Sea of Foliage

A sea of foliage

A sea of foliage girds our garden round,

But not a sea of dull unvaried green,

Sharp contrasts of all colours here are seen;

The light-green graceful tamarinds abound

Amid the mango clumps of green profound,

And palms arise, like pillars gray, between;

And o’er the quiet pools the seemuls lean,

Red-red, and startling like a trumpet’s sound.

But nothing can be lovelier than the ranges

Of bamboos to the eastward, when the moon  

looks through their gaps, and the white lotus changes

Into a cup of silver. One might swoon
Drunken with beauty then, or gaze and gaze
On a primaeval Eden, in amaze.

             ~ Toru Dutt

Toru Dutt

• Place of Birth – Calcutta/Kolkata
• Span – 1856 – 1877, 21 years
• Father & Mother – Govin Chunder Dutt and Kshetramoni
• Family – Rambagan Dutt famil

1. Girds - surrounds

1. Unvaried – monotonous
2. Tamarinds – Hindi – Imli
3. Abound – Exist; Grow
4. Amid – In the midst of
5. Clump – Clusters
6. Profound – Dark and deep
7. Seemuls – Silk-cotton tree with maroon flowers
8. Startling – Sound that gives a tremor
9. Trumpet – A loud musical instrument

glossary from para 2

1. Ranges of bamboos – Lines of bamboo trees
2. Swoon – Feel dizzy; intoxicated
3. Gaze – Look in amazement/happiness
4. Primeval – Ancient
5. Eden – The garden where God created Adam and Eve

Questions I want you the answer in the comments!

1.  What girds the poets garden?
2.  What makes the poet's garden attractive
3.  What startled the quiet pools?
4.  Where do tamarinds grow?

                                 Green bamboo foliage

                                 

                                                       

                                                                                            Blooming white lotus