Final Poems

by Rabindranath Tagore, Wendy Barker, Saranindranath Tagore

The brilliant and immensely prolific Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) is known the world over for his accomplished works in an astoundingly wide range of fiction, short stories, poetry, drama, and essays. During the final year of his life, while suffering from the painful illness that would eventually end in his death, Tagore completed four volumes of poetry that expressed the emotional turmoil of facing one's own imminent extinction. Appearing here for the first time in English is a selection of these extraordinary poems that captures as closely as possible the beauty and subtlety of Tagore's original Bengali verses. A marked departure from Tagore's earlier work, these poems are, as the translators say, "so compact that it is almost as if [he]...were going beyond words, as if language no longer suffices, and yet, of course, the language radiates meaning." Poised between life and death, Tagore is awed by the beauty of this world and glimpses in it the presence of the infinite ("Such splendor illuminates a deathlessness/ hidden in the everyday by our senses' limits"). At other times, "alone by sorrow's last window," he is gripped by the sheer terror of experiencing the relentless approach of death. Tagore was so weak at the end that he had to dictate his poems. Although the pain was often excruciating and the fear and anger overwhelming, he still exulted in life. In these poems, from his deathbed, he conveys the intense joy of living and his ultimate triumph over death.

Genres: Poetry

104 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 "because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the West."

Tagore modernised Bengali art by spurning rigid classical forms and resisting linguistic strictures. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to topics political and personal. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works, and his verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed—or panned—for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and unnatural contemplation. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla.

The complete works of Rabindranath Tagore (রবীন্দ্র রচনাবলী) in the original Bengali are now available at these third-party websites:
http://www.tagoreweb.in/
http://www.rabindra-rachanabali.nltr....

Reviews

[Julia Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tagore has long been one of my favorite poets, but this book made me appreciate him even more. I learned much from the preface by Wendy Barker, who explains the challenge of translation from a language as complex as Bengali; then a beautiful introduction from Tagore's great-grandson Saranindranath, who shares stories about the impact, throughout the world, of Tagore's poems and other writings.

These poems were written in 1940 and 1941, just before Tagore died. Their themes are therefore about farewells, contemplations of life and death, examinations of the human experience. Like all of Tagore's poetry, they seem to find just the right (and often the most beautiful) words to express our shared dilemma. Many of them moved me to tears, and in a poem entitled "Sickbed 21" I found beautiful words about Tagore's profession: "I am a poet--I won't take sides/I see the world whole/the billions of planets and stars in the sky/balancing vast beauty."

[ABEER · Rating 3 out of 5]

Downloaded this book randomly but I was astonished by Rabindranath Tagore for I have never known him before. His poetry seems very deep and needs some time to think about what you’re reading. Felt weird sometimes because of the arrangements of words and had to translate almost all poems but overall it’s great in meaning.

[Nareen · Rating 4 out of 5]

my first poetry book and certainly not my last. wanted to read tagore to connect more with my culture and motherland. this was such an insightful read; tagore has such a way of talking about grief and coming to terms with death. definitely will be reading more of his work

favorites: recovery 6, on my birthday 26, last poems 13

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The language and lyricism is beautiful. The representation of illness, its rhythms and effects, makes being here and being human cry out with life.

This book is achingly beautiful. At times I was stunned and reread and reread and reread.

[Christopher Mitchell]

Considering these are the final words of this man, I don't necessarily feel right about giving it a rating or a value. His style wasn't always for me, but it's a powerful book, and I'm happy I was able to connect with it in certain parts.

[Kristen Iworsky]

It was interesting to learn more about Rabindranath Tagore and actually read some of his poetry.

[Majestativa]

The skilled art of death dispersed through the dark.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tagore is a legendary writer in India. This collection gathers and translates from the four books he wrote in the final year of his life, struggling with illness and coming to terms with his inevitable death. A beautiful collection.

[Shikha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timeless. True to the words and language.

[Amy (Other Amy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Distant, fragile, pale blue of sky
above the forest trees lifting
their arms, a silent offering of green.
Winter's tender sun on earth
spreads a shawl of clear light.
I am writing this down before
the painter, indifferent, wipes clean the canvas.

A coworker recently gave me a quote by Rabindranath Tagore for a list I keep. This was the first I'd heard of this giant of a human being. To think I might have gone through life without knowing there was such a person! I happened on this slim volume of poems in my local library and instantly put it in my stack.

There are two decent introductions which give some background (necessary as these poems were written in his last years and apparently represent a certain break from his previous work - both in philosophy and form). Then there are 39 free verse poems focused tightly on the interplay of life and death and the poet's mortality. Someone else said they were overwrought; I found them almost spartan and utterly beautiful. I am reminded some of Hopkins. These are followed by notes from the translator on individual poems, which are also nice to have.

My complaint, such as it is, is with the translators. I really don't understand why they didn't translate all of the poems (as there are apparently around 100) and simply present them in chronological order instead of following the first Bengali publications. I have no idea if the rest are available in English, and it would have been wonderful to have the whole collection from this time frame. So I'm off to look for the rest, I guess.

(Edited 6/25/15 to clean up issues with writing reviews by phone.)

[India · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion Tagore is an important historical figure whose contribution to India's fate nearly equals that of Gandhi's. This is, in part, due to his writings, which include poetry. However, taken out of their historic context, the poems don't fare as well as one would wish. Today they seems almost embarrassingly overwrought. If you love Rumi, no matter the translator, then you'll probably do OK with Tagore.

[Rei ⭐ [TrulyBooked] · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I had read from Tagore before this was his novel "Gora". I have to say I am not fond of his prose, but I am in love with his poetry. Not since Basho have I been so touched by poetry, so immersed in the beauty of his words. The fact that these are poems taken from his death bed makes it even more momentous. I will be searching for more poetry from Tagore after this.

[Marichú Loera · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Que mi corazón se incliné ante el suave contacto
Del viento que sopla desde el corazón del universo,
Del viento loco de la vida, cargado de canciones"