Article No. 2048

Written by London swaminathan

Swami_48@yahoo.com

Date : 6  August  2015

Time uploaded in London : –15-12

Tamil poet Subramanya Bharati is one of the best poets of modern period in India and the greatest of the Tamil poets of our time. Bharati was a great patriot. He loved his language, literature, culture and tradition. Sarojini Naidu declared: “Bharati kindled the souls of men by the  million to a more passionate love of freedom and a richer dedication to the service of the country”

Bharati is well  known for his patriotic songs. But not many people know that he sung a lot about Nature. I was surprised that I could not find Bharati’s famous poem on the house sparrows when I googled for some poems on the sparrows!

When he was alive, he lived in poverty. When his wife Chellamma borrowed some grains from her next door neighbour, he got it from her and fed it to the birds that came to the backyard of his house. He felt immense happiness leaving his wife to worry about what to do next.

He used to dance, singing

“The crow and sparrow our kin;

One with us mountain and sea;

Wherever we glance ourselves a – dance

In a whirl of Ecstasy!”

(Tamil: Kaakkai Kuruvi Engal Jaathi, Neel Kadalum Malayum…….)

His poem on sparrow shows his longing for freedom for the country and  freedom for the soul – Moksha- Liberation.

Here is his famous poem on sparrows:

The Sparrow

1.“O May you escape all shackles

And revel in Liberty

Like this

Sprightly Sparrow!

2.Roam about in endless space,

Swim across the whirling air,

Drink the measureless wine of the light

That flows for ever from the azure sky!

3.Happily twittering and making love

Building a nest beyond danger’s reach

Guarding the fledgling, hatched from the egg

And giving it feed and a wholesome care”.

(Tamil: Vittu Viduthalaiyaaki Nirpaay Indha Chittukkuruvi pole…………)

(Source: Bharati Patalkal, Tamil University, Thanjavur, Edited by Sekkizar Adippodi Dr T N Ramachandran)

American Poetess Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson was an American poet who also sang on various Nature poems including birds. The following two poems are worthy of comparing with Bharati’s poems on Nature.

A Sparrow took a Slice of Twig

A Sparrow took a Slice of Twig
And thought it very nice
I think, because his empty Plate
Was handed Nature twice—

Invigorated, waded
In all the deepest Sky
Until his little Figure
Was forfeited away—

On Robin

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

Long live the Sparrow and the Freedom it symbolises!