his poems. The poet has been searching for God with the help of his songs. It is the songs which made him go from door to door, and it is through them that the poet has felt Him around, searching His world and touching it. He has used them in the service of his Maker. Whatever he has learned, and whatever experience, of pleasure or of pain, he has acquired, has been acquired through his songs. it is through them that he has gathered many pearls of wisdom, and it is through them that he has seen into the heart of things. The poet hopes that at last his songs would lead him to the gates of the palace of the Divine which is his destination and which will be the end of his journey. The poet hopes to have a mystic reunion with God through the enlightenment of his worthy songs.
Critical Analysis
The poetry is the realization of spirit and not the art such is the case with Tagore's lyrics. They are the soul. The inspiration that lead Tagore, as he asserts, and the readers to the path of divine truth. The lyrics reveals the obscurity of mystical ways of the Almighty. The poet sought Him with songs and the songs in turn led him into the secret paths.
"It was my songs that taught me all the lessons I ever learnt; they showed me secret paths, they brought be fore my sight many a star on the horizon of my heart."
The poet has offered all the songs of his Gitanjali to the Divine. This is his devotion and love for the Almighty. Each song of his Gitanjali is a step forward towards the palace of the God. These songs are like a key to open the door of mystery woven around God. Through his songs he sought the great force; they showed him the secret paths. His songs led him through mazes of secret mysteries.
Tagore's lines has a universal truth. Not only Tagore learnt lessons from his songs but every reader of his songs will feel this mystical craving for God and his songs have made the way to this mysticism quite clear and easy.
Annotations
Sought: looked for. Have I felt about me: his songs make him aware of the inner desire of his quest of God. Many a star on the horizon of my heart: his poetry helped him to understand his own heart. The heart is the sky covered with many undiscovered stars and his poetry gives him the courage to discover them. Palace gate: heavenly abode.