Palanquin Bearers by Sarojini Naidu - Poetry: The Best Words in the Best Order - #BlogchatterA2ZChallenge2021

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 PALANQUIN BEARERS

SAROJINI NAIDU

                                       Digital Art - Latha Gokuldas Panicker


Lightly, o lightly we bear her along,

She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;

She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,

                                                                          Getty Images

She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.

Gaily, o gaily we glide and we sing,

We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

Softly, o softly we bear her along,

She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;

                                                                           Jooinn

She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,

She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.

Lightly, o lightly we glide and we sing,

We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

The Poet: Sarojini Naidu (1879 - 1949)

Sarojini Naidu is known as much for her political activism as for her exquisite poetry, which inspired Mahatma Gandhi to dub her the 'Nightingale of India' or 'Bharat Kokila'. National luminaries like the Mahatma, Rabindranath Tagore and Gopalakrishna Gokhale inspired her to work for the freedom struggle against the British. She was the first woman President of the National Congress.

Her poems have a lyrical quality about them and are replete with rich imagery. Their themes range from love, life, separation and death. Many of her poems are so vivid that they can be adapted to the stage as well. Some of her most loved poems are 'The Gift of India', 'Coromandel Fishers', 'In the Bazaars of Hyderabad', 'The Bangle Sellers' and of course, 'Palanquin Bearers'. Often, one finds a refrain in her poems that gives them a lilting rhythm that falls pleasantly on the ear.

In the days of yore, brides were carried on beautifully decorated palanquins by sturdy palanquin bearers. It was considered an honour and a privilege to carry the bride thus. 'Palanquin Bearers' brings this joy alive in the delicate usage of images and the refrain that goes along with the movement of the palanquin bearers.
                                                                                  Pinterest

The simplicity of the words used and the exquisite similes create a vivid word picture in the minds of the reader. As the bride is transported to her new home, her emotions of joy and trepidation come through. The palanquin bearers are aware of the delicate treasure that they are carrying and they do so with jubilation.

I have always loved this poem for its evocative imagery. Once again, this is a poem that embodies the truism "Poetry: The Best Words in the Best Order".  

                                                                             India.com



This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2ZChallenge2021

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Comments

  1. beingFab4/20/2021 09:48:00 AM

    Beautiful! Such lovely words to describe the bride!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. deepti menon4/21/2021 12:47:00 AM

      Yes, indeed, beingFab, that is the beauty of the poem, and the magic of poetry in general. Thank you for your comment.

      Delete
  2. Harshita Nanda4/20/2021 06:39:00 PM

    I love her poems, they are on surface so simple but yet have such vivid descriptions!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. deepti menon4/21/2021 12:47:00 AM

      I agree with all my heart, Harshita. She is a magical poet.

      Delete

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