Gitanjali · Chapter
XXXVIII explained
The poet declares an unwavering, singular desire for the divine, dismissing all other distractions as false and empty.
What happens
The poet declares an unwavering, singular desire for the divine, dismissing all other distractions as false and empty. He compares this inner cry to the night's hidden plea for light and the storm's ultimate search for peace, emphasizing that even his rebellion ultimately yearns for divine love.
Themes in this chapter
The Pain of Separation and Longing
The poet's cry 'I want thee, only thee' underscores a profound sense of separation and yearning for union with the divine.
Surrender and Egolessness
The poet acknowledges that all other desires are false and that even his rebellion ultimately submits to divine love.
Characters to notice
- The Poet
Expresses a deep, singular longing for the divine, rejecting worldly distractions.
- The Divine
The sole object of the poet's desire and love, addressed as 'thee'.
Key passages
“That I want thee, only thee—let my heart repeat without end.”
Let my heart endlessly affirm that my only desire is for you, and you alone.
The poet emphasizes the singular focus of his devotion.
“All desires that distract me, day and night, are false and empty to the core.”
Every other longing that pulls my attention away is ultimately meaningless and hollow.
The poet dismisses worldly distractions as illusory.
“As the night keeps hidden in its gloom the petition for light, even thus in the depth of my unconsciousness rings the cry—I want thee, only thee.”
Just as darkness conceals a silent plea for dawn, so my deepest being secretly cries out for you alone.
The poet uses the metaphor of night hiding a desire for light to express his subconscious longing.
“As the storm still seeks its end in peace when it strikes against peace with all its might, even thus my rebellion strikes against thy love and still its cry is—I want thee, only thee.”
Like a storm that rages against calm only to find its resolution in that same calm, my defiance clashes with your love yet ultimately voices the same desire for you.
The poet portrays rebellion as ultimately surrendering to divine love.