What divine drink wouldst thou have (Song 65) by Rabindranath Tagore (Poem, Summary & Analysis)

 

What divine drink wouldst thou have (Song 65) by Rabindranath Tagore (Poem, Summary & Analysis) 

What divine drink wouldst thou have, my God, from this overflowing cup of my life?

My poet, is it thy delight to see thy creation through my eyes and to stand at the portals of my ears silently to listen to thine own eternal harmony?

Thy world is weaving words in my mind and thy joy is adding music to them. Thou givest thyself to me in love and then feelest thine own entire sweetness in me.

What divine drink wouldst thou have, my God, from this overflowing cup of my life?

 

Summary

One special feature of Indian devotional poetry is that God is seen in many different forms. He can be a lover, a king, a beggar's hope, a devotee’s God, a traveler's destination, and in this poem, He is the poet's poet. The connection between God and the devotee is shown as a deep, mutual bond of love.

God reveals Himself through Nature and shares in the eternal joy of humanity. Human life, given by God, is like a cup from which He drinks the love and devotion of His followers. In this sense, He becomes the poet's muse, inspiring the poet’s words, and finding joy in the songs that are written. God enjoys creating the world, and He finds happiness in the celebration of His creation. Humanity is like an instrument on which God plays beautiful melodies, delighting in His own music.

The joy of the poet is God’s joy. Through the poet’s eyes, God sees His creation, and He listens quietly to the eternal harmony of His work. The world, created by God, provides the poet with the words for his songs, and God fills them with music. God's love is a gift to humanity, and He experiences His own sweetness in people. God is the love of humankind, the inspiration for poets, the delight of the human soul, and the music in every musician’s song. He comes to fulfill each person's desires and finds joy in their union with His infinite love, the Almighty.

 

Critical Analysis

The poem takes a mystical view, showing the deep connection between humans and God. It speaks of an everlasting bond filled with love, devotion, purity, and spirituality. This relationship brings a sense of peace and joy to both God and people. God created everything with joy, and He delights in the happiness of humans when they experience the spiritual bliss that comes from their union with Him through a pure heart.