Prehlad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD EFEFGHGH IJKJLMLM NONPQBQB RSRSTUTU VQVQWOWO XQXQQYQY ZQZQA2B2A2B2 C2D2C2D2QE2QE2 QF2QF2QG2QG2 QQQQBH2BH2 QI2QI2J2K2J2L2 M2N2M2N2O2P2O2Q2 H2VH2VVQVQ R2S2R2S2I2A2I2A2 QP2QQ2T2J2T2J2 QH2QH2Q2BP2B QU2QU2V2W2V2V O2X2O2X2I2Y2I2Y2 Z2A3Z2A3F2I2F2I2 B3QB3QY2Y2Y2Y2 Y2WY2C3D3QD3Q PQOQI2QI2Q Y2E3Y2F3G3I2G3I2 H3QH3QI3J3I3J3 Y2QY2QY2QY2Q I2C3I2C3QJ3QJ3 QK3QK3Z2S2Z2S2 QSQSSL3SL3 M3QM3QQN3QN3 O2J3O2J3O2Q2O2Q2 Y2QY2QO2QO2Q QS2QS2U2QU2Q O2Q2O2Q2O2HO2H O3Q2O3Q2QM3QM3 P3Y2P3Y2QQ2QQ2 Z2Q2Z2Q2Z2A2Z2A2 N3I2N3I2QO2QO2 QQ2QQ2O2QO2Q QQ2QQ2Q2Q2Q2Q2 Y2QY2QZ2Q3Z2Q3 Y2Y2Y2Y2QJ3QJ3 R3QHQO2J3O2J3 J3S3J3S3Q3Y2Q3Y2

A terror both of gods and men	A
Was Heerun Kasyapu the king	B
No bear more sullen in its den	A
No tiger quicker at the spring	B
In strength of limb he had not met	C
Since first his black flag he unfurled	D
Nor in audacious courage yet	C
His equal in the wide wide world	D
	-
The holy Veds he tore in shreds	E
Libations sacrifices rites	F
He made all penal and the heads	E
Of Bramins slain he flung to kites	F
I hold the sceptre in my hand	G
I sit upon the ivory throne	H
Bow down to me 'tis my command	G
And worship me and me alone	H
	-
No god has ever me withstood	I
Why raise ye altars cease your pains	J
I shall protect you give you food	K
If ye obey or else the chains	J
Fled at such edicts self exiled	L
The Bramins and the pundits wise	M
To live thenceforth in forests wild	L
Or caves in hills that touch the skies	M
	-
In secret there they altars raised	N
And made oblations due by fire	O
Their gods their wonted gods they praised	N
Lest these should earth destroy in ire	P
They read the Veds they prayed and mused	Q
Full well they knew that Time would bring	B
For favours scorned and gifts misused	Q
Undreamt of changes on his wing	B
	-
Time changes deserts bare to meads	R
And fertile meads to deserts bare	S
Cities to pools and pools with reeds	R
To towns and cities large and fair	S
Time changes purple into rags	T
And rags to purple Chime by chime	U
Whether it flies or runs or drags	T
The wise wait patiently on Time	U
	-
Time brought the tyrant children four	V
Rahd Onoorahd Prehlad Sunghrad	Q
Who made his castle gray and hoar	V
Once full of gloom with sunshine glad	Q
No boys were e'er more beautiful	W
No brothers e'er loved more each other	O
No sons were e'er more dutiful	W
Nor ever kissed a fonder mother	O
	-
Nor less beloved were they of him	X
Who gave them birth Kasyapu proud	Q
But made by nature stern and grim	X
His love was covered by a cloud	Q
From which it rarely e'er emerged	Q
To gladden these sweet human flowers	Y
They grew apace and now Time urged	Q
The education of their powers	Y
	-
Who should their teacher be A man	Z
Among the flatterers in the court	Q
Was found well suited to the plan	Z
The tyrant had devised Report	Q
Gave him a wisdom owned by few	A2
And certainly to trim his sail	B2
And veer his bark none better knew	A2
Before a changing adverse gale	B2
	-
And Sonda Marco such his name	C2
Took home the four fair boys to teach	D2
All knowledge that their years became	C2
Science and war and modes of speech	D2
But he was told if death he feared	Q
Never to tell them of the soul	E2
Of vows and prayers and rites revered	Q
And of the gods who all control	E2
	-
The sciences the boys were taught	Q
They mastered with a quickness strange	F2
But Prehlad was the one for thought	Q
He soared above the lesson's range	F2
One day the tutor unseen heard	Q
The boy discuss forbidden themes	G2
As if his inmost heart were stirred	Q
And he of truth from heaven had gleams	G2
	-
O Prince what mean'st thou In his fright	Q
The teacher thus in private said	Q
Talk on such subjects is not right	Q
Wouldst thou bring ruin on my head	Q
There are no gods except the king	B
The ruler of the world is he	H2
Look up to him and do not bring	B
Destruction by a speech too free	H2
	-
Be wary for thy own sake child	Q
If he should hear thee talking so	I2
Thou shalt for ever be exiled	Q
And I shall die full well I know	I2
Worthy of worship honour praise	J2
Is thy great father Things unseen	K2
What are they Themes of poets' lays	J2
They are not and have never been	L2
	-
Smiling the boy with folded hands	M2
As sign of a submission meek	N2
Answered his tutor Thy commands	M2
Are ever precious Do not seek	N2
To lay upon me what I feel	O2
Would be unrighteous Let me hear	P2
Those inner voices that reveal	O2
Long vistas in another sphere	Q2
	-
The gods that rule the earth and sea	H2
Shall I abjure them and adore	V
A man It may not may not be	H2
Though I should lie in pools of gore	V
My conscience I would hurt no more	V
But I shall follow what my heart	Q
Tells me is right so I implore	V
My purpose fixed no longer thwart	Q
	-
The coward calls black white white black	R2
At bidding or in fear of death	S2
Such suppleness thank God I lack	R2
To die is but to lose my breath	S2
Is death annihilation No	I2
New worlds will open on my view	A2
When persecuted hence I go	I2
The right is right the true is true	A2
	-
All's over now the teacher thought	Q
Now let this reach the monarch's ear	P2
And instant death shall be my lot	Q
They parted he in abject fear	Q2
And soon he heard a choral song	T2
Sung by young voices in the praise	J2
Of gods unseen who right all wrong	T2
And rule the worlds from primal days	J2
	-
What progress have thy charges made	Q
Let them be called that I may see	H2
And Sonda Marco brought as bade	Q
His pupils to the royal knee	H2
Three passed the monarch's test severe	Q2
The fourth remained then spake the king	B
Now Prehlad with attention hear	P2
I know thou hast the strongest wing	B
	-
What is the cream of knowledge child	Q
Which men take such great pains to learn	U2
With folded hands he answered mild	Q
Listen O Sire To speak I yearn	U2
All sciences are nothing worth	V2
Astronomy that tracks the star	W2
Geography that maps the earth	V2
Logic and Politics and War	V
	-
And Medicine that strives to heal	O2
But only aggravates disease	X2
All all are futile so I feel	O2
For me O father none of these	X2
That is true knowledge which can show	I2
The glory of the living gods	Y2
Divest of pride make men below	I2
Humble and happy though but clods	Y2
	-
That is true knowledge which can make	Z2
Us mortals saintlike holy pure	A3
The strange thirst of the spirit slake	Z2
And strengthen suffering to endure	A3
That is true knowledge which can change	F2
Our very natures with its glow	I2
The sciences whate'er their range	F2
Feed but the flesh and make a show	I2
	-
Where hast thou learnt this nonsense boy	B3
Where live these gods believed so great	Q
Can they like me thy life destroy	B3
Have they such troops and royal state	Q
Above all gods is he who rules	Y2
The wide wide earth from sea to sea	Y2
Men devils gods yea all but fools	Y2
Bow down in fear and worship me	Y2
	-
And dares an atom from my loins	Y2
Against my kingly power rebel	W
Though heaven itself to aid him joins	Y2
His end is death the infidel	C3
I warn thee yet bow down thou slave	D3
And worship me or thou shalt die	Q
We'll see what gods descend to save	D3
What gods with me their strength will try	Q
	-
Thus spake the monarch in his ire	P
One hand outstretched in menace rude	Q
And eyes like blazing coals of fire	O
And Prehlad in unruffled mood	Q
Straight answered him his head bent low	I2
His palms joined meekly on his breast	Q
As ever and his cheeks aglow	I2
His rock firm purpose to attest	Q
	-
Let not my words Sire give offence	Y2
To thee and to my mother both	E3
I give as due all reverence	Y2
And to obey thee am not loth	F3
But higher duties sometimes clash	G3
With lower then these last must go	I2
Or there will come a fearful crash	G3
In lamentation fear and woe	I2
	-
The gods who made us are the life	H3
Of living creatures small and great	Q
We see them not but space is rife	H3
With their bright presence and their state	Q
They are the parents of us all	I3
'Tis they create sustain redeem	J3
Heaven earth and hell they hold in thrall	I3
And shall we these high gods blaspheme	J3
	-
Blest is the man whose heart obeys	Y2
And makes their law of life his guide	Q
He shall be led in all his ways	Y2
His footsteps shall not ever slide	Q
In forests dim on raging seas	Y2
In certain peace shall he abide	Q
What though he all the world displease	Y2
His gods shall all his wants provide	Q
	-
Cease babbler 'tis enough I know	I2
Thy proud rebellious nature well	C3
Ho Captain of our lifeguards ho	I2
Take down this lad to dungeon cell	C3
And bid the executioner wait	Q
Our orders All unmoved and calm	J3
He went as reckless of his fate	Q
Erect and stately as a palm	J3
	-
Hushed was the hall as down he past	Q
No breath no whisper not a sign	K3
Through ranks of courtiers all aghast	Q
Like beaten hounds that dare not whine	K3
Outside the door the Captain spoke	Z2
Recant he said beneath his breath	S2
The lion's anger to provoke	Z2
Is death O prince is certain death	S2
	-
Thanks said the prince I have revolved	Q
The question in my mind with care	S
Do what you will I am resolved	Q
To do the right all deaths I dare	S
The gods perhaps may please to spare	S
My tender years if not why still	L3
I never shall my faith forswear	S
I can but say be done their will	L3
	-
Whether in pity for the youth	M3
The headsman would not rightly ply	Q
The weapon or the gods in truth	M3
Had ordered that he should not die	Q
Soon to the king there came report	Q
The sword would not destroy his son	N3
The council held thereon was short	Q
The king's look frightened every one	N3
	-
There is a spell against cold steel	O2
Which known the steel can work no harm	J3
Some sycophant with baneful zeal	O2
Hath taught this foolish boy the charm	J3
It would be wise O king to deal	O2
Some other way or else I fear	Q2
Much damage to the common weal	O2
Thus spake the wily tongued vizier	Q2
	-
Dark frowned the king Enough of this	Y2
Death instant death is my command	Q
Go throw him down some precipice	Y2
Or bury him alive in sand	Q
With terror dumb from that wide hall	O2
Departed all the courtier band	Q
But not one man amongst them all	O2
Dared raise against the prince his hand	Q
	-
And now vague rumours ran around	Q
Men talked of them with bated breath	S2
The river has a depth profound	Q
The elephants trample down to death	S2
The poisons kill the firebrands burn	U2
Had every means in turn been tried	Q
Some said they had but soon they learn	U2
The brave young prince had not yet died	Q
	-
For once more in the Council Hall	O2
He had been cited to appear	Q2
'Twas open to the public all	O2
And all the people came in fear	Q2
Banners were hung along the wall	O2
The King sat on his peacock throne	H
And now the hoary Marechal	O2
Brings in the youth bare skin and bone	H
	-
Who shall protect thee Prehlad now	O3
Against steel poison water fire	Q2
Thou art protected men avow	O3
Who treason if but bold admire	Q2
In our own presence thou art brought	Q
That we and all may know the truth	M3
Where are thy gods I long have sought	Q
But never found them hapless youth	M3
	-
Will they come down to prove their strength	P3
Will they come down to rescue thee	Y2
Let them come down for once at length	P3
Come one or all to fight with me	Y2
Where are thy gods Or are they dead	Q
Or do they hide in craven fear	Q2
There lies my gage None ever said	Q
I hide from any far or near	Q2
	-
My gracious Liege my Sire my King	Z2
If thou indeed wouldst deign to hear	Q2
In humble mood my words would spring	Z2
Like a pellucid fountain clear	Q2
For I have in my dungeon dark	Z2
Learnt more of truth than e'er I knew	A2
There is one God One only mark	Z2
To Him is all our service due	A2
	-
Hath He a shape or hath He none	N3
I know not this nor care to know	I2
Dwelling in light to which the sun	N3
Is darkness He sees all below	I2
Himself unseen In Him I trust	Q
He can protect me if He will	O2
And if this body turn to dust	Q
He can new life again instil	O2
	-
I fear not fire I fear not sword	Q
All dangers father I can dare	Q2
Alone I can confront a horde	Q
For oh my God is everywhere	Q2
What everywhere Then in this hall	O2
And in this crystal pillar bright	Q
Now tell me plain before us all	O2
Is He herein thy God of light	Q
	-
The monarch placed his steel gloved hand	Q
Upon a crystal pillar near	Q2
In mockful jest was his demand	Q
The answer came low serious clear	Q2
Yes father God is even here	Q2
And if He choose this very hour	Q2
Can strike us dead with ghastly fear	Q2
And vindicate His name and power	Q2
	-
Where is this God Now let us see	Y2
He spumed the pillar with his foot	Q
Down down it tumbled like a tree	Y2
Severed by axes from the root	Q
And from within with horrid clang	Z2
That froze the blood in every vein	Q3
A stately sable warrior sprang	Z2
Like some phantasma of the brain	Q3
	-
He had a lion head and eyes	Y2
A human body feet and hands	Y2
Colossal such strange shapes arise	Y2
In clouds when Autumn rules the lands	Y2
He gave a shout the boldest quailed	Q
Then struck the tyrant on the helm	J3
And ripped him down and last he hailed	Q
Prehlad as king of all the realm	J3
	-
A thunder clap the shape was gone	R3
One king lay stiff and stark and dead	Q
Another on the peacock throne	H
Bowed reverently his youthful head	Q
Loud rang the trumpets louder still	O2
A sovereign people's wild acclaim	J3
The echoes ran from hill to hill	O2
Kings rule for us and in our name	J3
	-
Tyrants of every age and clime	J3
Remember this that awful shape	S3
Shall startle you when comes the time	J3
And send its voice from cape to cape	S3
As human peoples suffer pain	Q3
But oh the lion strength is theirs	Y2
Woe to the king when galls the chain	Q3
Woe woe their fury when he dares	Y2

Toru Dutt

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