3. About the author….
Sarojini Naidu (13 February 1879-2 March 1949) also
known as The Nightingale of India, was an activist of
the freedom movement in India. Her major
contributions in the field of poetry were beautiful
poems that could also be sung. Her famous works
include "The Golden Threshold," "The Bird of Time,"
"The Broken Wing," and "The Sceptred Flute."
4.
5. SONG OF A DREAM
Once in the dream of a night I stood
Lone in the light of a magical wood,
Soul – deep in visions that poppy like sprang;
And spirits of Truth were the birds that song,
And spirits of Love were the stars that glowed,
And spirits of peace were the streams that
flowed
In that magical wood in the land of sleep
13. SONG OF A DREAM
Lone in the light of the magical grove,
I felt the stars of the spirits of Love
Gather and gleam round my delicate youth,
And I heard the song of the spirits of
Truth;
To quench my longing I bent me low
By the streams of the spirits of Peace that
flow
21. SUMMARY OF THE POEM
Sarojini Naidu, The Nightingale of India, sings about one of her dreams of being alone on a mystical
wood in the poem. Her spirit was engaged in deep illusions that were the result of her imagination, she adds.
Then she sings about has a one-of-a-kind encounter with the spirits of truth she sang about, as well as the
spirits of radiant love and serenity that flow like heavenly currents. In this poem, “Truth” is depicted by
singing birds, “Love” by dazzling stars, and “Peace” is portrayed through flowing streams in the poet’s dream.
She continues, “I felt the stars of the spirits of love.” She also hears the wonderful music of the spirits
of truth, as one might anticipate in such a magnificent environment. Sarojini Naidu also speaks of a deep
craving for truth that can only be satisfied by sipping from the streams of tranquility can observe that the poet
uses her emotions to understand abstract thoughts like love, honesty, and harmony. The poem includes both
aural and visual images. Throughout the poem, Naidu uses powerful sensory imagery.
22. THEME OF THE POEM
The poet’s intense yearning to escape the pains she had to undergo in an unjust world may
be seen in the poem. Her desire to live in an idyllic paradise free of sins is expressed in the
words ‘To quench my longing I bent low by the streams of the spirits of Peace that flow in
that magical wood in the land of sleep’.
25. Simile : a direct comparison of two unlike things using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
E.g. Soul-deep visions that poppy-like sprang.
Metaphor : a direct comparison between unlike things stating that one is the other or
does the action of the other.
E.g. And spirits of Truth were the birds that sang.
Alliteration : repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words in the same line.
E.g. Gather and gleam.
Personification : Giving human traits and qualities to an inanimate object.
E.g. I heard the song of the spirits of Truth.
