Gitanjali · Chapter
LXVIII explained
The poet reflects on how the divine sunbeam gathers his tears, sighs, and songs, transforming them into a misty cloud that adorns the divine's starry breast.
What happens
The poet reflects on how the divine sunbeam gathers his tears, sighs, and songs, transforming them into a misty cloud that adorns the divine's starry breast. The cloud, though fleeting and dark, is loved by the divine for its tender, pathetic shadows that veil the awful white light.
Themes in this chapter
Divine Love and Devotion
The poet's offerings of tears, sighs, and songs are lovingly received and transformed by the divine, illustrating a deep devotional relationship.
The Pain of Separation and Longing
The poet's tears and sighs reflect a sense of longing and separation, yet they are gathered and cherished by the divine.
Characters to notice
- The Poet
The speaker whose tears, sighs, and songs are gathered by the divine sunbeam.
- The Divine
The recipient of the poet's offerings, who transforms them into a misty cloud and adorns the divine's starry breast.
Key passages
“Thy sunbeam comes upon this earth of mine with arms outstretched and stands at my door the livelong day to carry back to thy feet clouds made of my tears and sighs and songs.”
The divine light reaches out to me constantly, gathering my sorrows and expressions to present them as offerings at the divine's feet.
The poet describes the divine's attentive presence and the transformation of personal grief into sacred tribute.
“With fond delight thou wrappest about thy starry breast that mantle of misty cloud, turning it into numberless shapes and folds and colouring it with hues everchanging.”
The divine joyfully adorns itself with the poet's transformed emotions, shaping them into ever-changing forms and colors.
The divine's creative and loving engagement with the poet's offerings is emphasized.