The Song That I Came to Sing by Rabindra Nath Tagore (Text & Summary)

The Song That I Came to Sing

by Rabindra Nath Tagore

(Text & Summary)

The poet wants to sing a song but that song is still not complete. He has heard his footsteps but he has neither seen His face nor heard His voice. He has not yet lighted the lamp so he cannot invite God in. Yet, he hopes one day to meet God as he hopes one day to sing his song. Tagore longs for a divine union with God but cannot because his preparation is half-complete. He says, as the lamp needs to be lighted to worship, he needs to be blessed with enlightenment.

The song that I came to sing

The song that I came to sing remains unsung to this day.

I have spent my days in stringing and in unstringing my instrument.

The time has not come true, the words have not been rightly set; only there is the agony of wishing in my heart. The blossom has not opened; only the wind is sighing by.

I have not seen his face, nor have I listened to his voice; only I have heard his gentle footsteps from the road before my house'.

The livelong day has passed in spreading his seat on the floor; but the lamp has not been lit and I cannot ask him into my house.

I live in the hope of meeting with him; but this meeting is not yet.

Summary

In this poem the poet wants to sing a song and to find God. He says that he was born to sing a certain song but it has not been composed yet. He has been tuning and untuning his musical instrument for the song but the time is not right yet and the lyrics have not been composed properly. The poet is sad because his song has not matured, not flowered, only the wind has been passing by. The poet says, that he has not seen the face of God nor heard His voice but he has heard His gentle footsteps on the road before his house.

The poet has spent the day spreading a mat for his visitor (God) but because he has not been able to light the lamps, he cannot invite Him in. The poet hopes to meet God one day, but that day is far to come.

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