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This is my delight, thus to wait and watch at the wayside where shadow chases light and the rain comes in the wake of the summer.
Messengers, with tidings from unknown skies, greet me and speed along the road. My heart is glad within, and the breath of the passing breeze is sweet.
From dawn till dusk I sit here before my door, and I know that of a sudden the happy moment will arrive when I shall see.
In the meanwhile I smile and I sing all alone. In the meanwhile the air is filling with the perfume of promise.
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| Gitanjali Poem no. 44 |
Summary
The poet expresses his happiness in waiting for God after having expressed his despair, loneliness and cried and wailed for God's grace. He says waiting for God, on the sides where the day merges into night or when the summer ends, bringing rain in his happiness and delight. God's messengers, with messages from the unknown skies, greet the poet as they pass along the road swiftly. This message gladens the poet's heart from within and makes him happy and he feels the sweet ness of the passing breeze. The poet has been sitting from dawn till dusk before his door and he is sure that he shall be soon blessed with God's presence. And while he waits, he smiles and sings and he is happy as the Sweetness of God's promised grace spreads.
Critical Analysis
Tagore has brought a newness into the theme of this poem. In his earlier lyrics he had expressed the agency of waiting for God. Here, he is delighted to be waiting for God and he is happy because he is fully confident of his union with God. That he doesn't complain is what is new and striking about the poem. The endless tedium of waiting does not frustrate him here, he doesn't cry when God shall come rather he delights in the waiting for he is sure that he shall be united with God. Various natural elements add to his condense and they also acquire sweetness and happiness from his super-confidence. God's messengers come and remind him of the future union and thus assure him, thus even the breeze seems sweet, the very air seems to be filled with the sweet fragrance of God's promise. Thus the lyric is a beautiful expression of Tagore's faith and his joy in that faith.
Annotation
Where shadow chases light: when the day merges into night. In the wake of: immediately following. Tidings: greetings message that God is coming. Perfume of promise: the sweetness of God's promise.