The poem Tansen by Hazrat Inayat Khan is a narrative poem that portrays Emperor Akbar's admiration for Tansen's singing, his encounter with Tansen's teacher, and his thoughts during this meeting. The final lines bring the poem to its climax.
The poem follows a rhyming couplet structure, with the aa rhyme scheme. One of the figures of speech used is Alliteration, as seen in the line "Tell me, Tansen, what theme this is that holds," where the repetition of the ‘t’ sound is evident. Other figures of speech in the poem include Simile and Inversion.
The poem conveys the idea that true greatness is achieved when one transcends worldly attachments and dedicates their talents to a higher purpose. The story unfolds in a clear and logical manner, making it easy to understand.