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The given ‘Sonnet’ is written by Tom Dutt, a child prodigy who passed away at a very young age leaving behind a remarkable wealth of her poetry.

In this‘Sonnet’, Tom Dutt describes the beauty of the garden around her family bungalow, she tells us that her garden appeared like a ‘sea of foliage’. But, she cautions us not to come to a hasty conclusion and think that it was a sea of dull unvaried green. One could see sharp contrasts of all colours, such as the light – green of the tamarinds which grow abundantly among the mango clumps of green profound ‘dark green’.

In between the tamarid and mango trees the palms arise, sky high like gray pillars. And the seemul trees lean over the serene ponds in the garden. They are all dashing red in colour which glares in our eyes similar to the startling sound of a trumpet.

The poet is enchanted by the bamboos in the east of the garden. She tells us that no other sight in the garden is as lovely as the bamboo ranges (they appear like mountain ranges) when the moon peeps through their gaps. In the moonlight, the while lotus transforms itself into a cap of silver.

The beauty of the garden was so enchanting that one can get intoxicated by beauty and go on gazing at that ‘Primeval Eden’ in utter amazement. Eden is the beautiful garden on earth created for the first human beings of the earth Adam and eve.

“Looks through their gaps, and white lotus changes, Into a cup of silver, one might swoon, drunken with beauty then, or gaze and gaze on a primeval Eden, in amaze. The words in the second line shows even enjoyment can become unberable. White lotus looks like silver cup. The scene is so enchanting that one might almost feint intoxicated by beauty or say in wonder at what looks like garden of Eden, the first garden by God for Adam and Eve.

Tom Dutt, who died before her poetic talent could fully mature, was the daughter of the poet, Govinda Dutt. She was educated in England. Her poetry shows influences of French and English poetry of the Victorian age.

In her short literary career she left behind a body of poetry quote remarkable for genius. ‘A sheaf gleaned in French Fields ’ was published in 1875 when Tom was just 19 years old. She also wrote ‘Ancient Ballads’. Her poetry, which is highly emotional, describes the glory of heroic deeds, domestic virtues and nature.

A contrast is found in brilliant red colour of flowers of the seemul tree which takes one by surprise like the sudden shrill sound of triumphet.

The loveliest however are the lines of bamboo tree growing towards the eastern side of the garden, when the moon shines through the bamboo trees the white lotus looks like silver cup, the scene is so enchanting that one might almost faint intoxicated by beauty.

The greenery you are watching seems dull if it is unvaried

Just one type of plant everywhere like the sea which remains unchanged will be dull in the same the same type of plant will gives dull impression. But in the poet’s garden there is mixture of plants, colours and textures which could be a sea of foliage around her garden which is spectacular, greenery surrounding her family.

Brilliant red colour of seemuls tree which takes us by surprise compared to the sudden shrill sound of a trumpet.

The meaning of “sea” of foliage is that Tom Dutt compares the greenery surrounding her family garden with the sea. She also says that while the sea has an unchanged green colour, her garden is filled with different and exciting shades of green like light green of tamarind tree, deep green of mango grove.

A sudden blare of a trumpet outside your quiet room would startle you. The glaring red colour of the seemuls startled the poet.