Introduction – Our Casuarina Tree was written by Toru Dutta after she returned to India in 1873 along with her sister Aru. But Aru got died in 1874 and Toru Dutta wrote this poem in memory of her both brother and sister with whom she had spent her childhood under the Casuarina tree. This poem was first published in 1882 in collection ‘Ancient Ballads and legends of Hindustan’. Poem is a nostalgic description of Casuarina Tree and the memories of loveable brothers and sisters of the poet.
Themes
1. Death and Eternity : The poem has on one side element of death in form of memories of deceased brother and sister of Toru Dutta who died at a very tender age. Even time is also symbol of death, which would take away everything human possess here ‘The Casuarina tree’. At the other hand poetess wants to provide eternity to the Casuarina Tree so that this beautiful and loved tree of Toru would always remain in mind and heart of people and never become prey of oblivion’s curse. Hence she decides to write a poem on it. In this manner death and eternity both are central theme of the poem.
2. Memories- Memories often plays a vital role in keeping those people alive—if not in real world then at least in the world of heart—who have been died. For poetess the casuarina tree works as stimulant to bring back happy memories of her brother and sister with whom she had spent her childhood under this tree.
3. Attachments in life – Casuarina tree is a symbol of attachment in the life. In the poem tree is the link to attach poet with the memories of her brother and sister. It brings back childhood memories and due to memories of her brother and sister poet loves this tree and feel attached towards it.
Figure of Speech
- Simile – In the very first line of the poem ‘Like a python’ phrase is comparing a creeper with the python. Similarly in second stanza ‘gray baboon sits statue-like alone’ has simile as sitting of grey baboon is compared to a statue. Then in the same stanza ‘water-lilies spring, like snow enmassed’ has shown water lilies looking similar to snow.
- Metaphor – ‘Giant wears the scarf’ has metaphor were tree is replaced with giant considering its similarity to a giant.
- Personification – Poem has personified ‘Casuarina tree’ as it has been shown a giant who is wearing creeper as a scarf. There is another instance in phrase ‘waves gently kissed the classic shore’ where waves have been personified.
- Alliteration – ‘Creeper climb’, ‘Crimson cluster’, ‘sweet song’, ‘have heard’, have first alphabetical sound of consonants i.e. /C/, /S/, /H/.
- Assonance – ‘shall the tree be ever dear’ have continuous repetition of vowel sound /e/ hence it is usage of assonance.
Pictorial quality and Imagery- Poem is full of pictorial quality especially in the second stanza imagery is at its height. A few instances of that are – A baboon used to sit at the top of the casuarina tree to witness sunrise and its offspring used to play on lower branches. Kokilas welcome the day by their sweet voice. Cows who are still feeling sleepy are going towards pastures and in the shadow of the casuarina tree water lilies are grown in a pond who are looking like fallen snow.
Nature Poem- Toru dutt is known for her nature love. Her two poems ‘Lotus’ and ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ have beautiful description and inclusion of nature’s elements and living beings. Toru Dutt loved trees, bees, animals etc. and included them into this poem. The description of casuarina tree and environment around it certify that Toru Dutta was a poet of nature of highest order like William Wordsworth.
Form and Structure- Poem is having five stanzas and each stanza have eleven lines. Each stanza consists of an octave of two enclosed-rhyme quatrains, followed by a rhyming tercet (three lines which rhyme same). Its rhyme scheme is ABBACDDCEEE which is continued in each stanza in similar manner.
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Very useful notes. Thank you.