The day is no more, the shadow is upon the earth (Song 74) by Rabindranath Tagore (Poem, Summary & Analysis)

 

The day is no more, the shadow is upon the earth (Song 74) by Rabindranath Tagore (Poem, Summary & Analysis) 

The day is no more, the shadow is upon the earth. It is time that I go to the stream to fill my pitcher.

The evening air is eager with the sad music of the water. Ah, it calls me out into the dusk. In the lonely lane there is no passer by, the wind is up, the ripples are rampant in the river.

I know not if I shall come back home. I know not whom I shall chance to meet. There at the fording in the little boat the unknown man plays upon his lute.

The day is no more, the shadow is upon the earth. It is time that I go to the stream to fill my pitcher.

 

Summary

The poet’s song is about his deep wish to meet his Lord. He feels like the guide inside him is helping him move closer to the true meaning of his desire. As evening comes, the world feels sad, and the air is filled with soft, sad music. It seems to be inviting the poet to meet his beloved in the fading light of the day.

The poet imagines himself as a woman who goes to the stream to fill her water pitcher. The path is empty, and the sound of the water calls out to her. She isn’t sure if she will return home or who she will meet. Then, she hears joyful music from a stranger playing a lute. The poet feels that someone is encouraging him to meet someone special in the evening. He calls this guiding voice his "Jeevan Devta," the Lord of his life, a part of himself that leads him happily through all difficulties.

Even though the evening is lonely, and the path is unclear, the woman feels the urge to keep going. Finally, she hears the sweet music of her Lord.

 

Critical Analysis

The poet is pulled into the unknown, searching for meaning in life, just like a woman is drawn to a stream. She can't resist the river, the evening air, the ripples in the water, and the sound of the flute. These images remind us of the Krishna legend. The river, the water pitcher, and the flute symbolize the story of Krishna and the Gopis. The quiet path and the moving water add a touch of romance and show the emotions in the woman's heart. The evening scene is also very beautiful.