The Bird of Time - Songs of Life, Death & The Spring
With a Chapter from 'Studies of Contemporary Poets' by Mary C. Sturgeon
- 90 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
The Bird of Time - Songs of Life, Death & The Spring
With a Chapter from 'Studies of Contemporary Poets' by Mary C. Sturgeon
About This Book
First published in 1912, "The Bird of Time - Songs of Life, Death & The Spring" is a fantastic collection of beautiful poetry by Indian poet and activist Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949). Naidu (1879–1949) was an Indian political activist and poet. She was a staunch proponent of women's emancipation, civil rights, and anti-imperialistic ideas, playing an important role in India's struggle for independence from colonial rule. Her work as a poet includes both children's poems and others with more mature themes including patriotism, romance, and tragedy, earning her the sobriquet "Nightingale of India". Her most famous work is "In the Bazaars of Hyderabad" (1912), which remains widely read to this day. This vintage book is highly recommended for fans of Indic literature and is not to be missed by lovers of Naidu's unforgettable work. Other notable works by this author include: "The Broken Wing - Songs of Love, Death & Destiny" (1917) and "Muhammad Jinnah: An Ambassador of Unity" (1919). This classic work is being republished now in a new edition complete with an introductory chapter from 'Studies of Contemporary Poets' by Mary C. Sturgeon.
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SONGS OF LIFE
DEATH AND LIFE
"Poor child, shall I redeem thee from thy pain,
Renew thy joy and issue thee again
Inclosed in some renascent ecstasy . . .
Some lilting bird or lotus-loving bee,
Or the diaphanous silver of the rain,
Th' alluring scent of the sirisha-plain,
The wild wind's voice, the white wave's melody?"
O Death, am I so purposeless a thing,
Shall my soul falter or my body fear
Its poignant hour of bitter suffering,
Or fail ere I achieve my destined deed
Of song or service for my country's need?"
THE HUSSAIN SAAGAR
The journeying clouds of sunset pause and hover,
Drinking the beauty of thy luminous face,
But none thine inmost glory may discover,
For thine evasive silver doth enclose
What secret purple and what subtle rose
Responsive only to the wind, thy lover.
Only for him thy shining waves unfold
Translucent music answering his control;
Thou dost, like me, to one allegiance hold,
O lake, O living image of my soul.
THE FAERY
ISLE OF JANJIRA
To Her Highness Nazli Raffia,
Begum of Janjira
O faery queen of a flowering clime,
Where life glides by to a delicate measure,
With the glamour and grace of a far-off time.
Your palm-woods burgeon and sea-winds sing. . . .
Lulled by the rune of the rhythmic waters,
In your Island of Bliss it is always spring.
And the urgent drum-beat of destiny calls,
Far from your white dome's luminous slumber,
Far from the dream of your fortress walls,
The war of sweet Love against folly and wrong;
Where brave hearts carry the sword of battle,
'Tis mine to carry the banner of song,
The succour of hope to the hands that fail,
The tidings of joy when Peace shall triumph,
When Truth shall conquer and Love prevail.
THE SOUL'S PRAYER
"O Thou, who mad'st me of Thy breath,
Speak, Master, and reveal to me
Thine inmost laws of life and death.
Which Thine eternal hand can mete,
For my insatiate soul would drain
Earth's utmost bitter, utmost sweet.
Withhold no gift or grief I crave,
The intricate lore of love and life
And mystic knowledge of the grave."
"Child, I will hearken to thy prayer,
And thy unconquered soul shall know
All passionate rapture and despair.
And love shall burn thee like a fire,
And pain shall cleanse thee like a flame,
To purge the dross from thy desire.
To seek from its blind prayer release,
And spent and pardoned, sue to learn
The simple secret of My peace
Will teach thee of My quickening grace,
Life is a prism of My light,
And Death the shadow o...
Table of contents
- Sarojini Naidu
- INTRODUCTION
- SONGS OF LOVE AND DEATH
- SONGS OF THE SPRINGTIME
- INDIAN FOLK-SONGS To Indian Tunes
- SONGS OF LIFE