Stanzawise Summary the Poem:
"Guerdon" is the last poem in the part of The Bird of Time entitled Songs of Life. This is a sweet and lyrical poem of Sarojini Naidu. The dreams of various things cherished in her heart are given a lyrical expression on this earth. She demands God the gifts of love, truth and song. She prays God to give the gifts to various objects, mankind and animals. Here the poetess shows the generosity of her heart.
Stanza.1:
Explanatory Word-Meanings:
To field….spring =the poetess prays to God to endow the forests and fields with the gift of spring. To hawk…..wing =hawk and heron should be proud of their wings. They should be endowed with strong wings. Her grace….to the panther =the panther should always be graceful. Her tints….dove =the dove should be given the gift of different colours. For me…..of Love! =but for herself, the poetess prays to God to give her the gift of love which will bring her inner joy and the spiritual happiness.
Paraphrase:
The poetess shows the generosity of her heart. She prays to God to endow every object and every creature of the universe with different boons according to the nature and capacity. Fields and forests should be graced by the splendid beauty of spring. Hawk and heron should be granted with strong wings. Panther should be granted the boon of grace. The dove should be given the gift of different and attractive colours. The poetess demands for herself the rapture of love.
Stanza.2:
Explanatory Word-Meanings:
To the hand...tide = God should give the gift of gems to the divers. To the hand = achieve. The divers = those who go into the bottom of the sea to find the gems. Gems = precious stones. Tide = here it refers the sea. To the eyes...bride = the gift of the beautiful bride should be given to the bridegroom. To the heart... I youth = sweet dreams should be gifted to the youth. For me...Truth! = but for herself she demands the rapture of truth.
Paraphrase:
By showing the generosity of her heart, she prays to God to give the gifts to various objects, mankind and animals. She prays to God that the divers should be endowed with the gift of gems. The bridegroom pines for beautiful bride, so he should be given the beautiful bride. The youth like to remain or to wander in the world of dreams, so they should be given sweet dreams as gift. But the poetess is contented with the rapture of truth, so she demands God the gift of the rapture of truth.
Stanza.3:
To priests and to prophets
The joy of their creeds
To kings and their cohorts
The glory of deeds;
And peace to the vanquished
And hope to the strong......
For me, O my Master,
The rapture of Song!
Explanatory: Word-Meanings:
To the priests...creeds = she prays to God to bestow the gift of religions to the priests and prophets. The priests = one who performs religious ceremonies, a religious minister. Prophets = foretellers. Creeds = faiths, religions. To kings...deeds = she prays to God to bestow the gift of joy of victory to the kings and the warriors. Cohorts = bands of warriors. The glory = here it refers joy. Deeds = refers for victories. And peace….vanquished = she prays to God that the defeated should be given the boon of peace. Vanquished = defeated. And hope...strong = the gift of hope should be given to the strong and victorious. For me...of Song! = but for herself she demands the gift of song.
Paraphrase:
She prays to God to give the gift of religions to the priests and prophets. The kings and armies should be granted with the boon of joy of victory. The gift of peace should be given to the defeated persons. The gift of hope should be given to the strong and victorious. But for herself she demands God for the gift of song so that she may derive pleasure.
Critical Appreciation of the Poem:
Introduction:
Guerdon is a sweet and lyrical poem of Mrs. Sarojini Naidu. It is the last poem in the part of The Bird of Time entitled Songs of Life. In this poem the poetess shows the generosity of her heart. She also shows her spirit of selflessness. Her religiosity and patriotism are also apparent here. The dreams of various things cherished in her heart are given a lyrical expression on this earth and demands of God the rapture of Love, Truth and Song.
Development of Thought:
The poetess prays to God to give suitable rewards or gifts to various objects, creatures and human beings. Fields and forests should be grace by the splendid beauty of spring. Hawk and heron should be proud of their wings. The panther should always be graceful and the dove should always have beautiful tints. The poetess demands for herself the rapture of love. She prays to God to give the gift of gems to the divers. The gift of beautiful bride should be given to the bridegroom. Sweet dreams should be gifted to the youth. But for herself she demands the rapture of truth. She prays to God to bestow the gift of religions to the priests and prophets. The gift of joy of victories should be given to the kings and soldiers. The defeated should be blessed with peace. The gift of hope should be given to the strong and victorious, but for herself she needs the gift of song from God.
Diction, Language and Style:
There is a great simplicity of words. Simple and expressive words have been used for an average reader. This poem is marked by spontaneity of expression and easy graceful words. The words used here show her romanticism. The poem has been divided into three passages and each passage has eight lines. The same idea runs in three passages. She emphasizes the words Love, Truth and Song. Brevity, self-expression, intensity of emotion, melody and music, sweet and sonorous diction are found here,
