Poems RTC Fr B.

A/ADA
BY: QASIM WATTOO

Leisure
Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem “Leisure” written by William
Davies.

Context:
This poem is a protest against the unnecessary commitment of man with
worldly affairs. We are always in a hurry and have no leisure time to look at
the beauty spread all around us. Man’s miserable life brings him nothing but
sadness and worries.
Explanation: (Lines 1 – 4)
In these lines the poet bewails our rushed life. The poet says that we cannot
call this life a pure life, if it is full of worries and anxiety. We have no time to
stand at a certain place and look carefully at nature. Even we cannot spare
a few moments to stand under the branches of green trees and enjoy the
beautiful and restful shades of the trees. The common animals like sheep and
cows are better than us in enjoying life. We cannot look at the common
animals like sheep and cows grazing in the pastures. We have
committed ourselves with worldly affairs unnecessarily and cannot
enjoy nature and the natural beauty spread all around us.
(Lines 5 – 6)
In these lines the poet tells us, when we pass through some forest, we do not
have time to stop for some moments to look at the trees tall and short, and
enjoy their natural beauty. The dark green trees provide a soothing effect but
we are always sick-hurried and cannot enjoy at least the simple beauty. Also
we cannot look at the small animals like squirrels concealing their food-grain
in the grass for the winter. This minor scene can also give us relief.
(Lines 7 – 8)
In these lines the poet says that human beings cannot see the beauty that is
hidden in the streams. During day time, when the rays of the sun fall upon the
clear water of the brooks, the water reflects and shines like stars in the
sky during night. Sometimes water of streams, because of its clearness seems
so beautiful that even stones beneath the water can be observed, which look
like stars in the clear blue water. This scene also resembles the stars shining in
the sky at night.
(Lines 9 – 10) & (11 – 12)
The poet says we are so hard luck that we cannot watch a girl or a woman who
dances in the field. The feet of the dancing girl are very attractive and
bewitching but we cannot spare time to look at these feet as how they dance.
This dancing girl can also amuse us with her performance. The
Poet also mourns that we have no time to wait for the words, the mouth of the
dancing girl has to utter. As a sort of smile has appeared in her eyes but we
cannot wait for such time as the words from her eyes are transferred to her
lips. Those words can amuse us. In fact, the poet uses personification, a poetic
device to explain the natural beauty scattered all around us. The poet
personifies beauty as a young beautiful dancing girl having a smiling face.
(Lines 13 – 14)
In these concluding lines the poet regrets to say that ours is a poor life. In a
way it cannot be life if it is full of cares and worries. Unluckily, we have no
time to stand at a place and look carefully at nature that can refresh us. As
such our life is nothing but lamentation through and through. As human
beings we should spare some moments and look at nature and natural beauty
spread around us and enjoy life.

Expected Questions:
What are some of the simple delights we miss because of our busy life?
What are some of the natural things that we miss because of our rushed life?
Define the word personification.
The poet has used the word personification. Can you point it out?

Tartary

Reference:
This stanza has been taken from the poem “Tartary” by Walter De Le Mare.

Context:
This poem is a descriptive picture of an imaginary kingdom of Tartary. The poet
considers himself the king of that state and wants to enjoy all the delights of life. He
would have a throne of pure gold. Beautiful pets would roam about to please him.
Musicians would play on instruments at the time of his meals. His rich land would be
full of honey, fruits, beautiful gardens and attractive valleys. In fact, this poem is a
journey into the realm of imagination.
Stanza 1
Explanation:
In these lines the poet presents the picture of an imaginary kingdom “Tartary”. He
considers himself the king of this empire. He says if he were the king of Tartary,
he would be its sole king. There should be no one else to share this kingdom. His bed
would be made of ivory, a precious material. His throne would be made of pure gold.
There would not be any mixture of base metal in it. He would have a spacious court in
which peacocks would move here and there very proudly. His forests would be full of
wild animals like tigers and lions. They would freely stroll in the forests as its real
owners. His kingdom would have pools full of different kinds of fish. They would swim
aslant. They would be very happy and freer than any other object. The tiny fins of
these fish would be sloppy towards the sunlight and would shine proudly and happily.
Stanza 2
In this stanza the poet further imagines himself as the king of Tartary and mentions his
mealtime. He says that if he were the king of Tartary, bugles would call him to meals
every day. This would become a ceremonial event. There would be great trumpeters that
would produce heavy and noisy sounds. In the evening there would be lamps of
different kinds. The light emitted by these lamps would be as yellow as pure honey.
Some of the lights would be as red as pure and bitter wine. And during his meal and
even in the evening, the players would play upon harp, pipe and many other
musical devices. All these musical instruments would create sweet and beautiful music.
Stanza 3
In this stanza the poet says something about himself. He says that if he were the king of
Tartary, he would wear dress of pure pearls. The pearls would be of white and
gold color. There would also be green beads among them. All these pearls would be
mixed and would be a thick as grains of seeds. Further the poet wishes that he would
wear his dress, his small sword before the waning of the morning star. This would mean
that he would prepare himself very early in the morning. His carriage would be drawn
by seven specific horses known as zebras. And these horses would draw his carriage
through the deep and dark shades and clearings of Tartary.

Stanza 4
In these lines the poet says if he were the king of the imaginary kingdom, Tartary, he
would be the sole owner of its silvery pale rivers. Water of these rivers would be very
clear and tasty. He would be king of its fruits of all types. Hills
of the land of Tartary would be his. The gorges bushes, tall trees and all the valley would
be under his command and control. He would enjoy all the natural objects. The bright
stars shining in the sky and the perfumed morning air would also please him. The
shivering lakes of Tartary would be like the quiet and motionless oceans. There would be
beautiful juicy trees of different kinds of fruits. These would attract birds and would
delight him as well as the birds in the beautiful red valleys, red because of fruits and
colorful flowers. This imaginary kingdom would please the poet all the time. All
the beautiful natural objects mentioned by the poet shows his deep love for nature.
Expected Questions:
Pick out all the color words the poet has used.
What in your opinion is the most fanciful image?

New Year Resolutions

Reference: -

These lines have been taken from “New Year Resolutions” written by Elizabeth Sewell.

Context: -

This poem contains extraordinary resolution and promises of the poetess. She pledges that she
will peep into herself to know what she really is. She also resolves to face and live with reality.
She decides that she will no longer remain a hypocrite as she was in the past.

Lines 1-3

The poetess says that she will not speak much. She has come to know that silence is the only
method to purity the soul. She wants to clean her mind, heart, and soul in the depth of silence.

Lines 4-6

The poetess says that she will think twice a day, the purpose of her creation and life. She will try
to find out her own worth because when a person will recognize himself then he will be able to
recognize his Creator.

Lines 7-9

She says that every night when she will lie down on her bed to sleep. She will analyze herself.
She will face the bitter reality and remain comforted and satisfied.
Expected Questions:
What New Year resolutions do you make?
Do you find this poem different from some of the others you have read?

Woman Work

Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem “Woman Work” written by Maya Angelou.

Context:
The poetess feels extremely bored and tired after attending to her house-hold affairs. She feels
that only the natural phenomena can exercise healthy influence on her. The natural objects can
save her from unbearable boredom and can raise her spirits. A house-hold woman remains
awfully busy with the domestic chores. Even then, she can enjoy nature through her imagination.
It is an indirect praise of the woman's greatness. In general, the poem is an escape from the
drudgery of the mechanical routine and taking shelter in ideal life.
Stanza 1
In these lines the poetess gives vent to her feelings for her dull and busy life. She is tired of
the routine work of a working woman. She says she has to look after children at home. Also
she has to repair clothes of the members of her family. She has to clean the floor of her
house and has to collect edibles from the shop for her family. After that she has to cook
those things which she has brought from shop.

Stanza 2
These lines are a continuation of her domestic chores. She has mentioned some of the
chores in the previous stanza and of some talks here. She says that she has to cook
chicken for the family. Also she has to dry the baby after bathing it. After that she has to
prepare meal for her guests. She has to remove unwanted plants from her garden. She has
to press the clothes of her children and other members of her family. She has to dress her
little children and also has to cut bamboos. She has to clean the whole house.
Stanza 3
In these lines the poetess wants to enjoy the natural objects. She has got tired of the
domestic work and wants to go close to nature. She says that the sun light should shine on
her, rain should fall on her. The dewdrops should gently fall upon her. All these things can
cool her brow. All these natural objects can give her satisfaction and peace.

Stanza 4
These lines are an expression of her escapism from the busy life of a working woman. The
domestic woman remains awfully busy and dreams of an ideal life. In these lines she asks
storm to blow her from the busy world across the sky with its stormy wind. As such she will
be able to get relief from the hurly burly of life. She asks the storm to take her to an
imaginary world for rest. Only imagination can give her, peace, solace and satisfaction,
otherwise physically it is not possible to run away from this world. Shelley in “Ode to the
West Wind” says, oh; lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud! I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed!

Stanza 5
This stanza is also an expression of taking relief and refuge with natural objects. She asks
the snow-flakes to fall gently on her body and completely cover it up and make it all white.
When she will be completely under the charm and burden of the white snow, she will get
solace. She further asks snow to touch and give her cold icy kisses, so that she may be
able to have rest that night. Actually the natural objects can please a person and give
company for some time.

Stanza 6
In these lines the poetess addresses all the natural objects to help her in giving relief from the
busy life of a working woman. She wants to lose herself among the natural objects. That is why
she asks the sun, rain, the curving sky, the mountains, the ocean, the leaf and the stone to give
her relief. Actually she wants to get relief and joy from all these things and wants to run away
from dark and dull life at home. That is why she asks the moon to glow, the shining stars to give
her shelter with them. She calls all these things her own because she wants some leisure and
satisfaction in these natural things. Nature can give delight to her and can transport her to peace
and tranquility.

Expected Questions:
Write a character sketch of the woman depicted in the poem.
What kind of disgusting picture of woman’s life Maya Angelou has drawn in her poem.
 The Rebel
Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem “The Rebel” written by D.J.
Enright.
Context:
This poem deals with the attitude of a social rebel. Actually a rebellion is a
manner to look different from others. Such a social rebel is neither dangerous
nor vicious. He does not make the other people’s lives miserable. He just
wants to look different. Young dissatisfied people may behave like this. But the
society should not have social rebels.
Lines 1 – 2
Explanation:
In these lines the poet expresses the attitude of a social rebel. When everybody
keeps short and uniform hair, the rebel knowingly grows his hair long. This,
he does for the fact that he wants to look different from others.
Lines 3 – 4
In these lines the poet says that the rebel goes against the custom and
tradition of the society. When the rest of the society grows long hair, the rebel
cuts his hair short. This he does just to have a difference from others.
Lines 5 – 6
In these lines the poet expresses the thought when every member of the
society talks during a lesion or meeting, the rebel keeps silent because he
wants to be prominent.
Lines 7 – 8
In these lines the poet says when no-body talks during the lesion or meeting,
the rebel creates disturbance by talking loudly just to look distinct.
Lines 9 – 10
These lines show a different position of a rebel. When every person of the
society wears simple and uniform clothes, the rebel uses strange and odd
clothes. He wants to look distinguished from others.
Lines 11 – 12
In these lines the poet says when all other members of the society use queer
and strange clothes, the rebel dresses himself very seriously and soberly.
Lines 13 – 14
In these lines the poet expresses his idea of a rebel. If some people love dogs as
pet animals, the rebel talks about the usefulness of cats. He prefers cats to
dogs.
Lines 15 – 16
If a rebel is in company of those people who love cats, he prefers dogs to cats.
He wants to look different at all costs.
Lines 17 – 18
The poet says if people require the sunlight and praise the sun the rebel is
against them. He says that the sun is not required and there is need for rain.
Lines 19 – 20
When everybody of the society welcomes and requires rain, the rebel says
something about the sun. He feels sorry for the absence of the sun. according
to him, there is need for the sunlight.
Lines 21 – 22
When every members of the society goes to some gathering and attends the
meeting, the rebel stays at home and keeps himself busy by reading a book
indoors.
Lines 23 – 24
When everybody of the society stays at home and reads a book, the rebel tries
to find some crowd of the people and wants to attend to them.
Lines 25 – 26
When every person asks for something, the rebel rejects the same with thanks.
Because he is a person quite different from others.
Lines 27 – 28
When everybody of the society does not like and does not receive anything and
says thanks, for that, the rebel, on purpose, requires that thing and asks for it.
Lines 29 – 30
In these lines the poet concludes that it is very good that we have social rebels
in the society. But naturally, it is not good to become a social rebel. The poet
further suggests that if we already have the social rebels, we should
tolerate them. Without them life will become monotonous and dull.

Expected Questions:
Discuss the element of humor and satire in the poem.
Explain all what the others do and rebel does not do. And why is that?

Patriot into Traitor

Reference:
This stanza has been taken from the poem “Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.
Context:
This poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power,
people call him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is
the tragedy of modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs.
When he came into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they
declared him a traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But
Browning has ended his poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.

Stanza 1
In these lines the poet says through the mouth of a political leader, when for the first time,
only one year ago, on that very day, he came to power, the people gave him a very warm
welcome. There were roses mixed with myrtle flowers which people spread on his way
through and through. The house-tops were crowded with people and they were moving and
swinging like mad people. Also they were so happy as if they were mad. The minarets and
domes of churches were shining with light. These churches were decorated with colourful
flags. All this was on that very day when the politician came into power and it took place
only one year ago.

Stanza 2
When the people were given him a warm welcome they rang bells and raised slogans.
These different voices mingled with one another and produced a sort of music. The air
became misty and heavy because of the noisy slogans and the ringing bells. The slogans of
the crowd were so heavy and loud that the adjacent walls of the road-side houses trembled
with various cries and noise of the crowd. These people were welcoming him so happily that
if he had told them that mere noise and slogans did not please him.

Stanza 3
In these lines the leader regretfully says that the people did not help him, instead, it was he
who leaped at the sun and made impossible, possible for them. He brought the sun down
and handed it over to his dear friends (country men). He made them realize that every
impossible could be made possible for sincere friends. As such he made every effort and
did not leave anything undone for them. Had he left anything undone, nobody else would
have done that for them. But he further says with great sorrow that today when only one
year has lapsed and that he is no more in chair, his reward can be seen. It can also be seen
what he is reaping as a reward of his deeds. He has been branded as a traitor by the
people of his nation.
Stanza 4
In these lines the poet mourns that nobody can be seen on the housetops to welcome him
now. It is quite opposite to the scene when he was received by them. Now there are only a
few people, who are rather paralyzed and are standing at the windows. Now they are
watching a different sight. This sight is a sort of ridicule and everybody agrees to it.
Obviously, the sight is horrible because the leader is now being taken to the slaughter-
house, or it can be better said, the leader thinks, that he is being taken to the gallows to be
hanged there. It is all the reward of his good deeds. His deeds have been converted into
wicked deeds and people are now punishing him for his supposed misdeeds.

Stanza 5
In these lines the poet also mopes over his sad condition. He says that the people are
carrying him to the gallows in the rain. They unnecessarily, have tied his hands behind his
back with a tight rope. When they are taking him to the slaughter-house, the rope cuts his
both hands at wrists. The culprit (the leader) feels that his fore-head is bleeding. This is
because everybody in his right sense is throwing stones at him. Everybody feels that he has
done nothing for his countrymen. Every person has turned against him and the
achievements of his past one year have been changed to misdeeds. This means they have
forgotten his service to them and they are now punishing him for his good work for them.

Stanza 6
In the given lines the poet, through the mouth of the deposed leader says that he was brought
honorably to the chair and with great pomp and show but now he is being taken very insultingly
to the gallows. He says sometimes great heroes fall from their climax and die. Such has not
happened to him. Had he died in the peak of his power, he would have been happy. Further the
leader ridiculously says that heroes cannot expect reward from God in the next world because
they get their reward in this world. In his case people have not done him justice. They have killed
him. He says after death he will go to his Lord Creator where God Might question him about his
deeds he had done for the people. He would reply that he had done his best for them but they
rewarded him with shame. Now he will ask God for a reward because God is just and He would
give him the best reward in the other world for his service to his people. He would be safe with
God in the world here after.

Expected Questions:
Discuss the poem as a dramatic monologue.
 The Huntsman
Reference: These lines have been taken from the poem “The Huntsman” written by
Edward Lowbury.

Context: This poem tells a Kenyan folk-lore. It tells that some-times a hunter becomes
hunted himself. Kagwa went hunting and found a talking skull. He came to the king and
informed him to the fact. The king ordered to know the reality. When it was found not
so, Kagwa was killed. Strange enough it was that after his murder the skull spoke. The
story tells us that irresponsible talking can bring destruction. The elements of suspense
and irony create a shocking impact.

Stanza 1
Explanation:
In these lines the poet says that Kagwa, a famous hunter, hunted lions and tigers
through forests and bushes. He used his spear for hunting. One day, while hunting, he
found the skull of a man in the forest. The skull was talking. Kagwa asked the talking
skull, how it had come there. The skull opened its mouth and replied that talking had
brought it there.
Stanza 2
In this stanza the poet says that after getting the skull, Kagwa went home hurriedly. He
appeared before the court of the king and talked about the skull Kagwa told the king that
he had found a skull which was talking. On hearing these words, the king was surprised
so much. He thought that nodead skull ever talked. After that the king said slowly to
himself that he had never heard of or seen a skull that talked. He said, since his birth
from his mother he had never heard of such a thing.
Stanza 3
In these lines the poet says, when Kagwa told about the talking skull, the king called out
his guards. The king ordered two of the guards to go with Kagwa and find the talking
skull. He also told the guards if Kagwa proved a liar, and there was no such thing as the
talking skull, Kagwa must be killedhimself.
Stanza 4
In the given lines the poet says that Kagwa and two guards of the king rode their horses
to the forest. For some days they looked for it but found nothing like a talking skull. But
after some more struggle they found a skull. Kagwa asked the skull how he had come
there. The skull remainedsilent. Kagwa again earnestly requested the skull but it did not
talk. And they all were surprised.
Stanza 5
In the concluding stanza the guards ordered Kagwa to kneel down. The guards killed
him with sword and lance. When Kagwa was put to death, the already dead skull opened
its mouth and asked the hunter, how he had come there. The dead body of Kagwa
replied, talking had brought him there. This simple story has a meaningful moral. It
teaches us that irresponsible and worthless talking can bring destruction or death to the
talker.
Expected Questions:
Discuss in detail the use of elements of suspense and irony in the poem.
The poet draws our attention to a tragic fact of life. The huntsman becomes the hunted. Discuss?

One Art
Reference: These lines have been taken from the poem “One Art” written by Elizabeth
Bishop.

Context: In this poem the poetess wants to teach us that the art of losing things is
necessary to lead a pleasant life. We should not bother, whether things are lost or
snatched from us. The loss of door-keys or some other possession should be accepted as
a part of life. No loss should disturb us; we should take our defeats and losses lightly.

Stanza 1
Explanation:
In these lines the poetess wants to teach us an uncommon lesson about losing things.
She says that the art of losing things is not difficult to learn. Many things are included or
intend to be lost. The loss of these things which we lose every day, will bring no disaster.
Actually, the poetess wants to teach us the art of acceptance and resignation.

Stanza 2
In these lines the poetess tells us that we should try to lose something every day and
accept the confusion created by this loss. For example, if we lose door keys, naturally, an
hour is spent in trouble. After that we will get used to the loss, or we shall find some
solution to the problem. Even then if we try to learn the art of losing things, it is not
difficult to master.

Stanza 3
The poetess says, we should try to lose things farther and faster. This practice will
habituate you to losing things and you will not feel any trouble. Once you get used to
losing things, and then forget the names of people with whom you lived and forget the
place where you did go and spent some time. Forgetting names and places will not put
you in trouble if you have mastered the art of losing.

Stanza 4
In the given lines the poetess cites some personal examples. She says that once she lost
the watch given to her by her mother. This watch was very dear to her but its losing did
not create any disturbance to her. After that she lost three very dear houses by migrating
from one place to another. She lost these houses one after the other. But this did not
disturbher. So the art of losing things is not difficult to learn.
Stanza 5
In these lines, also the poetess quotes some other examples. She says that she lost two
dearest cities and more than that she left two very dear rivers and also some property
and estate that she owned. In addition, she lost even a whole continent, when she
migrated from North America to South America. She says that she remembers all these
things but their loss is not a disaster. She means to say that sometimes even kings have
to leave their dominions but this does not bring any devastation.

Stanza 6
In these lines the poetess concludes her lesson. She says even if we lose our very dear
friends, relatives, their most joking voice, their most loved gestures, these do not bring
any destruction. She says, perhaps she has not told a lie in this regard. Obviously, the art
of losing things is not difficult to learn, although it looks so. But one thing is clear that
losing things does not bring any disaster. The poetess wants to teach us that for leading
peaceful life, it is necessary to accept the hard realities of life and accept even the worst
impact of our losses. It is necessary to take our defeats and failures lightly.

Expected Questions:
Do you agree with the poet that the art of losing isn’t hard to master? How can we master this
art?
How can we master the art of losing? Discuss.

The Solitary Reaper

Reference
These lines have been taken from the poem The Solitary Reaper written by
William Wordsworth.

Context
In this poem, the poet narrates an incident. He sees a highland girl in a field.
She is reaping the crop and singing a song. The poet is very much impressed by
the music of her song. He compares her song with the song of the two singing
birds, the nightingale, and the cuckoo. The poet remembers the melody and
tone of her song every time.

Stanza 1
In these lines, Wordsworth asks his readers to look at the Highland girl. She is
reaping the crop and singing a melodious song. She is all alone in the field. The
poet is so much impressed both by her lovely presence and music.
Her voice is so sweet and melodious that the poet is fascinated and stood there
calmly listening to the song. The poet advises his readers either to stop by the
side of the field to listen to her sweet song or to pass by her silently without
disturbing her.

Stanza 2
In these lines, the poet describes that the maiden is all alone in the field. She is
reaping and binding the crop in a bundle all alone. She is singing a sad and
melodious song. The whole valley is rejoicing with the music and song of the
maiden. Her lovely presence and enchanting voice have transported the poet
into ecstasy.

Stanza 3
In these lines, the poet describes the enchanting voice of a maiden's song. He
says that the song of the solitary reaper is more attractive and melodious than
the song of the nightingale that sings in the evening time.
The maiden's sweet voice pacifies the feelings of the tired travelers staying in
an oasis in Arabian deserts. The Arabian desert gives a romantic touch to these
verses. This is also a romantic image. In this way, the poet admires the sweet
song of the mountain girl.

Stanza 4
In these lines, the elaborates the pleasant nature of the song of the highland
girl. The poet finds her voice so exciting and livelier than the voice of cuckoo,
whose sweet voice breaks the silence of the seas on the island of the Hebrides
near the coast of England.
The poet says that the song of the girl has a more magical and inspiring effect
on our ears. In short, he finds her voice matchless and unique in its music,
melody, and symphony.

Stanza 5
These lines highlight the poet's inability to understand the subject matter or the
theme of the maiden's song. He asks if anyone will tell him the meaning of her
song. She is singing in some local dialect.
The poet simply guesses its theme that her song may be about some old sad
events or about some battles fought very long ago. The tune of her song is sad
and sorrowful.

Stanza 6
The poet is deeply impressed by the lovely presence and voice of the highland
girl. The girl is singing in her local dialect. The poet cannot understand the real
nature of her song. The poet tells us about his guess, concerning the contents
of the highland girl's song.
The song may be about some common day-to-day matter of life, or it may be
about some important death or battle in the area important for the girl perhaps.
It may be about some natural trouble, loss, or pain that occurs again and again
in society.

Stanza 7
The poet could not understand the subject matter of the song being sung by the
lonely girl, who was reaping the crop in the field. But the song went on
continuously as if it would never end. The girl sang fluently, as she was bending
over the sickle and continuously doing her work.
It was an unending song. The poem is one of the most artistic and most
romantic of Wordsworth's poems. Wordsworth very artistically shows the artistic
portrayal of the girl that becomes an audio-visual picture in our mind.

Stanza 8
In these lines, the poet tells us that he stood motionless and listened to the
song of the girl who was singing in a field of crop. He enjoyed the sweet voice
and the surroundings for a long time. The poet was highly impressed by the
sweetness and melody of her song.
Then he left the place behind and climbed up the hill. He carried away the sweet
and melodious song in his heart. He always kept this beautiful experience in his
mind and the sweet music of the girl in his heart as a happy memory.

All the Word’s a stage

Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem all the World is a Stage written by William
Shakespeare.

Context:
In this poem, Shakespeare declares this world a stage and he considers human being’s actors. He
has divided human life into seven stages. All the stages have been described with mastery hand.

Stanza 1
These are starting lines of the poem. Here, in these lines the poet declares this world a stage. He
asks human beings actors. He says that we come in this world as actors have entries on the stage.
Each of us plays his given part and leaves the world as an actor leaves the stage. According to
poet, a man has to play different roles in his life. They can be divided into seven ages. In short,
these are beginning lines of the poem which set a stage for the seven stages of life.

Stanza 2:
In these lines, the poet describes first stage of human life. He says that first stage of human life is
that of an infant. He gives a picture of a newly born baby who is in the arms of his nurse. The
baby cries weakly and opens his mouth to have something to eat. This is the stage of life where a
person is quite helpless. The second stage of a man’s life is as a school boy. In the morning, with
fresh shining face and having his bag of books on his shoulder, he does not like to go to school.
He walks slowly like a snail.

Stanza 3:
In these lines, third stage of a man life is described and this is youth. Every man has great
passion of love in his youth. He loves to remain close and win his beloved. He sighs for her and
sound of his sighing resemble with that of the sound that a furnace produces. He likes to remain
sad and even writes some sad verses in praise of her beloved’s eyebrows. The feelings of a
young man for his beloved are very naturally described by the poet.

Stanza 4:
In these lines, the poet describes fourth stage a man’s life. He says that as young and energetic
person, a man likes to show his strength. Hence, he becomes a soldier. As a soldier, he promises
to protect his country. He grows a beard like that of a leopard and adopts serious looks. He is
very anxious and careful to protect and maintain his honor. He wants to become famous.
Though, this reputation is short lived, yet he is even ready to sacrifice his life for the sake of it.
He is even ready to go in the mouths of cannons for getting it.

Stanza 5:
In these lines, the poet describes fifth stage of a man’s life. Here, the poet says that in the
mature age of his life, a person likes to be on some respectable position like that of a judge.
When he becomes a judge, he likes to live a comfortable life and eat rich food. He has a fat belly
full of special cocks. He has serious and harsh looks. Now, he keeps a beard of a formal cut. He
knows a lot of wise sayings and can advise with examples.

Stanza 6:
In these lines, the poet sixth stage of a man’s life. He says that when he becomes old he becomes
weak and thin. He wears slippers and tight trousers and looks awkward. He wears his spectacles
on his nose and keeps a bag with him to keep his things of daily use. He cannot wear his well
saved youthful stockings perhaps that have become loose for his legs. He is in weak condition as
his legs are thin and without energy. He cannot go out; hence, he remains at home. His voice
becomes sharp and he whistles as he speaks.

Stanza 7:
In these lines, the poet describes the last stage of a man’s life. This is the age of extreme old age.
This is last scene of drama of life. Eventful life of a man comes to an end. Now he becomes a
child for the second time. He is deprived of all the pleasures of life. He loses everything in this
age. His teeth have fallen, his eye sight has gone and he cannot taste things. In short, this is the
most tragic stage of human life.

Expected Questions:
What are seven ages of man?
As a young person do you agree with Shakespeare’s description of the lover?
Elaborate the first three stages of life.
Explain the fourth and fifth stages of life.

Departure and Arrival

REFERENCE:
These lines have been taken from the poem Departure and Arrival written by T. S. Eliot.

CONTEXT:
The poet in this poem says that man should keep in view his departure right at his
arrival in the world. He should determine objects of his life and work for them. Man
should leave a better world before his departure to the next world. As sons of the
twentieth century we should set good examples for the coming generation, so that we
may be remembered forever. We must struggle to make the future better, before we start
for our destination. The poem shows Eliot’s faith in idealism and optimism.
STANZA:1
In these lines the poet has compared life to a sea. He says that while standing upon the
shore of the sea of life, we delay for a few moments and ponder over the situation for
some time, doubtfully. This we do for what we know about the previous life of our
forefathers. After that we take heart and cheerfully sail across the harbor by crossing its
limits. Then we have no guide map to show us of the dangers of rocks that lie below
water. Even then, we start our journey very courageously. The sea of life is full
of dangers and threats but we start our life even if we do not know about them.

STANZA:2
In the given lines the poet says that although the path of life is slow, troublesome and
zigzag, although it is full of countless fears, yet it appears to the hopeful eye of our young
generation, very colorful. It is like a street, on both sides of which hawthorn flowers and
roses have grown and the street is red and beautiful. We hope it may be so. But it never
happens that life is always colorful. Would that we might know about the future life, but
we cannot predict the nature of our future life. We do not have certain knowledge of the
future years.

STANZA:3
Many great duties devolve upon the 20th century. These duties are even more important
than those granted to the previous age. These duties call upon us to be more
responsible, because nobody knows what has been written in our fate. So nobody
knows what we can give to the future life in terms of good and great deeds. Nobody
knows whether, we will overcome the pains and miseries of our future life. Also nobody
knows whether 20th century will create heroes greater and better than those of
the olden times (19th century). But we hope that the future years will bring us better
conditions and heroes.

STANZA:4
In the given lines the poet assures that if they (people of twentieth century) have to
make the 20th century greater than the past ones, its inhabitants will have to work hard
with eager and willing hearts to help make its destiny shining. They should work hard
for the better future of their own century and see that this century achieves proud estate
and then, this century should bequeath its best estate to the future centuries.

STANZA:5
The 20th century should produce a legacy of advantages and benefits and bestow it
upon the coming century. So that the sons of this century are counted among those who
have been trying and laboring hard for good of their century till their death. And that the
people of the coming century may not ask any other question than to know that people
of 20th century have helped making their future glorious.

STANZA:6
In these lines the poet says that some time in future years when the people of
20th century have gone grey and have become old, by then, they will desire to see that
place again which they have left behind. They will like to see what-ever changes they
have brought or whatever has been done for the betterment of the coming century by
them, shall be recommended. This makes no difference even if people of 20th century
live no more and have gone to the unknown places (have died) they will like not to be
forgotten in any age because of their good deeds for the future generation.

A Poison Tree
Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem a poison tree written by William Blake.

Context:
In this poem, the poet tells us about the nourishment of hatred and its consequences. He wants to
teach us that we should express our anger before it turns into hatred. If we will not disclose our
anger it will grow in our hearts like a tree. This tree will bear poisonous fruit that will kill
everyone who will eat it.

Stanza 1:
In these lines, the poet says that once he got angry with his friend. He expressed his anger to his
friend and his anger ended. But, once he got angry with his enemy. He did not tell it to his enemy
about it his anger. The misunderstanding grew stronger and stronger between him and his enemy.
This resulted into a bitter enmity. Actually, through these lines the poet wants to tell us that we
should love every one and should not have concealed hatred for any one.

Stanza 2:
The poet once got angry with his friend. But, he did not disclose his anger. He says that his anger
grew more and more. He had fears of fighting with his enemy that promoted his enmity. He
passed his time in tears and pain. Whenever, he met his enemy he smiled but this smile was
deceitful and was only outwardly. He remained friendly with his enemy just to befool him. In
short, in these lines the poet tells us that when anger is not expressed it develop into minds and
hearts in all possible ways.

Stanza 3:
In these lines, the poet describes the fast growth of feelings for his enemy inside him. He
resembles his hatred with an apple tree. He says that at last a bright apple grows on that tree of
hatred. Although, his enemy knew that it was his apple yet the brightness of apple tempted his
enemy to get it. Actually, in these lines, the poet refers to the scene of temptation in paradise.

Stanza 4:
In these lines, the poet says that the bright apple of his hatred tempted his enemy and he secretly
went into his garden. Darkness had covered the whole world. He stole that apple and ate it. His
enemy was not aware that it was poisonous. Hence, when the poet entered his garden in the
morning, he was glad to see that his enemy was dead. In short, it can be said that poet concealed
hatred killed his enemy.

Expected Questions:
Pick out all the words related to hate and anger.
What words or images would you use for expressing hate and anger?

Because I could not stop for Death

Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” written by Emily
Dickinson.

Context:
In this poem the p talks I death grid the gentle nature of its approach. She describes our existence in this
world from cradle to the grave. To her, it is a journey from life to death. Actually dying to the poetess is
the end of death and a start of eternal life. The poetess travels with death and finally they reach a
mound of earth which is, in fact the grave. The grave is an entrance to the life after death and
immortality.

Stanza: 1

In these lines the poetess says that she was so busy that she could not wait for death to
accompany him. Death was so kind that he stopped and waited for her. The vehicle of death
carried only two persons-the poetess and death. Also there was immortality which was not
visible. Their carriage was carrying them towards eternity. The suggestion is that death is always
present with human beings but it is not visible. When death kills a person he goes to eternity and
cannot return from there. Death has killed her and now she goes to eternity.

Stanza: 2
The poetess says that death and she herself drove very slowly the vehicle of life. Death was not
in a hurry. She deferred all her chores. She even put away her hard work and her spare time for
the decency of death. Both the poetess and death carried on their journey in the same carriage,
towards immortality.

Stanza: 3

In these lines the poetess says that she and death passed by the school where children were
contesting at the recess time in a circle. They also passed by the ripe corn which was waiting to
be reaped. The ripened gram had covered many plains of field. During their journey they also
saw the setting sun while passing by it. The children at school, the ripe corn and the setting sun
may be her childhood, youth and old age.

Stanza: 4

In this stanza the poetess says that it was rather the sun which, while going down passed by
them. Then, after the sunset, night prevailed. The dew-drops began to fall gently. These drops
brought light, cold and shivering. She arrived because she was wearing very decent dress. The
dress consisted of her feminine scarf and thin gauzed clothes.

Stanza: 5

In these lines the poetess tells that they continued their journey for quite some time. At last they
stopped at a house which was merely a swelling of the ground. It was the grave. The roof of the
house was hardly visible because its cornice was so low that it was at level with the ground or in
the ground. In this stanza the suggestion is that man continues his life, passes by many events,
good or bad and finally reaches the grave. The grave is very low and it seems as if it were a
bulging of the ground.

Stanza: 6

After stopping at the grave, the poetess says that there is a feeling that many centuries elapse in
the grave but all this time seems to be even shorter than a day. The poetess further says that at
the very outset of their journey she had guessed that the horses of their carriage were carrying
them towards eternity. The whole poem is full of the thought that with man's arrival at this
world, death also journeys with him. Man performs many task and acts in various stages of life.
Right from his infancy, school-life maturity and old age, he passes and finally reaches the grave,
an eternal destination. It is here that eternity, or his never-ending life, or life from time to
timelessness starts.

Expected Questions:
Is there anything in the poem to suggest an element of fear?
Explain the image of journey in the poem.

LIGHTS OUT

Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem “Lights Out” written by Edward Thomas.

Context:
In this poem the poet has compared “sleep” to an immeasurable forest. It is so deep that all paths
leading to it come to an end there. All the lights are put out and man cannot find his way. He is lost
there. Sleep is the greatest blessing. It overpowers every one. No one can i away from it. After the day?s
long, hectic activities, everyone has to reach this forest. The implicit idea is perhaps of death.

Stanza: 1

In these lines the poet has compared sleep to a deep and thick forest. He says he has reached the
initial, stage of sleep. It is like an immeasurable deep and thick forest where all human-beings
have to lose their way. No matter, if they lead a straight or a zigzag path. They hey, at last to
come to the edge of sleep sooner or later because there is no alternative. Everybody, whoever, he
is has to sleep. Sleep is a great blessing, without which man cannot pull on with in life. The
suggestion in this stanza is „that man has to die sooner or later and has to reach the borders of
death after completing the journey of life.

Stanza: 2
This stanza gives an expression to the thought that all the roads that remain busy right from the
appearance of day, till the arrival of night, people moving on such roads, have to reach the edge
of deep forest (sleep or death). All the travelers (human-beings) suddenly blur because of the
overpowering of sleep (or death) and soon they sink in (or die). They are fast asleep because of
the day’s long work journey of life).

Stanza: 3

In this stanza the poet says that when sleep overpowers a person he forgets everything. His love,
disappointment and desire and ambition etc. all come to an end. Every kind of joy and all
troubles no matter, how sweet the joy is, or how bitter the troubles are, come to an end. In sleep,
man forgets everything even if it is sweeter than the noblest thing/task.

Stanza: 4

In the give lines the poet further explain the state of sleep. He says sleep dominates a person he
forgets even -the most beautiful face, from which in normal conditions, he would not turn away
his eye. He also forgets the most interesting book when sleep overpowers him. The poet further
says that he enters sleep which is necessary and because of necessity he has to enter the field of
sleep alone and has also to wake-up alone. The poet does- not know how this whole process
takes place.

Stanza: 5

In this concluding stanza again the poet compares sleep to tall trees. He says when he is in the
grip of sleep, he feels as if the tall trees were raising more and more, spreading their shade. In the
same way the undergrowth or the greenery of the tall trees becomes hazy and cloudy. The shade
of the tall trees presses him to go into deep sleep. Layer above layer of sleep comes upon him
silently unless he is fully under the influence of sleep. He is forced to obey and hear what the
sleep commands him. When he is fully dominated by sleep, he loses his way and becomes
unaware of himself. Slumber is tantamount to death. He who is in sleep is unaware of himself
and all the worldly things as he would be in death.
 After Apple-Picking

Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem “After Apple-Picking” written by Robert Frost.

Context:
Desire is the very essence of man. But there are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart’s
desire. The other is to gain it. In this poem, the poet points out that “living is an illness to which
sleep provides relief. It is a just painkiller. The remedy is death.”

Stanza 1
In these lines, the poet gives us a glimpse of the life of a farmer. The poet is
picking apples from a tree. His two-pointed ladder is sticking against a tree.
It is so tall that it looks to be still rising towards heaven.

Just beside it, there is a barrel that he has not yet filled on account of his
physical fatigue. There may be a few more apples on the branches yet to be
picked. He is now terribly fed up with the drudgery of apple picking. Now he
wants to take a rest.

Stanza 2
In these lines, the poet says that the farmer is feeling tired and sleepy. The
darkness of the winter night is growing fast over the atmosphere. The
atmosphere has also become heavy and misty with the strange intoxicating
smell of apples.

He is now drowsing off and cannot see things clearly. He cannot remove the
strangeness of such drowsiness from his eyes. He gets this strangeness from
looking through a glassy sheet of ice that he has removed from the top of
the frozen water of the drinking trough.

Stanza 3
In these lines, the apple-picker is holding an icy sheet to enjoy through its
glass the world of grass covers with the hoary flakes of snow. As it is
morning time and as sunshine is increasing, so the ice melts. He has no
other choice except to let it fall and break.

The reason is that he is too tired to hold it any longer. To prove the
dominating effect of early drowsiness of wintery sleep, this apple-picker can
not remove the strangeness of the overpowering sleepiness from his eyes.

He gets this strangeness from looking through a pane of glass which he has
already skimmed from the frozen water of the drinking trough. He holds this
pane of glass in his hands against the hoary-looking snow-covered.

The sun rises and the heat of sunlight melts this pane of glass. He let it fall
and break but before it can fall on the hoary grass, he is already on his way
to sleep. The glass is a human perspective, a flawed perception. Since we
agree that sleep and dreaming are death, then it’s logical that morning is
birth.

He acquires the glimmer, the glare in his eyes at morning and so he

develops a perspective early in life. He cannot shake off the glimmer. He
cannot rid himself of the human perspective. Not until he is dying, on his
way to sleep does the glass melt and fall away.

Stanza 4
In these lines, the poet describes the dream of an apple picker that he is
likely to see during his sleep. He is tired after work of a long day of apple
picking. He can easily tell what form his dreaming is about to take.

Even in his dream, he can see nothing but the ending tips of the stems and
the blossoms of the apples of big size. He can also see how the instep sole of
his foot keeps the pressure of the ladder in balance.

Stanza 5
In these lines, the poet describes the overtired condition of the apple-picker.
He is overjoyed to have this great crop of apples. He has done too much of
apple-picking. He is now terribly overtired.

He himself wishes to reap a large harvest of apples but is now disgusted

with his drudgery. He has already picked thousands of apples. There are still
thousands of fruit to pick and bring down carefully by hand and may not fall
down.

The crop of apples was very successful as the poet had desired. He very
happily started plucking them. He held them lovingly in his hands. He carried
them carefully to the ground. He did not let them fall. He tried to have them
stored in good condition.

Stanza 6
These lines throw light on the hard labor of the apple picker. He knows very
well that he should not let any apple fall on the ground. This is because all
those apples that fall down and are bruised with stubbles are considered fit
for storage.

They are then taken to cider-press. These fruits are only e used for
extracting juice. These apples, deformed thus, will truly be of no further use
and they will only be crushed for juice in the press (or machine for ready
use).
The poet has delineated, in a direct, simple, and familiar way, how apples
are taken down from trees carefully and what use is made of those hitting
the ground and getting damaged and destroyed.

Stanza 7
In these lines, Robert Frost describes the dream-like condition of apple
picker. The apple picker can easily imagine what kind of dreams he will see
in his long sleep. He does not understand the real nature of sleep.

He does not know what is troubling his sleep and what kind of sleep it is for
him. It is his misfortune that the squirrel-type woodchuck has disappeared
from his scene of apple picking.

This woodchuck could tell him accurately whether his sleep is a short human
sleep or a long animal sleep like that of a woodchuck. We know that
woodchuck burrows deep into the earth and sleeps the winter away. The
poet may also be hibernating.

He may rise again. It may be death. It is equally possible that he may just
be sleeping for the night, to get refreshed. Most of the critics point out that
the poet is forecasting his death in these lines. This kind of sleep is
sepulchral, long-lasting, and underground and thus is the metaphor for
death.

The Vanishing Village

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "The Vanishing Village" written by R. S. Thomas.

Context:

The poet describes a deserted and neglected village in this poem. There is only one street, a few
houses, one inn and a shop in the village. The street leads nowhere. He wishes for the betterment
of the village.

Lines 1-8
The poet tells us in these lines about the deserted village. There are only a few houses in a street
which goes on the top of the hill. Later on, the street comes to an end: it leads nowhere. There is
also one shop and one inn in the village. The street is overgrown at both sides with greenery. It is
the last outpost/hall mark of the village but slowly and steadily this mark is vanishing with the
onward rush of time.

Lines 9-13
Nothing of any importance happens in this disappearing and deserted village. The poet can see a
historic and old black dog sitting in the sun and moving its tail to crack/strike at the fleas that are
sticking to its skin and disturbing it. The dog is a symbol of the destroyed "present" of the
village. But just there is also a "future" _ it is the girl who is going from one door to another. She
cannot be captured through the two dimensions of time and space of the gentle "present" day as
she is a symbol of future. She guarantees a better future for the village through her third
dimensions: her enthusiastic spirit and soul.
Lines 14-17
The poet prays for the life and prosperity of the vanishing village and says that actually village is
the basic unit of man's population in this world. The vast and meaningful world moves around
the axis of village. Even the great plan of the world of soul and matter thought out by Plato's
great mind had importance for such a basic unit.

When I have fears

Reference:

These lines have been taken from the famous sonnet of John Keats: "When I Have Fears".

Context:

The poet tells us about his fear in the sonnet which he feels to find the love, and fame all mortal
and temporary in this world. He wishes to give expression to all his ideas and realize his love _
but all that is impossible due to the transient nature of the world.

Lines 1-4
The poet tells us is these lines that he is afraid the he may die before his pen is able to write on
paper all the high ideas present in his brain, before a number of books are able to hold the store
of his deep, full knowledge as grains are stored in a godown.

Lines 5-8
The poet tells us in these lines that he feels upset and afraid when he sees the sky which is full of
stars and clouds that are for him symbols of many romances and thinks that he may never live to
trace their hidden meanings with his inspired poetry.

Lines 9-14
The poet tells us in these lines that he becomes upset to feel that he will never be able to look at
the beautiful face of his beloved for a long time and will never be able to enjoy the beautiful
power of noble and continuous love. Then he feels as if he is standing all alone on the shore of
the wide world and thinks that love and fame are both nothing (i.e., both are totally transitory and
unimportant things).
 Kubla Khan
Reference:

These lines have been taken from the poem "Kubla Khan" by S. T. Coleridge.

Context:

The poet tells us is this poem how once Kubla Khan, the Emperor of China, ordered a palace to
be built. The order was obeyed and a pleasure palace was constructed with sunny domes and
caves of ice. The poet wishes to recreate the same with the magical power of his poetry.

Lines 1-5
The poet tells us in these lines that Kubla Khan ordered that a royal palace with a large dome
should be built for him in Xanadu where the sacred river Alph ran through caves which were so
deep that no man could measure their depth. The river, later on, fell into a dark ocean.

Line 6-11
The poet tells us that at the order of Kubla Khan, ten miles of fertile ground was encircles with
walls and towers. There were sweet and beautiful gardens with zigzagging rivulets and streams.
Many a sweet-smelling tree blossomed there in the garden. There were dense forests all around
the hills and in the middle of these forests there were many sunlit places.
Lines 12-16
The poet tells us that there was a deep and romantic cave in that side of the hill which was
overgrown with cedar trees. It seemed to be a very strange and wild place. It seemed as holy and
enchanted a place as ever found beneath a dull, yellow, decreasing moon where a sad and
sorrowful woman was found weeping and crying in separation of her ghost-lover.

Lines 17-22
The poet tells us something about the fountain that came out of the cave in the side of the cedar-
covered hill. The fountain came out with a great force as if the very earth was breathing. It was
so forceful that many pieces of stones flew with its force as grain and chaff flow out of a
thresher's work.

Lines 23-30
The poet tells us here that the fountain described in the earlier lines later turned into river. It
flowed for five miles in a zigzag way. It flowed through many forests, valleys and caves. At last
it fell into a dark, sunless sea. When Kubla Khan reached that place, he heard strange loud noise.
Out of that loud noise he heard the voices of his forefathers (like Genghis Khan's) that foretold
him about a war.

Lines 31-36
The poet tells us in these lines about the pleasure dome of Kubla Khan that he had ordered to be
built in Xanadu and that was built accordingly. The shadow of that pleasure-dome floated on the
waves of the water at the place where a great noise was coming from the fountain and the caves.
It was a strange type of scene because the pleasure dome was sun-lit whereas the caves had too
much snow that it had become hard and turned into ice. It was a strange combination of sun and
snow at one and the same place.

Lines 37-41
In these lines the poet tells us that once upon a time he saw an Abyssinian maiden playing music
on her dulcimer. She was singing a pleasant and inspiring folk song of Mount Abora
area/locality.

Lines 42-47
The poet tells us in these lines that if he could remember the sweet and enchanting song of the
Abyssinian maiden referred to in the earlier lines, he would be able to build the pleasure-dome of
Kubla Khan with all its beautiful and magnificent details like sunlit dome and icy caves.

Lines 48-54
The pot tells us in these lines that if he would be able to build the pleasure dome of Kubla Khan
with all its sunlit dome and caves of ice under the inspiration of Abyssinian maiden's song, the
people standing around him would cry with surprise and wonder. They would tell one another to
beware of the poet, to weave a circle thrice round him and to close their eyes due to a holy fear
of the poet. He would seem to be a saint, having drunk such heavenly things as honey-dew and
milk of Paradise.

Expected Questions:
Pick out all the alliterations in the poem.
Make a comparison between Tartary and Xanadu.
Discuss the poem as a fantasy.

Hawk’s Monologue

Reference:

These lines have been taken from the poem "Hawk's Monologue" by Ted Hughes.

Context:

The poet tells us in this poem about the hawk that is the lord and ruler of all the birds of the
forest. The hawk is boasting of its great physical force, precision of attack and over-all rule over
the birds. It feels that it would maintain its rule forever.

Lines 1-4
The poet says that the hawk normally lines in the top branches of the trees in the forest.
Sometimes it closes its eyes because it is not doing any work at that time. But it does not see
false dreams. At the most it is doing rehearsal of killing and eating its prey during the dream.

Lines 5-8
According to the hawk, God has made its life fully convenient. High trees, buoyant air, rays of
the sun and the vast surface of the earth _ all these things have been made by God for its
convenience. These are all advantageous for it.

Lines 9-12
The hawk says that its feet/claws are curved and it can catch hold of the rough trunk of a tree by
these. Nature has taken enough care and consideration in making its claws and feathers. It is now
so perfect that it can hold any bird [a part of creation] in its feet.

Lines 13-16
The hawk says that it can catch any bird or fly up any time at its ease. It can fly fastly as well as
slowly at its own sweet will. There is no false reasoning in its body. Its body is perfectly well-
adjusted and precise. Its work is to kill the birds at its own will.

Lines 17-20
The hawk says that killing birds and allotting death to them is its job. It flies straight "through"
the body of the living birds, killing them all at once in the air at its own sweet will. It need not
assert or prove its right. Every bird knows that.

Lines 21-24
The hawk says that is has all the sources of power and authority at its back. Right from the time
of the beginning of its rule over the world of birds, it has never relaxed its rule. It hopes to
continue like the same in future. (But here, the hawk is wrong. It will die one day as it is mortal.
Its rule is surely to come to an end one day.)

Say this city has ten Million souls

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

The poet tells us in this poem about the miserable condition of the immigrant German Jews.
They face estrangement and alienation in the U.S.A. They face numberless barriers and have to
live an isolated and miserable life.

Lines 1-4
Although this city of New York has a large population of rich as well as poor people, yet there is no place
for the immigrants. Rich people of the city live in high and luxurious buildings whereas the poor people
live in slums. But the immigrants have no shelter at all.

Lines 5-8
Before migrating to the U.S.A., the German Jews had a native land of their own, i.e., Germany.
But they have left the place and cannot return for the fear of Hitler. That was a beautiful country
but it is not present for them now in-spite of being physically present.

Lines 9-12
Even the yew trees (a symbol of grief) blossom during every spring season although they grow in
graveyards where people lie dead and buried in their graves. But the passports of the immigrants
cannot be renewed when expired. So much people have to face numberless difficulties but
nobody realizes their difficulties.

Lines 13-16
The immigrants went to the consul for solution of their problems. The consul said that first they
should prove their identity and then they could register their problems. But the poor fellows did
not have any passports, so they couldn't prove their identity. They were, therefore, like dead
persons and were treated as such by the consul.

Lines 17-20
The immigrant went before a committee for the solution of their problems. The members of the
committee asked them to return next year. But the question remained as to what they will do in
the meantime.

Lines 21-24
The immigrant went to a public meeting. They thought that their problems might be solved by
political leaders. But there they heard a leader speak against them. He was saying that if they
would allow the immigrants to settle there, the immigrants would steal their bread.

Lines 25-28
The immigrant Jews could not return to Germany as Hitler still ruled there and he had announced
that all the Jews of Germany must be killed and Germany purified of the Jews. Hitler talked in a
very bombastic way.

Lines 29-32
An immigrant saw a dog in a goodly dress and a cat going into comfortable house. But these
animals were welcomed by the Americans in their homes whereas the German Jews were not
welcomed (although they deserved a better treatment as they were, after-all, human beings).

Lines 33-36
An immigrant one day went to the port and stood on the dock. He saw fishes swimming freely in
the sea-water only ten feet away from his feet. He felt envious of the fishes that could move
freely because he could not move freely in society being an immigrant.

Lines 37-40
One day an immigrant passed through a small forest and saw the birds flying freely and happily
there. He felt envious of the birds. The birds did not have a politician to make their lives
miserable by dividing them into nationalities etc. They were better than human beings. That is
why they were singing and flying happily.

Lines 41-44
An immigrant saw a thousand-storeyed building in his dream. The building was so spacious. It
had a thousand doors and a thousand windows. Many people lived in that building but there was
no room in that for the dreamer. He was hopeless (even in his dream).
Lines 45-48
The immigrants went to an open area outside the city to find some shelter there. It was snowing
and the weather was very rough. But ten thousand soldiers reached there to bring them back.
They could not remain even there freely. They were forced back perhaps to the refugee camps.

Politics
Reference:

These lines have been taken from the poem "Politics" written by W. B. Yeats.

Context:

This is a sweet little poem that tells us about the importance of love over politics and war. The
poet wishes to leave the discussion of politics and war in order to go to the girl standing at a
distance and love her.

Lines 1-4
The poet tells us in these lines that he cannot fix his attention on the political situation of a
country such as Russia or Rome or Spain because there is a girl standing nearby and she is more
charming that the petty world-politics.

Lines 5-10
The poet tells us in these lines about a traveler who has seen a large number of countries and
knows much about the world. Such a traveler is talking with the poet. The poet is also listening
to the political discussion of a politician who has read and thought well. There is a discussion
going on about war and war's danger and the poet knows that whatever the politician is telling
them may be correct.

Lines 11-12
The poet tells us that he wishes to be young again so that he may be able to leave all the politics
and embrace the girl standing at a little distance and enjoy the blessings of love!
 A Snake
Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Snake" written by D. H. Lawrence.

Context:

The poet tells us in this poem about the arrival of a snake at his water-trough on a hot July day to
drink water. The poem consists of different changing sentiments and responses of the poet about
and towards the snake.

Lines 1-3
The poet tells us that it was a very hot day in summer. Due to excessive heat he had put off his
formal dress and was in his pajamas. He came to his water-trough to get water. He saw that a
snake was already present there to drink water.

Lines 4-7
The poet had arrived down the stairs into his lawn where there was a great dark carob-tree with
its strange smell. He had a pitcher in his hand. But he had to wait there for his turn because the
snake was already there before him.

Lines 8-14
The snake had arrived out of a dark crack in the mud-wall. He had come out of that slowly with
his yellow, long, soft body. Now he had reached the side of the stone trough and was resting his
throat at the bottom of the stone-trough. The water was falling from a tap into the trough and at
that place the snake was sipping water directly from the place with a strange quiteness.

Lines 15-16
The poet saw the snake that had reached the water trough before him. So he had to wait for his
turn as a late-comer.

Lines 17-22
The snake lifted its head from the water-trough as cattle (cows, buffaloes etc.) do. It looked
above like drinking cattle with unclear eyes. Then it moved/waved its forked tongue and paused
for a while. Later on, it drank a little more water. The poet then noticed its color which was
earth-brown or gold-brown perhaps because of living under the hot earth. That was a very hot
day in July and the city (Etna) was rather too hot to bear.

Lines 23-27
As the poet was an educated and civilized person, he thought that he should kill the snake. The
black snakes were not poisonous in Sicily whereas the golden snakes were poisonous and it was
a golden snake. The voice of education said to him from inside that if he was a brave man, he
should take a stick and kill the snake.

Lines 28-29
The poet says that when his voice of education and civilization told him to kill the snake, he did
not kill it. The reason was that the snake seemed to be beautiful to him. Moreover, the snake had
come to drink water at his trough; therefore, it was his guest. Killing a guest was very bad. So he
did not like the idea of killing the snake.

Lines 30-35
The poet felt that the snake was (a sort of) his guest. It would go peacefully and quietly after
drinking water. It would go into its own underground hole. So he left it. He did not leave the
snake due to his cowardice. He did not leave it due to his own obstinacy. He was rather feeling
honored to have the snake at his water-trough as a guest. He was feeling very honored in the
service of the snake.

Lines 36-37
The poet again heard the voice of his education that asked him to kill the snake. The voice told
him that he must kill it if he was not a coward and if he did not feel afraid of it.

Lines 38-41
The poet tried to analyze his feelings. He came to know that he was really afraid, rather very
afraid, of the snake. Still he did not kill the snake because he felt that he was the host and the
snake was the guest. It had come out of its dark hole from inside the earth in order to enjoy his
hospitality.
Lines 42-50
The poet tells us that the snake drank much water. After drinking water, it lifted its head up
dreamily and heavily like a drunken person. It waved its forked tongue on its lips as if to lick. It
was as black as night. The poet calls is a forked night, i.e., he makes the snake embodied into a
night itself. Then the snake began to look all around itself without caring for anything. It did not
attend to anything particular. It seemed to survey all the things like a master. Then it curved
around its length slowly. It started to climb upon the slope of the broken mud-wall in front of
him. It went towards the crack in the wall from where it had come out for drinking water.

Lines 51-55
When the snake put its head into its dark hole and it tried to take the rest of its body inside that,
the poet felt a sort of horror. He could not tolerate that anything so beautiful and lord-like should
enter inside a black and ugly place like the underground hole.

Lines 56-58
The poet put down his pitcher and looked around him to find something to hit the snake. He saw
an ugly stick, picked it up and threw it at the trough with a noise.

Lines 59-63
The poet thought/saw that the stick which he threw at the trough did not hit the snake. But due to
the noise the snake got startled and that part of its body which was still outside the hole, writhed
in an undignified way. Later, the snake disappeared into the hole with the speed of lightning. The
hole was like a crack with earthen lips in the mud wall. The poet watched this new movement of
the snake in that hot silent noon with a sort of charmed happiness.

Lines 64-66
The poet began to feel regret immediately at hitting the snake. He thought that he had committed
a very low and mean action by striking it. So he felt hatred for himself as well as for his voice of
education that had asked him to kill it because it was poisonous.

Lines 67-71
The poet thought about the innocent sea-bird, albatross, that was killed by the sailor in
Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner". As a result, he began to wish that the
snake should return from its hole and he should honor it. The snake seemed to the poet like a
king of the under-ground world that had come to the earth leaving its kingdom temporarily and
had entered inside the earth again to get its crown back.

Lines 72-75
The poet felt that he had missed a good opportunity of meeting with an under-ground lord. He
missed the opportunity of knowing and understanding a beautiful, honorable, lordly creature. So
he wanted to have a penance for his sin. He felt guilty of committing a mean action.

Expected Questions:
Pick out all the descriptive words used for the snake.
Why does the poet think of his education as “accursed”?
Why does the poet glad to see the snake at his water-trough?

Images and Impressions

Autumn

Reference:-

These lines have been taken from the poem “Autumn” written by T.E. Hulme.

Context:

In this poem, the poet tells us about the appearance of the moon and stars on an autumn night.

Explanation:

In this poem, the imagist poet T.E Hulme has made his impression by means of metaphors or
contrast of one object with the other contrary object.

He presents a graphic picture of an autumn night. Once he comes out on a cold autumn night. He
sees the red moon leaning over a hedge. It looks like a

red-faced farmer. He is impressed by the panorama and goes ahead. Then he sees the sad stars in
the sky. They look like town children with white faces.

Fog
Reference:

These lines have been taken from the poem “Fog” by Carl Sandburg.

Context:

In this poem, the poet tells us about the arrival and departure of fog from a city.

Explanation:

In this poem, the imagist poet Carl Sandburg has made his impression by means of metaphors or
contrast of one object with the other contrary object. He gives life and feelings to fog. He says
that the fog comes silently like a cat first it sits on its haunches and looks over the harbour and
the city. Then it crawls on everything, making the atmosphere mysterious.

Metro Paris

Reference:-

These lines have been taken from the short poem “Metro Paris” by Ezra Pound.

Context:

In this poem, the poet tells us how the crowds of people seem to him at the station of the
underground railway in Paris.

Explanation:-

In this poem, the imagist poet Ezra Pound has made his impression by means of metaphors or
contrast of one object with the other contrary object. In long hollow cylinder-like station appears
to be like a wet black branch and the faces of people look like beautiful petals.