(a) Reference: These words are from the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree” written by Torn Dutt.
Context and Explanation: The poet says this while appreciating the strength of her Casuarina tree. The creeper saps the tree for its survival and growth. But the tree treats the creeper’s tight hold as a lover’s embrace. It ignores bite marks of love.lt allows the creeper to lean on its trunk and live. The tree also grows stout and strong.
(b) Reference: These words are from the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree” written by Toru Dutt.
Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while describing the might of the Casuarina tree. The climber has climbed around the tree like a python trying to sap its life out. But the gallant tree wears the creeper like a scarf around its neck. The poet calls the tree a ‘giant’ unmindful of the attempt of the creeper to strangle it.
(c) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree” written by Toru Dutt.
Context and Explanation: The poet says this while describing Casuarina and its inhabitants at night. When men are sleeping, Darkling (i.e.) Nightingale sings sweetly from the Casuarina tree. It is a kind of a lullaby to sleeping humans.
(d) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree” written by Toru Dutt.
Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while talking about the early influences of the Casuarina tree in her life. Her day started with seeing the tree with delight. The very first thing she used to see was the Casuarina tree through her casement (i.e.) door like window.
(e) Reference: These words are from the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree” written by Toru Dutt.
Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while talking about the faith-fuelled communication between herself and the Casuarina though divided thousands of kilometers of distance. William Wordsworth also could sense communication of nature similar to Toru Dutt. The tree and the poet shared an emotional bond. Even when she was far away she could hear the ‘wail’ or lament of the tree expressing the grief of missing her presence.
(f) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree” written by Toru Dutt.
Context and Explanation: The poet says these words recalling the appearance of the lush green giant Casuarina tree when she was a little girl. The image of the giant Casuarina tree is etched in the memory of the poet.
(g) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree” written by Toru Dutt.
Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while recalling younger Dutts who had succumbed to Tuberculosis. She remembers with poignance the numerous days they had spent under the Casuarina tree.
(h) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree” written by Tom Dutt.
Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while expressing her wish to ensure the immortality of the tree. Her love for the Casuarina tree frozen in her poem will invariably help the tree to escape the curse of death and death-caused oblivion or forgetfulness.
(i) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree” written by Tom Dutt.
Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while sharing her obvious concern for the ageing Casuarina tree. She is sure that the tree may meet the fate of humans and all other trees. But her unfathomable love for the tree influences her to make it as immortal as the yew tree in Borrowdale which was immortalized by William Wordsworth.
