Meaning of Bengali Poem Purano Sei Diner Kotha by Tagore

Lyric
Purano Sei Diner Kotha, Bhulbi Ki Re, Haye
O Sei Chokher Dekha, Praner Kotha, Sheki Bhola Jai. (2)

Aye Are Ekti Baar, Aye Re Sokha, Praaner Majhe Aye.
Mora Shukher Dukher Kotha Kobo, Praan Jurabe Tai. (2)

Mora Bhorer Bela Phool Tulechi, Dulechi Dolaay—
Baajiye Baansi Gaan Geyechi, Bokuler Tolaay. (2)

Hay Majhe Holo Chhaara Chhaari, Gelem Ke Kothay—
Aabar Dekha Jodi Holo, Sokha, Praaner Maajhe Aye.

Purano Sei Diner Kotha, Bhulbi Ki Re, Haye
O Sei Chokher Dekha, Praner Kotha, Sheki Bhola Jai.

This poem is an immortal and masterpiece creation by the great poet Rabindranath Tagore. This poem speaks about the journey of life starting from the joy of childhood to the nostalgia of adulthood. It tells us that we might have many friends and memories of our childhood but as we become mature these memories fades

Away and the friends break apart. So the poet here again lurks to meet with his old friends and share the moments he had spent, the sorrow and joys of life.

Background
This poem is written by the poet in his aged stage of life. Here the poet feels very nostalgic on recollecting the early days of his childhood where he played with his friends, gossip with them and also mentioned that they suddenly got parted away and the distance between them was never shortened. So the poet at this stage feels that he could again return to his old friends and could enjoy the days which are left.

Structure of the Poem
The poem has been constructed with beautiful harmony and rhythm. It can moreover be called the song of life, covering all the instances of life. The poet provides a beautiful picturesque imagery about his childhood days and how he wishes in his late life to again return back to those days. It fill the mind of the readers with deep sorrow when we come to know about this sorrowful story in the poet’s life. The poet has ornamented the poem with many figure of speech such as alliteration, simile etc, which has made the poem more beautiful.

Analysis
"Purano Sei Diner Kotha, Bhulbi Ki Re, Haye
O Sei Chokher Dekha, Praner Kotha, Sheki Bhola Jai.
’’

The poet here recollects the memories of his childhood days which cannot be forgotted. He feels nostalgic remembering his golden days of his early life which he misses now. During childhood one is free of duties and responsibilities and his mind is free, so in those days one enjoys its life to its utmost but as one grows up he has to bear all burdens of responsibilities bearing all the stresses of life. So the poet here cannot forget the golden memories of his childhood days which he still nurtured in his mind. The poet thinks that early stress free life is far more better than the life which the poet lives now. So he repeats the line twice to give stress to his feelings.

"Aye Are Ekti Baar, Aye Re Sokha, Praaner Majhe Aye.
Mora Shukher Dukher Kotha Kobo, Praan Jurabe Tai.
"

The poet eagerly wishes if he could again return back to his days of childhood where he could enjoy play and gossip with his friends as he used to do before and led a carefree life which he devoid of. He wishes to again meet with his early friends and enjoy the same enjoyment which is used to experience in those days. Now in his aged life he has nobody to share his sorrow and pain so he wishes if he return back to his childhood and share his stories of pain and sorrow with his early friends as he used to do before when he was a child and lighten his heart by giving out the sorrow and by taking in joy.

"Mora Bhorer Bela Phool Tulechi, Dulechi Dolaay—
Baajiye Baansi Gaan Geyechi, Bokuler Tolaay.
"

The poet here is recollecting his memories about the activities he used to do in his childhood days. He used to do everything he wanted to. He used to get up early in the morning and used to pick flowers under the trees and swing with his friends to and fro enjoying life to its utmost. But now the poet thinks that he has lost everything. He thinks that life is now dark and is waiting for death. He used to play around with his friends, playing flute under the Bokul tree which he still clearly remembers and misses now.

"Hay Majhe Holo Chhaara Chhaari, Gelem Ke Kothay—
Aabar Dekha Jodi Holo, Sokha, Praaner Maajhe Aye.
"

The poet here tells the readers that he had a great unity with his friends, sharing everything but suddenly the poet mentions that there was a sudden breakup and they were separated forever. They went very far from each other but the poet still remembers the unity with his friends. The poet lurks to meet his friends again and share the joy and sorrow which he used to do before with his friends.

‘‘purano Sei Diner Kotha, Bhulbi Ki Re, Haye
O Sei Chokher Dekha, Praner Kotha, Sheki Bhola Jai
’’.

The poet is again repeating this line again in order emphasize the fact to the readers that it is the poets uttermost wish to again return back to his childhood days and again experience, visualize and feel how valuable and golden were the days which he had left behind.

Summary
The poet hare speaks about his journey of life. The poet here writes the poem in his late adult hood recollecting the moment of his joyful childhood. At that stage of life he thinks that he has nothing left and seems that his life has been covered in darkness, eagerly waiting for death. So he wishes to go back to the days of his childhood where he could again play with his old friends with whom he had separated long time ago. He recollects and tells the readers that again he wants go get up early in the dawn and pick up flowers and could swing in the garden to and fro with his friends. His narrates the whole jocund company with whom he used to spent the most of his time but later got separated. By only remembering these days he could not help himself but to be gay but also feel a bit lonely being parted from his beloved friends.

Here the poet mainly wants to tell the readers that when one is small, immature he is free of duties and stress of this world. So he tells that this part of the life is the best part which one experiences in life. But as one grow up his pull of duties and responsibilities compels him to separate from the jocund company of life.