Sarojini Naidu's Palanquin Bearers- Line by line explanation.

Line by line explanation of Palanquin Bearers.
Line 1,2:
     "Lightly, O lightly we bear her along
       She sways like a flower in the wind          of our song;"
The palanquin bearers carry the newl-wed bride in a palanquin. They sing as they carry the bride to her in laws' house. They tell us that the bride is very light to carry. They don't feel it as a burden. The bride moves softly according to the movement of the palanquin and the palanquin bearers' song. The bride's swaying is compared with a flower's movement in wind.

Line 3,4:
     "She skims like a bird on the foam of                                                       a stream,
       She floats like a laugh from the lips                                                      of a dream"
Now the bride's movement is compared with a bird's skimming. Birds touch the foam of a stream slightly and fly away. Likewise, the bride moves slightly. She is very light and so she is said to be floating like a dreamy smile from the lips of a person who dreams. Her movement is so delicate and beautiful. The bride seems to be happy, as her movement is compared with a laugh.

Line 5,6:
     "Gail, O gaily we glide and we sing,
       We bear her along like a pearl on a                                                              string"
The palanquin bearers carry the bride gaily, even when they glide high grounds. They are not burdened and so they proceed with their singing. They say that the bride is carried like a pearl on a string. She is as precious as a pearl.

Line 7,8:
     "Softly, O softly we bear her along,
      She hang like a star in the dew of                                                         our song"
They carry her, the delicate bride, softly in their palanquin. She is seated in the palanquin like a bright star and heeds to the palanquin bearers' song. Their song reflects her happiness like a dew drop reflects a star's light. Their happy song shows they are as happy as the bride.

Line 9,10:
     "She springs like a beam on the                                       brow of the tide,
      She falls like a tear from the eyes of                                                         a bride."
The bride moves like a beam of light that springs when it gets reflected by waves. The bride's movement is also compared with the slow falling of a tear from the eyes of a bride. Though the bride is delighted to visit her in-laws' house, she feels sad for her situation. She is getting separated from her parents. She has the mixed feeling of joy and pain.

Line 11,12:
     "Lightly, O lightly we glide and we                                                                 sing,
      We bear her along like a pearl on a                                                             string"
The palanquin bearers continue to carry the bride, who is as precious as a pearl on string. They didn't cease their song as they carry the bride lightly. They travel far away gliding rough paths. Nevertheless, they never feel sad or burdened by carrying the beautiful bride.