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Nightfall In The City Of Hyderabad


SEE how the speckled sky burns like a pigeon's throat,
Jewelled with embers of opal and peridote.


See the white river that flashes and scintillates,
Curved like a tusk from the mouth of the city-gates.


Hark, from the minaret, how the muezzin's call
Floats like a battle-flag over the city wall.


From trellised balconies, languid and luminous
Faces gleam, veiled in a splendour voluminous.


Leisurely elephants wind through the winding lanes,
Swinging their silver bells hung from their silver chains.


Round the high Char Minar sounds of gay cavalcades
Blend with the music of cymbals and serenades.


Over the city bridge Night comes majestical,
Borne like a queen to a sumptuous festival.

Notes

A picture of The Charminar. This monument was built by the ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty who prayed when plague hit the city that if the black death left his city he would build a monument in gratitude.

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Comments


  • August 16, 2007
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    From guest S. Sankar (contact)
    In Nightfall in the City of Hyderabad Sarojini Naidu describes various scenes connected with Hyderabad. The poet feels that the river Musi is white in colour. It means that the water in the river is pure. It flashes and sparkles as it flows through the city gates of Hyderabad. Sarojini Naidu uses a simile to portray the bend in the river. She says that the river is curved like the tusk of an elephant. To the poet, all things connected with Hyderabad including the Musi appear to be attractive. The religious culture of Hyderabad is also presented in the poem. Hyderabad is famous for its Char Minar and the devotion of its people. The Muezzin, a mosque official, calls Muslims to prayer from a minaret five times a day. Here the poet uses a simile and says that the call of the Muezzin floats like a battle flag over the city wall. Beautiful women in veils stand relaxed in the balconies. Elephants too walk leisurely through the winding lanes. Sounds of processions on horses round the high Char Minar blend with music of cymbals. Over the city bridge night comes like a queen attending a lavish festival. This poem is an example of the tremendous appreciation one can have for a city.

  • Pari Ali
    February 19, 2004
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    what beautiful descriptions of wonders that now sleep in the lap of time.Many buildings still stand silent witnesses to an era gone by. As does the river Musi continues its serpentine flow from under the various bridges some centuries old and some just a decade or two. The muezzins calls still echo from the various mosques calling the faithful to the dusk prayers and the charminar the witness to so much history stands in all its grandeur.
    Edited on Feb 19, 1:32 p.m. because ''.