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When my play was with thee I never questioned who thou wert. I knew nor shyness nor fear, my life was boisterous.
In the early morning thou wouldst call me from my sleep like my own comrade and lead me running from glade to glade.
On those days I never cared to know the meaning of songs thou sangeet to me. Only my voice took up the tunes, and my heart danced in their cadence.
Now, when the playtime is over, what is this sudden sight that is come upon me? The world with eyes bent upon thy feet stands in awe with all its silent stars.
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| Gitanjali Poem no. 97 |
Summary
The truth of the eternal bond, the relationship between Him and man is realized only late in life. The sudden insight comes with the coming of death. In the crowded hours of life the poet never cared to know about Him. He never tried to know who his playmate is. He plays with Him as with a friend and equal, without shyness or fear. He was wild with joy in this play of trivial life and never felt the spiritual presence beside Him. He was the leading spirit tor the poet. Every morning He makes him out of sleep and lead his way. But the poet never ever tried to understand the hidden inspiration behind His songs. He enjoyed those songs of life but never realized the divine illumination. He was flowed in the superficial joys of life. He never cared about the profound meaning of this life. But now on the threshold of death, when the playtime is over he finds the sudden insight in him. Now comes the divine wisdom. He finds the whole world awe-struck by His magnificence.
Critical Analysis
The repetition of same ideas is there. The ignorance of man about the divine wisdom, his trivial acts of life, his busy, hectic worldly life, his ignorance towards the hidden inspiration and the inevitable death, the presence of inscrutable, affectionate power beside mankind, the spiritual insight brought by the errand of God, the Death and the eternal voyage to His abode. The diction of poem is simple but use of same ideas again and again hides the richness and versatility of his work.
Annotations
Boisterous: noisy, energetic. Glade: a clear place. Cadence: music Awe: feeling of fear and respect.