Introduction:
The poem entitled ‘In Praise of Henna’ presents the charm of India custom and scene. Indian culture and tradition attracts everyone. In the present poem, the poetess describes the importance of henna in Indian family. Many auspicious occasions are incomplete without it. Henna is regarded the symbol of happiness. The poetess draws a lively picture of the villages of Rajasthan where the maidens and young women collect the fresh leaves of henna tree and grind them into paste. The nightingale sitting on the bough of henna tree makes the atmosphere romantic.
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| Poem In Praise of Henna—Summary and Critical Analysis |
Some Critical Points of the Poem:
1. In spring season, the nightingale sitting on the bough of henna tree sings a sweet song to call the maidens for collecting the leaves.
2. The Nightingale creates an atmosphere of serenity.
3. The paste of henna leaves is applied on feet, palm, fingers and forehead.
4. The maidens make beautiful designs with great joy.
Summary of the Poem:
Stanza 1:
A Kokila called from a henna - spray :
Lira! liree! Lira! liree!
Hasten, maidens, hasten away
To gather the leaves of the henna - tree.
Send your pitchers afloat on the tide.
Gather the leaves ere the dawn be old,
Grind them in mortars of amber and gold,
The fresh green leaves of the henna - tree.
Explanatory Word – Meanings:
1. A Kokila ... tree= in spring season, Koel sings harmonious notes sitting on the branch of the henna tree and calls the maidens. Through its song, it conveys them to make haste in collecting the leaves of the henna - tree. 2. Henna-spray= the branch or bough of the henna – tree. 3. Lira, liree, lira, liree = transcription into words of the sounds of a nightingale, when it bursts forth into a song. 4. Hasten = move or act with speed. 5. Send ... tide = Koel asks them to put their pitchers in the floating state on the swell of water. 6. Afloat = borne on the water, in a floating condition. 7. Gather the leaves ... old = it conveys them to collect the leaves before the dawn otherwise these would fade away. 8. Ere the dawn = before the sun rise. 9. Be old = will dry. 10. Grind them ... tree = the maidens are asked to reduce the green leaves into paste because they (the leaves) are fresh and will provide the best result.
Paraphrase:
Here the poetess describes the practice of applying henna on some auspicious occasions. This practice is particularly prevalent in Rajasthan. In spring season the nightingale sits on the bough of henna tree and sings harmonious notes for the maidens who come there to get the water in their pitchers from the small streams and ponds. It calls upon them to come quickly under the henna - tree and collect the fresh and green leaves. They are asked to collect the leaves before the sunrise otherwise these may dry and their freshness may disappear. While collecting the henna - leaves, they sing a sweet song in praise of henna - leaves. They feel great happiness in collecting the leaves because the maidens love to apply the paste of the leaves on some tender parts of their body. After collecting the leaves, they reduce them into paste.
Stanza 2:
A kokila called from a henna - spray;
Lira! liree! Lira! liree!
Hasten maidens, hasten away
To gather the leaves of the henna - tree.
The tilka's red for the brow of a bride,
And betel - nut's red for lips that are sweet;
But, for lily - like fingers and feet,
The red, the red of the henna - tree.
Explanatory Word - Meanings:
1. The tilka's red ... bride = tilka like red colour is applied on the forehead of the bride. 2. And betel - nut's ... sweet = the tender and delicate lips are made attractive and lovable by applying betel like red. 3. But, for ... tree= for the feet and fingers which are white like lily flowers, dark and red colour is applied.
Paraphrase:
The nightingale sitting on the branch of henna - tree sings a sweet song for calling the maidens so that they may collect the henna leaves before the sunrise. In its song it conveys them to make haste to carry away the leaves. The maidens collect the leaves singing a sweet song in praise of henna. The paste of henna leaves is used to apply on the forehead of a bride. The betel red colour is applied on the tender lips of the bride. The pure red colour is applied on the fingers and feet which are white like lily flower.
Critical Analysis of the Poem:
Introduction:
The poem entitled ‘In Praise of Henna’ is a folk - song presenting the charm of Indian custom and scene. The henna leaf in Indian family is regarded a symbol of happiness. The poetess draws a lively picture of the villages of Rajasthan where the maidens go to get the water from the ponds and stream in the evening and morning. In spring season, there is an extraordinary charm beside the pond and streams because in this season, the nightingale sits on the branch of henna - tree and pours out a sweet song in the atmosphere. It creates a romantic atmosphere. It calls upon the maidens to collect the leaves of henna tree before the sunrise.
Thought - Content:
At the call of the nightingale, the maidens come to the tree and collect the leaves of henna. After collecting the leaves, they prepare a paste and this paste is applied by maidens and young women, particularly on auspicious occasions, to their palms and feet in order to colour them red. The colour once applied lasts for about a week in spite of constant washing. It is also applied as to make beautiful and intricate designs on the palm, one of the folk - arts particularly practised in Rajasthan. When the rains come in spring, a call goes to the girls to come out and collect the leaves of henna and sing song in its praise.
Style and Language:
This poem is written in ballad metre. The first four lines of the first stanza are repeated in the beginning of the second stanza. This poem is transcription of the self - sung song, which intends to bring out the tenderness and innocent joy of the girls. In this poem, the poetess has used simile and metaphor to enhance the beauty of the poem:
“Grind them in mortars of amber and gold.” (Metaphor)
“For lily-like fingers and feet.”
