SONG OF A DREAM - Sarojini Naidu (Poem)

 First Bell Online Class - 17 - 26 August 2021

PROFILE

Sarojini Naidu (13 February 1879-2 March 1949) also known as The Nightingale of India, was an activist of the freedom movement in India. Her major contributions in the field of poetry were beautiful poems that could also be sung, Her famous works include The Golden Threshold,' "The Bird of Time,' The Broken Wing' and "The Sceptred Flute.'

About the poet

Sarojini Naidu is a poet of colour, melody and beauty. She is a true patriot who wrote English poetry which is Indian to the core. Her poems are noted for their romantic fervour, felicity of expression and the intensity of feeling conveyed in an extremely sensuous manner. They are rich in powerful lyricism, imaginative appeal and imagery. Sarojini Naidu's major themes are nature, love, life and death. Her art is outstanding because the technical skill of her poetry is high. Though her themes are ordinary and common, they lend her poems a visionary elevation and a sense of personal immediacy. She is a true poet in her imaginative handling of the language and she is hailed as 'the Nightingale of India.'

Entry Activity

1. Do you have dreams?

Yes, of course, Sarojini Naidu also had a beautiful dream. She had a beautiful vision of her motherland.

About the poem

'Song of a Dream' is a beautiful lyric written in a philosophical mood about a dream in which the poet attains perfect peace and serenity. In her dream, she interacts with the spirits of Love, Peace and Truth. This poem abounds in romanticism, lyricism and imagination. It mirrors patriotism, gaiety and serenity. This song is featured under Songs of Music in The Golden Threshold, a collection of songs and poems by Sarojini Naidu, published in 1905. Sarojini was just 17 years old when she wrote many of the poems included in that book.

POEM

ONCE in the dream of a night, I stood

Lone in the light of a magical wood,

Soul-deep in visions that poppy-like sprang;

And spirits of Truth were the birds that sang,

And spirits of Love were the stars that glowed,

And spirits of Peace were the streams that flowed

In that magical wood in the land of sleep.

Lone in the light of that magical grove,

I felt the stars of the spirits of Love

Gather and gleam round my delicate youth,

And I heard the song of the spirits of Truth,

To quench my longing I bent me low

By the streams of the spirits of Peace that flow

In that magical wood in the land of sleep.

Scaffolding questions

1. What is the poet speaking about?

She is speaking about her dream

2. What are the words or expressions that strike you the most? Write them down.

dream of a night, magical grove, poppy like sprang.

 Poppy flowers

 First Bell Online Class - 18 - 3 September 2021

ഒരിക്കൽ ഒരു രാത്രിയിലെ സ്വപ്നത്തിൽ 

ഞാൻ ഒറ്റയ്ക്ക് ഒരു മാന്ത്രിക വനത്തിൽ 

പ്രകാശത്തിൽ നിന്ന് 

മനസ്സ് നിറയെ ദൃശ്യങ്ങൾ 

പോപ്പി പൂക്കളെ പോലെ പൊട്ടി വിരിഞ്ഞു 

അവിടെ പാടിയ പക്ഷികൾ 

സത്യത്തിന്റെ ദേവതകൾ ആയിരുന്നു 

തിളങ്ങിയ നക്ഷത്രങ്ങൾ 

സ്നേഹത്തിന്റെ ദേവതകൾ ആയിരുന്നു

അവിടെ ഒഴുകിയ അരുവികൾ 

സമാധാനത്തിന്റെ ദേവതകൾ ആയിരുന്നു 

നിദ്രയുടെ നാട്ടിലെ ആ മാന്ത്രിക വനത്തിൽ 

ഏകയായി ആ മാന്ത്രിക തോപ്പിലെ പ്രകാശത്തിൽ എനിക്കയു തോന്നി 

സ്നേഹത്തിന്റെ ആത്മാക്കളായി 

ആ നക്ഷത്രങ്ങൾ മൃദുവായ എന്റെ

യുവത്വത്തിന്റെ ചുറ്റും ഒതുക്കുടി തെളിയുന്നതായി,

ഞാൻ കേട്ടു സത്യത്തിന്റെ ആത്മാക്കളുടെ സംഗീതം 

എന്റെ ആഗ്രഹങ്ങളെ ശമിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിലേക്ക്‌

ഞാൻ പ്രണമിച്ചു, സമാധാനത്തിന്റെ ആതമകളായ

അരുവികൾക്കു അരികിൽ ഉറക്കത്തിന്റെ 

നാട്ടിലെ ആ മാന്ത്രിക വനത്തിൽ 

(Translation from Kerala English Language Teacher's Association)

1. Write down all images that come into your mind.

Answer - night, woods, poppy, birds, stars, streams, light, youth, gleam etc.

3. What might be the age of the poet? Is she a child, a young girl, a middle aded woman, or an old lady?

Answer: A young girl

Gist of the poem

The poet is speaking about her dream in this poem. She is alone in a magical wood where beautiful and soulful visions sprung before her like poppies. The spirit of truth which appeared in the land of her dreams is compared to singing birds. The sky glitters with the spirit of love which shines bright. The poem evokes auditory images. Thus, air, water, and sky- the key elements of the earth- bloom with the spirits of truth, peace, and love respectively. 

Let's revisit and enjoy the poem

1. In her dream, the poet stood in a magical wood. Have you ever been to a land of imagination in your dream? Share it with your friends.

Answer:  write your own answers.

2. What are the spirits of Peace, Truth, and Love compared to?

Answer: The spirits of Truth, Love, and Peace are compared to the birds, the stars and the streams respectively.

3. Why are the spirits of Truth compared to birds that sing?

Answer: Like birds that sing and spread their message wherever they go, the spirits of Truth proclaim themselves.

4. What does the poet compare the soulful visions to? Comment.

Answer: Soulful visions are compared to poppies. It is an example of simile.

5. What do the spirits of love do?

Answer: The spirits of Love gather and gleam round the poet's delicate youth.

6. How does the poet quench her longing?

Answer: The poet quenches her longing by bending low by the stream of the spirits of peace.

7. What is the magical wood referred to here?

Answer: The magical wood is a perfect land of all ideal values. It stands for her motherland where truth, love and peace co-exist.

Simili - poppy like sprang

Metaphor- spirits of truth were the birds that sang

Alliteration- Lone in the light

Personification - Love, truth, peace is personified here.