Toru Dutt and her sister Aru Dutt are among the first prominent poets of India who wrote in English. “Our Casuarina Tree” is among the representative poems of Toru Dutt as it bears evidence of her lyrical grace as well as her craftsmanship as a pot. If we take a look at her prose work, we find that Toru could manipulate autobiographical material and put it to creative use, as is Brianca or The Young Spanish Maiden, which borers closely on her own life.

Toru Dutt’s description of nature is noted for minute observations and extreme sensitivity to colour. “Our Casuarina Tree” is the most anthologized poem of her.

Our Casuarina Tree Poem Structure

The poem is divided into five stanzas of eleven lines each. The stanzas consist of octaves (8 lines), following two quatrains (4 lines) with closed rhymes and a rhyming tercet. Thus, making the overall rhyme scheme of the poem to be more or less like – ABBA CDDC EEE

Dr. Iyengar writes-

“The parallel line stanza form with the rhyme scheme abba cddc eee is worthy of Keats himself. In the organization of the poem as a whole and in the finish of the individual stanzas, in its mastery of phrases and rhythm, in its music of sound and idea “Our Casuarina Tree” is a superb piece of writing and gives us a taste of what Toru might have done had not the race of her life been so quickly run.”

Our Casuarina Tree: Analysis

Stanza 1

The Casuarina Tree is a giant one with the embrace of a python-like creeper. The embrace of a python could be fatal to any living creature, similarly, the embrace of a creeper around the tree could stunt the growth or even kill off any other tree but the casuarina tree has bloomed despite the presence of a creeper around its “rugged trunk indented deep with cars”.

The fact that the tree wears the embrace of the creeper like a scarf shows its defiance. A crimson flower hangs among its boughs and birds and bees gather around it. At night serene songs are sung by birds nestled upon the tree and this helps the men to repose.

Stanza 2

The second stanza further elaborates on the physical description of the tree and the soothing effect it has on the perturbed soul of the poet. When the poet opens her eyes at dawn the tree is there as a permanent fixture. It is the habitat of the baboons and the kokilas, the ‘sleepy cows’ graze around it and water lilies spring in its shadow like ‘snow enmassed’.

Stanza 3

There is a shift of tone, from the rapturous description the mood becomes elegiac and one of subjective contemplation. It assumes the characteristics of a meditative reverie. The Casuarina is dear to the poet because of the memories of childhood it evokes. The poet says that the tree will always be ‘dear’ to her not because of its ‘magnificence’ but because of the associative memories. Toru’ ‘O sweet companion’ may refer to her deceased sibling.

This reminds readers of Keats’ lamentation for the death of his younger brother Tom. The line “till the hot bear blind mine eyes!” exudes emotions and Toru focuses upon the lament of the tree itself for the moment gone by and compares it to a ‘dirge-like murmur’ which I akin to the ‘a-breaking’ on a pebble filled beach.

Stanza 4

In the fourth stanza, the ‘unknown land’ is further conceptualised. The land may be unknown but is a reality for those who believe in it. The setting shifts from India to the shores of France and Italy where the poet has heard similar ‘dirge-like murmurs’.  Both the mention of France and Italy is significant because of their associative values.

Italy is the land of the renaissance which has obviously drawn Toru’s poetic sensibilities and Toru has spent a sizeable part of her life in France. Imagery is evoked which is that of a sea beach shining beneath the moon. The entire atmosphere is dream-like and evokes cadence. This natural serenity makes the poet envision the Casuarina tree placed in her garden in the Indian soil.

Stanza 5

The tree forms a connection between the poet’s past and the present. She bid an anguished farewell to the past but cling on to the sentiment of the tee. Toru Dutt shares intentions to dedicate the poem to the tree. She says that when she too would no longer live, the tree would continue to be present and honour the memories of her and her dead brother and sister

She wants the tree to live long like those trees of “Borrowdale” making a reference to Wordsworth’s “Yew-trees.” It reflects her wish for self-fulfilment through the Casuarina tree.  The Casuarina tree becomes a symbol of nostalgia, longing, and memory, whereas the trees of England reflect her isolation.

Our Casuarina Tree: Literary Devices

A lot of similes and metaphors have been used. The creeper in the first stanza has been beautifully compare to a python’s embrace. The simile comparing the white likes with the ‘enmasssed snow’ is brilliant. There are several metaphors used in the poem as well. The tree symbolizes nostalgia and permanence that outline the transitory events of the poet’s life. It becomes an emblem of those days of the past which the poet enjoyed along with her siblings.

FAQs

What is the summary of the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree‘?

Toru Dutt’s ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ explores the poet’s childhood memories in India. The tree symbolizes nostalgia and permanence that outline the transitory events of the poet’s life in this poem.

What is the theme of the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree‘?

The poem covers themes of nostalgia, memories and immortality as the tee symbolizes all of these and stands as a reminder of the poet’s lost childhood.

What does the casuarina tree symbolize?

The tree symbolizes nostalgia and permanence that outline the transitory events of the poet’s life. It becomes an emblem of those days of the past which the poet enjoyed along with her siblings.

When was the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree‘ published?

It was published in her collection of poems Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan in 1882.

Who is addressed, sweet companion?

‘O weet companion may be a reference to Toru Dutt’ deceased siblings.

What is the rhyming scheme of the poem?

The overall rhyme scheme of the poem is like – ABBA CDDC EEE