Poem

Our Casuarina Tree |
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Toru Dutt (1856–77) |
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LIKE a huge Python, winding round and round | |
  The rugged trunk, indented deep with scars, | |
  Up to its very summit near the stars, | |
A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound | |
  No other tree could live. But gallantly |         5 |
The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung | |
In crimson clusters all the boughs among, | |
  Whereon all day are gathered bird and bee; | |
And oft at nights the garden overflows | |
With one sweet song that seems to have no close, |         10 |
Sung darkling from our tree, while men repose. | |
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When first my casement is wide open thrown | |
  At dawn, my eyes delighted on it rest; | |
  Sometimes, and most in winter,—on its crest | |
A gray baboon sits statue-like alone |         15 |
  Watching the sunrise; while on lower boughs | |
His puny offspring leap about and play; | |
And far and near kokilas hail the day; | |
  And to their pastures wend our sleepy cows; | |
And in the shadow, on the broad tank cast |         20 |
By that hoar tree, so beautiful and vast, | |
The water-lilies spring, like snow enmassed. | |
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But not because of its magnificence | |
  Dear is the Casuarina to my soul: | |
  Beneath it we have played; though years may roll, |         25 |
O sweet companions, loved with love intense, | |
  For your sakes, shall the tree be ever dear. | |
Blent with your images, it shall arise | |
In memory, till the hot tears blind mine eyes! | |
  What is that dirge-like murmur that I hear |         30 |
Like the sea breaking on a shingle-beach? | |
It is the tree’s lament, an eerie speech, | |
That haply to the unknown land may reach. | |
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Unknown, yet well-known to the eye of faith! | |
  Ah, I have heard that wail far, far away |         35 |
  In distant lands, by many a sheltered bay, | |
When slumbered in his cave... [continues]

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