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Three happy children in a darkened room! What do they gaze on with wide-open eyes? A dense, dense forest, where no sunbeam pries, And in its centre a cleared spot.—There bloom Gigantic flowers on creepers that embrace Tall trees; there, in a quiet lucid lake The white swans glide; there, 'whirring from the brake' The peacocks dance; there, dwells in deep disgrace, A queen-like form, a lady, weeping low, With head on hand, and hair all silver-grey, For she is aged with sorrow.—But the show Is ended, the fond mother's voice says, 'Hush!' And when the children murmur, 'Only play A little more, dear mother!' with a flush Of transient anger she repeats her prayer— 'Hush, children, hush! or she will vanish quite.' Then with a sigh, the little ones prepare To seek their beds, and dream all through the night Of that sweet captive lady, and the fight For her defence. The mother, with a tear On her own cheek, recalls the bygone year.
Content Analysis
The poem describes a storytelling scene where a mother is telling her three children the story of Sita's exile in the forest. The children are captivated by the image of the weeping, queenly Sita. The poem blends the children's imaginative world with the mother's own sorrow, suggesting that the myth of Sita is a living, emotional reality for them.
- Mythology and Memory
- The Power of Storytelling
- Sorrow and Empathy
- Childhood Imagination
Imagery: "The poem uses rich imagery to create the forest scene: 'dense, dense forest', 'white swans glide', 'peacocks dance'."
Frame Narrative: "The story of Sita is framed within the scene of the mother telling the story to her children."
About the Author
Toru Dutt (1856-1877) was a pioneering Indian poet who wrote in English and French. She died of tuberculosis at the age of 21, but left behind a significant body of work.
Writing Style: Her poetry often retells Hindu myths and legends with a unique, personal, and sometimes melancholic perspective, using classic forms like the sonnet.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why does the mother have a tear on her cheek at the end?