Introduction of the Poem:
The poem entitled "Palanquin Bearers" is the opening poem of "The Sceptered Flute", a collection of Sarojini's poems. The poetess vividly recreates the scene of the 19th century and the early decades of the present century when the cars were not in fashion for carrying the brides to their husbands' house. On those days even the ladies of royal families were carried in the palki to their relatives. The brides too were carried in the palki. In any city of Northern India, particularly in Hyderabad palki was in fashion. The curtains were hanging as windows through which the ladies and brides could get the glimpse of outside. Palkis were carried on shoulders of two or four persons using bamboo-sticks for support. In order to avoid the physical tiredness and boredom of the way, the palanquin bearers used to sing.
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| Poem Palanquin-Bearers— Summary and Critical Analysis |
In this fine lyric, the palanquin bearers sing a melodious song, as they carry a young bride or maiden. The bearers sing song in rhythmic harmony with their footsteps. They are conscious of the beauty and tenderness of the lady they are bearing.
Critical Points of the Poem:
1. The palanquin sways like a bird, floats like a laugh and looks like a pearl on string.
2. She looks to be hanging like a star on a dew drop.
3. She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.
4. The bearers sing to relieve themselves of the tedium of the journey.
5. While carrying the palanquin, the palanquin bearers feel happiness and sing song.
Summary of the Poem:
Stanza 1:
The palanquin bearers carry the palanquin, with bride inside it, very lightly. The poetess compares the palanquin to a flower and song of the bearers to the wind. The palanquin moves to and fro like a flower in the wind. The palanquin glides along in the air as a bird moves on a stream. She floats in the air as laughter in dream. The palanquin bearers sing joyfully while they carry the palanquin. The poetess compares the palanquin with a pearl of string.
Stanza 2:
The palanquin bearers carry the palanquin softly. The palanquin hangs like a star in the dew of the song of the bearers. She jumps like a ray of light. She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride. The palanquin bearers sing while marching forward. The palanquin looks like a pearl hanging on a string.
Critical Appreciation of the Poem:
Introduction:
Poem "Palanquin Bearers" is the opening poem of "The Sceptred Flute" In the present poem, the poetess depicts those days when the palanquin was in fashion and the brides and the ladies of noble families were carried from one place to another place by the palanquin. The tradition of palanquin was in fashion in the 19th century or even early 20th century. In Hyderabad, the palanquins were used to carry the noble ladies to their relatives of distant areas.
Thought Content:
In the present poem, the poetess has described the scene of palanquin bearers. The poetess also describes the actions of the palanquin bearers who carry the palanquin. The poetess has given a life description of a palanquin. The poem itself reveals that it is about the palanquin itself.
Style and Form:
There are two stanzas in the poem, each of six rhymed verses. The first and fifth verse in each stanza serves as a refrain, begin with a dactyl and softly deviate into anapests, and the other verses begin with an iamb and glide into anapests. The palanquin sways along with a swift movement with a rise and fall in the palanquin bearers' footsteps, which is deftly caught by the poetess by using as rhythm of comparatively swift movement with stressed and unstressed sounds, so that strict correspondence is maintained between the swift movement of the palanquin-bearers and the rapid rhythm of the poem. The tune and movement are simultaneously felt.
The poem is very simple. The sweet melody of the poem and gentle touch of imagination have added to the beauty of the poem. The smooth lines and the lilting rhythm produce pleasing musical effect. The poetess has given a graphic picture of the movement of the palanquin. There are glimpses of simile in the lines "She sways like a flower”; "She skims like a bird”; "She floats like a laugh”; "We wear her along like a pearl on a string." The poetess uses the pronoun "she" for the palanquin. It is good idea to show respect. The poetess has also used the figure of speech metaphor in the line "the brow of the tide".
Imagery:
The poem is an exquisite piece of poetic art. It expresses the feelings and admiration of the bearers. The theme of the poem is purely Indian. Sarojini wrote in English but she invariably chose her themes from the Indian life. This poem also shows Indian tradition. By presenting the image of palanquin, she presents the simplicity of Indian life. It may be called a representative poem of the poetess. The scene and song of the palanquin bearers provide a kind of peace and relax. The two images "she falls like a tear from the eye of a bride" and "she springs like a beam on the brow of the tide" are indeed remarkable and bring us close to the Indian experience. The first image bears out the age-old story of an Indian bride's sadness, whatever be the reason, on being separated from the parents or the husband or any other thing. It may be nostalgic, but approximates closely to the Indian experience. The other image of a beam of light flashing across the "brow" of a tide is apt in so far as it suggests a psychic and spiritual illumination, a ray of hope through despair, a beam of light through sorrow, a flash of light through darkness.