explanation of poem palanquin bearers
Answers
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,
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;
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.
By Sarojini Naidu
About The Poet :
Sarojini Naidu was born on February 13th 1879 in Hyderabad. She was a political activist and played an active role in the freedom struggle of India. She was the first Indian woman to become the president of the Indian National Congress. In 1947 she became the governor of the United Provinces (U.P.), a position she retained till her death in 1949. Apart from her political career she was also an avid poetry writer. For her beautiful poetry she has been lovingly called The Nightingale of India. Some of her major contributions are The Golden Threshold and The Bird of Time. In 1914 she was elected as fellow of The Royal Society of Literature. Her collected English poems have been published in The Sceptred Flute and The Feather at the Dawn.
Words to Know :
Sway : move from side to side
Skim : glide smoothly over something
Foam : mass of small bubbles, froth
Gaily : merrily, happily
Dew : condensed drops of water
Beam : ray of light, broad smile
The Palanquin Bearers is a beautiful poem of Sarojini Naidu. The poem is the song of the palanquin bearers. The poetess describes how the palanquin bearers are carrying the palanquin from one place to the other. The palanquin swings like a flower in the wind. She glides along in the air like a bird. She floats in the air like a laugh in dream. She looks like a pearl hanging on a staring. The palanquin looks to be hanging like a star on a dew drop. She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride. The fact is the that the poem is not about the bride inside the palanquin but it is about palanquin itself. The poetess has glorified the poem by using beautiful similies.
It is a song of the palanquin bearers who sing to relieve themselves of the tedium of journey. The palanquin bearers are carrying a palanquin from one place to another place. The sweet melody of the poem and the gentle touch of imagination have added to the beauty of the poem. it is not correct to think that the poem is about the bride inside the palanquin itself. The phrase 'from the eyes of a bride' in line 10 clearly proves it. The lyric is characterised by the simplicity, spontaneity , brevity , music and melody. There is a vivid , colourful and sensuous imagery used in the poem. The smooth flow of lines and the soft rhythm produce pleasing musical effect. The poem abounds in similies and metaphors