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Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light!
Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.
The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.
The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion.
Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure. The heaven's river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad.
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| Gitanjali Poem no. 57 |
Summary
The lyric is slightly different from the previous lyrics which celebrate the love. Now Tagore sings a hymn in the praise of spiritual light. The light here symbolises life, joy, flourishment and divine beauty. The poet is directly addressing light. He is praising light who fills his eyes, heart and the whole world with sweetness and joy. The poet accepts light as a part of his life, his darling, his centre of life. This beloved light makes the strings of the poet's love respond. The sky opens up before light, the Wind starts running widely whole earth. The light of God illuminates the soul with wisdom, understanding and love.
The poet is in elevated mood and like Wordsworth, Tagore accepts that Nature accompany with human mind. If man is happy the Nature enjoys and if man is crying the mood of Nature is also sorrowful. As poet's heart is dancing in joyful mood, the butterflies, lilies and jasmines are also participating in joyful mood. The God has created His world and he enjoys His beautiful creation and like a man all are blessed with His spiritual light. The butterflies are spreading the sail of their wings. Lilies and jasmines spring up on the top of the waves of light. The light is scattered into gold on every cloud. It is poet's beloved, the spiritual light that is scattering diamonds plentifully. Nature is enjoying the bliss. Every leaf is bathing in joyful, spiritual light. The mirth is unlimited. The heaven is overflowed with joy, and this flood of joy has over-whelmed earth as well.
Critical Analysis
Light symbolises the defeat of darkness. Here light is an embodiment of spiritual bliss which terminates the chaos of ignorance. It realises man the presence of Omnipresent God. Like light He too is scattered everywhere and under His warmth His creation is celebrating with joy. Man and Nature both are rejoicing, dancing and bathing in His blessings.
We, Indians, do have this thing in our mind that God has no shape and we look at Him as a beam of light. Light is like a replica of God. Even the Bible suggests that light was the first of the created things and God said let light be there to dispel the darkness of chaos. This divine light is the source of energy, divine wisdom and soul's illumination. Man, Nature and heaven everything is overflowed with rejoice and rejuvenating in this spiritual bliss. The poet is praising and thanking God for His wonderful gift.
Annotations
Chords: notes of music. Surge up: growing up; blooming. Crest: top. Profusion: plenty Mirth: joy.