Tagore's Use Of Imagery

Imagery Related To His Corporeal Frame- Reference To 'Gitanjali'.

Rabindranath Tagore
Free picture downloaded from eugeniohansenofs, pixabay.com

 For the collective poems of Gitanjali, Rabindranath Tagore was awarded Nobel Prize for literature. His poems are very unique for their philosophy, mysticism and music. Tagore’s use of imagery is an indispensable art. His use of images has their own value. He has used different imagery to express his corporeal frame or human body. In the opening stanza of the poem no-1, the poet imagined himself with empty vessel which the God had emptied repeatedly and poured the spirituality.He has considered that we take rebirth in the world to fulfill the assignments given by God. God remove our ignorance and impute spirituality to elevate our soul.  He expressed it in the lines 2-4 (Gitanjali, poem-1).

 Again, the poet had imagined his existing human body with the flute. Flute itself is lifeless. But it gets its life when it is played by a flute player. He considered that as a flute player, God also created different tunes nurturing through his own hands. He expressed it through the poetic lines 5-7 (Gitanjali, poem-1).

 In the poem no-6, he had imagined his bodily existence with a flower. One day he would be subjected to death as the flower would drop on dust being fade. He prayed God to pluck him as a flower from worldly life. The poet also considered if he didn't get place in God' garland but he expected the touch of pain through God's hand. He expressed in the lines 1-2 (Gitanjali, poem-6).

 In the poem no-7, the poet had considered that his poetic vanity would subdue before the Almighty. The poet had considered Him as master poet and wished to sit down at His feet.  He had imagined life as a simple and straight flute where the God could fill all reed with music. He expressed it in the poetic lines 9-11 (Gitanjali, poem-7).

 In the poem no-19,  the poet considered that if the Almighty God be silent with him, he could fill his heart with His silence. He also considered that one day the darkness of his life would be removed and His voice would spread all over the world breaking the silence. He compared his bodily existence with the nests of the birds. He considered that the melody of the song would be expressed in the words of the God from every parts of his body. He also imagined him as forest groves and he put question if the God’s tunes would bloom flowers in his forest grove. He expressed it in the  poetic lines 10-13 (Gitanjali, poem-19).

 In the poem no-21, he imagined his human body with the boat. The poet had reached to the old age. The burden of age overpowered on the poet. He enjoyed so many springs during his past times. He had compared his human body like basket full of dropped flowers. One day he had to launch out his boat and for that day, the poet was passing his ill hours at the shore of life which implied the last stage of life. He expressed it in the lines 1-3 (Gitanjali, poem-21).

 In the poem no 22, the poet imagined that the whole nature was covered by dark cloud, the bright face of good morning was closed, the song of the woodlands had stopped. He imagined that the roads are without travelers but the poet felt the sounds of God's step on lonely roads. The poet also imagined his corporeal frame or human body as a house where all senses were compared to the gates. He considered that all the gates were opened in his house. It means he was awaking with full sense. He prayed God not to pass by as dream. He expressed it in the lines 12-14 (Gitanjali, poem-22).

 In the poem no-63, the poet imagined his skeleton as his ‘accustomed shelter’. He forgot that it was the God who was only the old among the new. Death is inevitable. No one is immortal. The poet didn't get escape from the hands of death. He had compared his existing human body with old home which he had to leave within short span of time and his heart felt uneasy assuming that.The poet used the word ‘new’ to imply the new formation of body through rebirth. The poet expressed the above in the line 6-9 (Gitanjali, poem-63).

 In the poem no-71, the poet considered that the God's Maya made illusion in poet's mind and under this illusion the poet considered his all growth by him. The poet also imagined that his human body is the existence of living God but the self separated God’s spirit had taken its formation in poet’s body. He expressed it in the lines 7-8 (Gitanjali, poem-71).         

                                      

 In the poem no -74, he imagined that the day(youth) had gone, shadow(death) was overpowering his life. He imagined him as empty pitcher which he wanted to fill up with spirituality. He expressed in the lines 1-3 (Gitanjali, poem-74).

 In conclusion we consider that the poet's use of imagery, related to human body, reflect his own feelings, thoughts and emotions and the poet's mind  is eager to fill his empty vessel with spirituality. He has separated the body image and soul image. Body is mortal but soul is immortal and it can take shelter in a body through rebirth system. Soul carries the qualities. The poet wants to fill in his human body with the stream of spirituality.