Savitri. Part I Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCDEDED FGFGHGHGHIHI JKJKLMLNOPOP QRSRCECETLTL UVUVWXWXYZYZ A2KA2KB2C2B2C2D2HD2H E2BE2BF2GF2GEG2EG2 MH2NH2LBI2BJ2K2J2K2 L2M2L2N2O2QO2QP2Q2P2 Q2 R2S2R2S2T2U2T2U2V2W2 V2W2 QHQHX2Y2X2Y2Z2Y2Z2Y2 A3X2A3B3C3QC3QD3AD3A MW2NW2Y2HY2HM2Y2M2Y2 K2E3K2E3VE3VE3F3GF3G E3E3E3E3QQQQLE3LE3 G3E3G3E3H3QH3QN2D2M2 D2 QI3QI3E3E3E3E3E3E3E3 E3 J3K3J3K3E3M2E3M2M2L3 M2L3 E3D2E3D2E3E3E3E3M2QM 2Q QTQTM3QM3QQQQQ N3O3N3O3E3M2E3M2QM2Q M2 P3E3Q3E3R3SR3SRS3RT3

Savitri was the only childA
Of Madra's wise and mighty kingB
Stern warriors when they saw her smiledA
As mountains smile to see the springB
Fair as a lotus when the moonC
Kisses its opening petals redD
After sweet showers in sultry JuneC
With happier heart and lighter treadD
Chance strangers having met her pastE
And often would they turn the headD
A lingering second look to castE
And bless the vision ere it fledD
-
What was her own peculiar charmF
The soft black eyes the raven hairG
The curving neck the rounded armF
All these are common everywhereG
Her charm was this upon her faceH
Childlike and innocent and fairG
No man with thought impure or baseH
Could ever look the glory thereG
The sweet simplicity and graceH
Abashed the boldest but the goodI
God's purity there loved to traceH
Mirrored in dawning womanhoodI
-
In those far off primeval daysJ
Fair India's daughters were not pentK
In closed zenanas On her waysJ
Savitri at her pleasure wentK
Whither she chose and hour by hourL
With young companions of her ageM
She roamed the woods for fruit or flowerL
Or loitered in some hermitageN
For to the Munis gray and oldO
Her presence was as sunshine gladP
They taught her wonders manifoldO
And gave her of the best they hadP
-
Her father let her have her wayQ
In all things whether high or lowR
He feared no harm he knew no illS
Could touch a nature pure as snowR
Long childless as a priceless boonC
He had obtained this child at lastE
By prayers made morning night and noonC
With many a vigil many a fastE
Would Shiva his own gift recallT
Or mar its perfect beauty everL
No he had faith he gave her allT
She wished and feared and doubted neverL
-
And so she wandered where she pleasedU
In boyish freedom Happy timeV
No small vexations ever teasedU
Nor crushing sorrows dimmed her primeV
One care alone her father feltW
Where should he find a fitting mateX
For one so pure His thoughts long dweltW
On this as with his queen he sateX
Ah whom dear wife should we selectY
Leave it to God she answering criedZ
Savitri may herself electY
Some day her future lord and guideZ
-
Months passed and lo one summer mornA2
As to the hermitage she wentK
Through smiling fields of waving cornA2
She saw some youths on sport intentK
Sons of the hermits and their peersB2
And one among them tall and litheC2
Royal in port on whom the yearsB2
Consenting shed a grace so blitheC2
So frank and noble that the eyeD2
Was loth to quit that sun browned faceH
She looked and looked then gave a sighD2
And slackened suddenly her paceH
-
What was the meaning was it loveE2
Love at first sight as poets singB
Is then no fiction Heaven aboveE2
Is witness that the heart its kingB
Finds often like a lightning flashF2
We play we jest we have no careG
When hark a step there comes no crashF2
But life or silent slow despairG
Their eyes just met Savitri pastE
Into the friendly Muni's hutG2
Her heart rose opened had at lastE
Opened no flower can ever shutG2
-
In converse with the gray haired sageM
She learnt the story of the youthH2
His name and place and parentageN
Of royal race he was in truthH2
Satyavan was he hight his sireL
Dyoumatsen had been Salva's kingB
But old and blind opponents direI2
Had gathered round him in a ringB
And snatched the sceptre from his handJ2
Now with his queen and only sonK2
He lived a hermit in the landJ2
And gentler hermit was there noneK2
-
With many tears was said and heardL2
The story and with praise sincereM2
Of Prince Satyavan every wordL2
Sent up a flush on cheek and earN2
Unnoticed Hark The bells remindO2
'Tis time to go she went awayQ
Leaving her virgin heart behindO2
And richer for the loss A rayQ
Shot down from heaven appeared to tingeP2
All objects with supernal lightQ2
The thatches had a rainbow fringeP2
The cornfields looked more green and brightQ2
-
Savitri's first care was to tellR2
Her mother all her feelings newS2
The queen her own fears to dispelR2
To the king's private chamber flewS2
Now what is it my gentle queenT2
That makes thee hurry in this wiseU2
She told him smiles and tears betweenT2
All she had heard the king with sighsU2
Sadly replied I fear me muchV2
Whence is his race and what his creedW2
Not knowing aught can we in suchV2
A matter delicate proceedW2
-
As if the king's doubts to allayQ
Came Narad Muni to the placeH
A few days after Old and grayQ
All loved to see the gossip's faceH
Great Brahma's son adored of menX2
Long absent doubly welcome heY2
Unto the monarch hoping thenX2
By his assistance clear to seeY2
No god in heaven nor king on earthZ2
But Narad knew his historyY2
The sun's the moon's the planets' birthZ2
Was not to him a mysteryY2
-
Now welcome welcome dear old friendA3
All hail and welcome once againX2
The greeting had not reached its endA3
When glided like a music strainB3
Savitri's presence through the roomC3
And who is this bright creature sayQ
Whose radiance lights the chamber's gloomC3
Is she an Apsara or fayQ
No son thy servant hath alasD3
This is my one my only childA
And married No The seasons passD3
Make haste O king he said and smiledA
-
That is the very theme O sageM
In which thy wisdom ripe I needW2
Seen hath she at the hermitageN
A youth to whom in very deedW2
Her heart inclines And who is heY2
My daughter tell his name and raceH
Speak as to men who best love theeY2
She turned to them her modest faceH
And answered quietly and clearM2
Ah no ah no It cannot beY2
Choose out another husband dearM2
The Muni cried or woe is meY2
-
And why should I When I have givenK2
My heart away though but in thoughtE3
Can I take back Forbid it HeavenK2
It were a deadly sin I wotE3
And why should I I know no crimeV
In him or his Believe me childE3
My reasons shall be clear in timeV
I speak not like a madman wildE3
Trust me in this I cannot breakF3
A plighted faith I cannot bearG
A wounded conscience Oh forsakeF3
This fancy hence may spring despairG
-
It may not be The father heardE3
By turns the speakers and in doubtE3
Thus interposed a gentle wordE3
Friend should to friend his mind speak outE3
Is he not worthy tell us NayQ
All worthiness is in SatyavanQ
And no one can my praise gainsayQ
Of solar race more god than manQ
Great Soorasen his ancestorL
And Dyoumatsen his father blindE3
Are known to fame I can averL
No kings have been so good and kindE3
-
Then where O Muni is the barG3
If wealth be gone and kingdom lostE3
His merit still remains a starG3
Nor melts his lineage like the frostE3
For riches worldly power or rankH3
I care not I would have my sonQ
Pure wise and brave the Fates I thankH3
I see no hindrance no not oneQ
Since thou insistest King to hearN2
The fatal truth I tell you ID2
Upon this day as rounds the yearM2
The young Prince Satyavan shall dieD2
-
This was enough The monarch knewQ
The future was no seal d bookI3
To Brahma's son A clammy dewQ
Spread on his brow he gently tookI3
Savitri's palm in his and saidE3
No child can give away her handE3
A pledge is nought unsanction dE3
And here if right I understandE3
There was no pledge at all a thoughtE3
A shadow barely crossed the mindE3
Unblamed it may be clean forgotE3
Before the gods it cannot bindE3
-
And think upon the dreadful curseJ3
Of widowhood the vigils fastsK3
And penances no life is worseJ3
Than hopeless life the while it lastsK3
Day follows day in one long roundE3
Monotonous and blank and drearM2
Less painful were it to be boundE3
On some bleak rock for aye to hearM2
Without one chance of getting freeM2
The ocean's melancholy voiceL3
Mine be the sin if sin there beM2
But thou must make a different choiceL3
-
In the meek grace of virginhoodE3
Unblanched her cheek undimmed her eyeD2
Savitri like a statue stoodE3
Somewhat austere was her replyD2
Once and once only all submitE3
To Destiny 'tis God's commandE3
Once and once only so 'tis writE3
Shall woman pledge her faith and handE3
Once and once only can a sireM2
Unto his well loved daughter sayQ
In presence of the witness fireM2
I give thee to this man awayQ
-
Once and once only have I givenQ
My heart and faith 'tis past recallT
With conscience none have ever strivenQ
And none may strive without a fallT
Not the less solemn was my vowM3
Because unheard and oh the sinQ
Will not be less if I should nowM3
Deny the feeling felt withinQ
Unwedded to my dying dayQ
I must my father dear remainQ
'Tis well if so thou will'st but sayQ
Can man balk Fate or break its chainQ
-
If Fate so rules that I should feelN3
The miseries of a widow's lifeO3
Can man's device the doom repealN3
Unequal seems to be a strifeO3
Between Humanity and FateE3
None have on earth what they desireM2
Death comes to all or soon or lateE3
And peace is but a wandering fireM2
Expediency leads wild astrayQ
The Right must be our guiding starM2
Duty our watchword come what mayQ
Judge for me friends as wiser farM2
-
She said and meekly looked to bothP3
The father though he patient heardE3
To give the sanction still seemed lothQ3
But Narad Muni took the wordE3
Bless thee my child 'Tis not for usR3
To question the Almighty willS
Though cloud on cloud loom ominousR3
In gentle rain they may distilS
At this the monarch Be it soR
I sanction what my friend approvesS3
All praise to Him whom praise we oweR
My child shall wed the youth she lovesT3

Toru Dutt



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