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I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands. That is why it is so late and why I have been guilty of such omissions.
They come with their laws and their codes to bind me fast; but I evade them ever, for I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands.
People blame me and call me heedless; I doubt not they are right in their blame.
The market day is over and work is all done for the busy. Those who came to call me in vain have gone back in anger. I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands.
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| Gitanjali Poem no. 17 |
Summary
In this poem Tagore talks in the voice of beloved, waiting for the lover. He is waiting for God the lover to come so that at last, finally there can be union between them. This waiting for God is the reason why he has been late in performing his worldly duties. Tagore says that people bound by worldly conventions and traditions come hoping to tie him with the same rules and regulations but he has been evading from them. He doesn't Wish to be tied by these worldly duties because his only wish is to be united with God and that is what he is waiting for. People therefore blame him and call him irresponsible and reckless and he feels that they are right in calling him so.
Then the poet concludes saying that the market day has ended and all those busy in their work have finished their work. And all those that come hoping to find him have gone back because they have not been successful in their attempt. They have gone back in anger but it doesn't concern the poet much. He is only waiting for God, his lover in order to give himself up to him.
Critical Analysis
Tagore builds up the poem in the typical Indian tradition of religious poetry. Like the songs of Meera Bai, Tagore also places himself in the position of the beloved waiting for God the lover, and seeking a union with his God. This tradition was followed largely in Indian and other oriental cultures. Tagore expresses how he was longing for God to come and his eagerness to give himself up and surrender himself to God. He is completely absorbed in his quest for the union with God and like a woman who doesn't do anything but wait for her lover, constantly thinking of the time of her surrender, he keeps thinking of God disregarding everything else. He knows that these people are right in asking for him to come and blaming him for not coming and doing his worldly duties but he doesn't care. The implication is that the poet is driven only by his spiritual longings and his love for God. His love for God makes him oblivious to all worldly considerations.
"I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands. That is why it is so late and why I have been guilty of such omission."
There is the 'madhura bhava' in the lines of lyric. The woman lover is drowned within the deep sea of love and love is above all codes and rules for her. She is ready to give herself up to Hm for love. The poet in the guise of woman lover waits patiently for God, his lover, and when He comes he will surrender himself totally into His hands. It is because of his love that he has neglected his worldly duties. People may call him careless and he will accept it.
Annotation
Love: God, the lover. Guilty of such omissions: of neglecting to do his work, his worldly duties. Codes to bind me: worldly laws and system that tie him. I evade them ever: to give them to slip.