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The Last Bargain
Rabindranath Tagore
SHILPA SHARMA
About the Poet: Rabindranath Tagore
7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941
Introduction
Bengali poet, writer, composer, and painter.
He became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his collection of poems Gitanjali.
About the Poem: The Last Bargain
This poem is written in free verse.
It conveys the idea that material wealth, power and beauty are worthless.
The poet is in search of a metaphorical job which will give him eternal bliss and freedom.
"Come and hire me," I cried, while in the morning
I was walking on the stone-paved road.
Sword in hand, the King came in his chariot.
He held my hand and said, "I will hire you with my power."
But his power counted for nought, and he went away in his chariot.
In the heat of the midday the houses stood with shut doors.
I wandered along the crooked lane.
An old man came out with his bag of gold.
He pondered and said, "I will hire you with my money."
He weighed his coins one by one, but I turned away.
It was evening. The garden hedge was all aflower.
The fair maid came out and said, "I will hire you with a smile."
Her smile paled and melted into tears, and she went back alone into the dark.
The sun glistened on the sand, and the sea waves broke waywardly.
A child sat playing with shells.
He raised his head and seemed to know me, and said,
"I hire you with nothing."
From thenceforward that bargain struck in child's play made me a free man.
Explanation
Stanza 1
"Come and hire me," I cried, while in the morning
I was walking on the stone-paved road.
Sword in hand, the King came in his chariot.
He held my hand and said, "I will hire you with my power."
But his power counted for nought, and he went away in his chariot.
I: The poet
Stanza 1
Chariot: Two wheeled, horse drawn vehicle
Hire: Employ
Nought: Nothing
Stanza 2
In the heat of the midday the houses stood with shut doors.
I wandered along the crooked lane.
An old man came out with his bag of gold.
He pondered and said, "I will hire you with my money."
He weighed his coins one by one, but I turned away.
Stanza 2
Wander: Roam around
Crooked: Curved
Stanza 3
It was evening.
The garden hedge was all aflower.
The fair maid came out and said, "I will hire you with a smile."
Her smile paled and melted into tears, and she went back alone into the dark.
Hedge: A barrier of bushes
Stanza 3
Fair Maid: Beautiful Girl
Paled: Faded away
Stanza 4
The sun glistened on the sand, and the sea waves broke waywardly.
A child sat playing with shells.
He raised his head and seemed to know me, and said,
"I hire you with nothing."
From thenceforward that bargain struck in child's play made me a free man.
Stanza 4
Glistened: Sparkled
Wayward: Unpredictable and deviated
Themes:
Thank You!!
Freedom
Power and money are confining forces. They can never give you true freedom.
Analysis
Worthlessness of Material Wealth
Money does not stay forever. Beauty fades away with age. Material wealth does not stay forever.
Satisfaction
True satisfaction comes from innocence and kindness which touch the soul.