# VII explained — Gitanjali

> Chapter companion for Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore.

## What happens

The poet sheds all adornments and pride, seeking a simple and direct union with the divine, offering his life as a hollow reed for the divine to fill with music.

## Themes in this chapter

### Surrender and Egolessness

The poet abandons pride of dress and decoration, sitting at the divine's feet in complete humility.

### Beauty of the Ordinary and Nature

The poet desires a life simple and straight like a flute of reed, finding beauty in the ordinary as a vessel for divine music.

## Character check-ins

### The Poet

The speaker who removes all ornamentation and pride to sit at the divine's feet.

### The Divine

The master poet and beloved whose whispers are sought and whose music fills the poet's life.

## Key lines

> My song has put off her adornments. She has no pride of dress and decoration.

My poetry has stripped away all embellishments and no longer takes pride in outward show.

_The poet renounces artistic vanity to achieve pure connection._

> Only let me make my life simple and straight, like a flute of reed for thee to fill with music.

Grant that my life may become uncomplicated and direct, like a hollow reed that you can play through.

_The poet offers his life as an instrument for the divine's creative expression._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gitanjali_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gitanjali_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gitanjali_se/chapters