Thy sunbeam comes upon this earth (Song 68) by Rabindranath Tagore
Thy
sunbeam comes upon this earth of mine with arms outstretched and stands at my
door the livelong day to carry back to thy feet clouds made of my tears and
sighs and songs.
With
fond delight thou wrappest about thy starry breast that mantle of misty cloud,
turning it into numberless shapes and folds and colouring it with hues ever
changing.
It
is so light and so fleeting, tender and tearful and dark, that is why thou
lovest it, O thou spotless and serene. And that is why it may cover thy awful
white light with its pathetic shadows.
Thy
sunbeam comes upon this earth of mine with arms outstretched and stands at my
door the livelong day to carry back to thy feet clouds made of my tears and
sighs and songs.
The
poem is simple and lovely, celebrating devotion to God. The poet praises God’s
love, kindness, and gentle nature, thanking Him for His grace and humility. The
poet feels God’s presence on Earth, comparing sunlight from heaven to a
mother’s arms reaching out to hug her child. This sunlight carries the poet’s
tears, sighs, and sorrows up to God. The poet believes God listens to
everyone’s cries and thanks, holding their pain close—even though it may dim
His bright light. God accepts these human struggles with care and compassion.
God’s
love is calm yet deeply affected by human sorrow. Out of love, He allows
people’s cries to reach Him, embracing them even if they bring shadows. God
loves and cares for everything He has created, showing kindness, gentleness,
and grace. He cares for the smallest creatures and knows when people suffer,
nurturing them like a mother and protecting them like a father. He isn’t
troubled by their sadness but accepts it lovingly.
The
images in this poem are beautiful and drawn from nature—like clouds, flowers,
sunlight, and changing seasons. Inspired by the Bengal countryside, Tagore’s
nature imagery gives his work a special, unique touch.
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