The Astronomer
Rabindranath Tagore
Detailed Summary:
The Astronomer is a tender and imaginative poem about the difference between a child’s wonder and an adult’s logic. The poem is in the form of a conversation between a young child and her elder brother, Dada. One evening, the child sees the full moon entangled in the branches of a tree and innocently asks if someone can catch it.
However, Dada laughs at the child and dismisses her question, calling her silly and foolish. He tries to explain logically that the moon is very far away, and no one can catch it. But the child is not convinced. She compares the moon to their mother, who also appears far when she looks out of the window but seems close when she smiles or kisses them.
In each exchange, the child shows imagination and emotional understanding, while Dada keeps correcting her with scientific logic. The child’s questions reflect her innocence and poetic view of the world, whereas Dada represents rational thinking. This contrast creates a beautiful and humorous reflection on how children perceive the world.
Theme of the Poem:
- The innocence and imagination of childhood
- The contrast between emotional perception and logical reasoning
- Wonder and curiosity in the child’s perspective
- Science vs. poetic imagination