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I thought that my voyage had come to its end at the last limit of my power, - that the path before me was closed, that provisions were exhausted and the time come to take shelter in a silent obscurity.
But I find that thy will knows no end in me. And when old words die out on the tongue, new melodies break forth from the heart; and where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders.
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| Gitanjali Poem no. 37 |
Summary
In this poem Tagore talks about how God inspires him to sing new songs when his old ones are exhausted. He says that at one point he thought that his life's journey had come to an end and he had reached the limit of his power. He felt as though the road before him had closed and therefore it was now time to take shelter in death and thus silence and darkness. Then he realises that the divine inspiration, the power given by God in him has not died. And so even if his old songs die out, new songs, new melodies comes forth from his heart just like when an old road come to an end and are lost, we find that we have come to a new country and we marvel at its wonders.
Critical Analysis
Tagore talks about his art and the divine inspiration that propels him to new songs and new vistas. He expresses through this lyrics his belief in God and his belief that his art rest on God's grace. He says that his inspiration seems to have failed him and he sees no path before him where he can go on forward. That all his powers have come to an end and so he should stop writing and retire into silence or else hide himself in darkness, in death. But then Tagore goes on to say that on reflection, he finds that God's will has not died. And as one finds new roads and come into new places, new countries, so he finds new melodies after the old one has died. Tagore thus expresses his belief and confidence in God beautifully.
Annotation
My voyage: the poet's journey through life. Provisions: a store of food, or a rule of guidance. Silent obscurity: death. Thy will knows no end in me: God's power is never ending and the poet's power of writing poetry is therefore never exhausted. New melodies: new songs. New country: new inspiration, new aspects in his poetry.