Poem Analysis - The Gardener 39 Try To Weave A Wreath

A Playful Pursuit of Intimacy

Rabindranath Tagore's "The Gardener 39: Try to weave a wreath" is a delicate dance between playful frustration and longing for intimacy. The poem opens with a speaker stymied in their attempts at creative expression, seemingly thwarted by a silent, observing figure. This dynamic creates a tone of lighthearted exasperation that gradually shifts towards a deeper yearning for connection, culminating in a quiet plea for unspoken communication and shared presence.

Hindrances and Hidden Observation

One central theme is the **hindrance of expression**. The speaker's attempts to "weave a wreath" and "sing a song" are both met with failure. The flowers "slip and they drop out," and the voice loses itself in silence. This represents a block in the speaker's ability to communicate through traditional means. This difficulty is directly linked to the presence of the observer, who watches "in secret through the corner of your prying eyes." This image suggests a mischievous, almost teasing presence that inhibits the speaker's efforts.

The Silent Language of Longing

Another significant theme is the **yearning for intimacy** beyond words. The shift in the poem occurs as the speaker realizes the futility of forced expression. Instead of continuing to struggle with the wreath and the song, the speaker turns to the observer, asking the "smiling lips" to explain the failure and ultimately requesting to "sit by your side." This signifies a move towards a deeper, more intimate connection, one that transcends verbal communication. The desire to be together, to communicate "in silence and in the dim light of stars," underscores the value of shared presence and unspoken understanding.

Eyes and Lips: Vessels of Communication

The poem employs **symbolism** through the recurring images of eyes and lips. The "prying eyes" are initially depicted as a source of mischief and interference, hinting at a playful, perhaps even flirtatious, dynamic. The "smiling lips," trembling with a hidden smile, hold the key to the speaker's artistic failure. However, these symbols transform as the poem progresses. The lips become a vessel for truth ("Let your smiling lips say on oath") and ultimately a means of communication beyond words, tasked to "do the work that can be done in silence." The eyes, initially "prying", disappear in the last stanza, replaced by the promise of shared silence, the visual observation giving way to a different, deeper sense of connection.

A Quiet Resolution

In conclusion, "The Gardener 39: Try to weave a wreath" portrays a journey from frustrated creative expression to a quiet acceptance of unspoken connection. The initial hindrance, personified by the silent observer, leads to a realization that true intimacy lies not in forced communication, but in shared presence and the unspoken language of the heart. The poem subtly suggests that sometimes, the most profound connections are forged not through elaborate creations or eloquent speech, but in the simple act of being together in silence, under the shared gaze of the stars.