The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death & the Spring

by Sarojini Naidu

The Bird of Time (1912) is a poetry collection by Sarojini Naidu. Naidu's second book of English verse is steeped in the Romantic tradition while entirely conscious of the present political strife of her native India. From songs of love to portraits of urban life, Naidu's poems reflect her commitment to feeling, both for herself and for others. Traditional and modern, The Bird of Time is a powerful collection from a young poet on the brink of an impassioned life in politics. "O Bird of Time on your fruitful bough / What are the songs you sing? . . . / Songs of the glory and gladness of life, / Of poignant sorrow and passionate strife, / And the lilting joy of the spring..." In this mysterious ode, Naidu addresses the themes of her own multitudinous poems--life, love, grief, and nature, among countless others. Is the Bird of Time her muse, or a symbol for poetry itself? How can a poem express "the pride of a soul that has conquered fate?" As in much of Naidu's poetry, the symbolic maintains its distance in order to reflect a deeper, perhaps even personal truth. To describe the poem, to assign it meaning, would ultimately negate the need for poetry itself, whose powers must remain at least partially veiled. Elsewhere in the collection, "In the Bazaars of Hyderabad" reflects her commitment to the struggle for Indian independence as it celebrates the homegrown produce and handmade wares of a proud and lively people. Moving along the street, she sings to vendors, goldsmiths, and musicians alike, concluding before a group of flower-girls, whose work serves weddings and funerals. Beneath this vibrant imagery is a call to action for the Swadeshi movement, a boycott of foreign goods designed to strike a blow against British commerce. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sarojini Naidu's The Bird of Time is a classic work of Indian literature reimagined for modern readers.

Genres: Poetry, Classics

76 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1912

About the author

Sarojini Naidu or Sarojini Chattopadhyaya (February 13, 1879, Hyderabad - March 2, 1949, Lucknow), also known by the sobriquet Bharatiya Kokila (The Nightingale of India), was a child prodigy, freedom fighter, and poet. Naidu was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.

She was active in the Indian Independence Movement, joining Mahatma Gandhi in the Salt March to Dandi, and then leading the Dharasana Satyagraha after the arrests of Gandhi, Abbas Tyabji, and Kasturba Gandhi.

Reviews

[Michael Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some pretty good poems here! This is a really neglected and unappreciated collection of poetry, actually.

[Freya Abbas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is even better than her first volume of poetry because I think it carries more emotional depth. I think Naidu's poems hold a special place in my heart just because of how lyrical and aesthetically pleasing they are. She has a really good grasp on rhyme and her use of Indian imagery makes you really visualize every poem. Even though she writes in English for a British audience, she uses Hindi or Urdu names to refer to the flora and fauna she mentions. She writes a lot about religious unity. Her love poems also contain a lot of yearning in them.

[Ink Ivory Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely spectacular work. The depth of the prose and the enduring themes make it an intellectual treasure.