write the summary of the poem 'The Child'
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Rabindranath Tagore’s “The Child” was originally written in English in a single night and later translated into Bengali as Sishutirtha (Iyengar, p. 119). Tagore’s “The Child” was originally written in English in a single night, and later translated into Bengali as Sishutirtha. The poem is significant as it is Tagore’s only poem written in English. Tanusree Shankar’s interpretation depicts it as “a flowing, rhythmic, spiritual journey of Man through the ages, from the bondage of ignorance, ultimately to the freedom of enlightenment and self realization. At the same time, it may also be considered a celebration of the mother – the feminine principle in the universe. “
The poem portrays man’s journey from the futility of existence and darkness of ignorance to the sprouting of new life as represented by the child. The first flush of dawn reflects on the dew-dripping leaves of the forest. ‘Flush’ connotes a strong emotion and a question, the response of which the sky seeks. The light of sky gets reflected in the objects of the earth. Parallel to this phenomenon is the man who reads the skies, forecasts the climate or predicts the future. “Friends, we have come!” Parallel to this is the saying that they have arrived.
In response to the earlier question, the ripe corn endeavours to respond reaching to the skies. The companions also have a searching gaze as though they are in a quest. On both sides of the road, one finds the corn. The time is ripe and so is the harvest. The ripe golden corn is the glad golden answer of the earth to the morning light. The corn is ripe and golden, and doubly because sunlight shines on the corn. On both sides of the road, the corn is ripe. In between the current of daily life moves on. ‘Current’ signifies kinetic as opposed to static. The word ‘current’ also signifies the latent energy beneath the Life that moves on between the village near the hill and the one near the bank. Here, the high and the low, and the terrestrial and aquatic are abridged. The motion also gives a zig-zag graph that is again representative of current. The word ‘daily’ makes the affair a quotidian one, and hence mechanical. The potter’s wheel goes round and round, and also symbolizes the routine revolution of the earth. The cow-herd takes his cattle to the pasture, and the woman with the pitcher on her head walks to the well.
However, one fails to fathom where the King’s castle is: this quest alludes to the kingdom of God. One fails to dig the mine of Gold, or locate the secret book of magic in this expedition of life. One cannot comprehend where the sage is, who knows love’s utter wisdom .The reader of the sky holds the conviction that the stars cannot be wrong. Their signal points to that spot. Their signal points to the ultimate destination or aim.
With all reverence, the person walks to the wayside spring from which a stream of water emerges. The morning melts into a chorus of tears and laughter. The heterogeneous people are united in their emotions. The chorus comprises of everything that is high key and low key. The poet portrays the soul as it unites with the paramatma, and all human emotions are no longer balanced, as one gains precedence over the other. It is in a neutral or inert state. The light is portrayed as liquid light. Just as liquid can assume the shape of the container it fills; this light suits any person who is in search for it and is kinetic and capable of radiating and generating energy like liquids do. The poet utilizes the word melting to show how transition takes place smoothly. Adjacent to it, in a palm grove surrounded by a strange hush, stands a leaf-thatched hut. The palm is a symbol of peace and serenity; and the palm branch symbolizes triumph.
The date palm was a symbol of the Tree of Life in many traditions including the Genesis story of the tree in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:9,; 3:22-24). It was sacred to Greeks, Egyptians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, and Romans. The date palm flourished throughout the Middle East as long as 5000 years ago. At the time of Christ, forests of date palms grew in Palestine.
The palm tree, because of its height and its fruit clusters, symbolized fertility, the sun, growth, stature, sexual satisfaction, and female beauty (Song 7:7-8). The Lord compared idols to palm trees which could not speak or move or indeed do anything of their own volition (Jer 10:5). The phrase “palm branch and bulrush” meant “from the greatest to the least”