POEMS

The Brook

INTRODUCTION: This poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson tells us about a stream that flows from the countryside. The poem boasts of brilliant metaphors and one can not only visualize the flowing stream but also relate to the sound it makes at various terrains that it flows through. The brook has been personified, a device by which an inanimate object is made to appear as a living creature. The poem describes the journey of the brook from its origin to the place it joins the river. The brook emerges suddenly and noisily flows down the valley. The stream then flows down through hills, villages, a town and many bridges. It flows over many pebbles and stones making beautiful sounds. It makes many curves and is home to many kinds of fishes. The sunlight seems to dance over the moving stream as it flows through lawns and gardens. It says that it is proud that it continues to live even when men (humans) die. It appears to be a symbol of life as it lives forever…

The Solitary Reaper

This is a beautiful poem by William Wordsworth. The poem describes a young Scottish girl working in mountain regions. The poet says that the girl sings as she works. The poet is so smitten by the melancholy song she sings, that he stops to listen. The girl is reaping, and binding the grain alone. The poet does not understand her language but can make out that she sings a sad song. The sound of her sad song echoes down the deep valley. Her voice is thrilling, and the poet tries to figure out what she could possibly be singing about. He says that it could be a sad song about some old, unhappy thing, perhaps a battle. Or it could be an ordinary song about some natural sorrow (death of a loved one), or some day to day trouble… But whatever it is about, the girl sang as if the song had no ending. The poet fondly remembered the song as he mounted up the hill, bearing the music in his heart for a long time.

Lord Ullin’s Daughter

This poem by Thomas Campbell describes how two lovers elope, trying to save themselves from the fury of the girl’s father. A Scottish chieftain and his beloved, Lord Ullin’s daughter, were afraid of her father and decide to elope as he didn't approve of their relation. It was a stormy night but the lovers were determined. As they reach the shore, the chieftain asks a boatman to row them across Lochgyle for a silver pound. He says that they have fled for three days and if they do not leave immediately, Lord Ullin would kill him. The boatman says that that he will do so, not because of the money but the innocent girl. By this time the storm grew fiercer. As they start to move, they hear footsteps of the armed men. The girl asks the boatman to row faster as she could face the violent storm but not an angry father. The storm of the sea is much worse than that of the land. But they keep moving ahead, trying to overcome the roaring waves. As Lord Ullin reaches the shore, his anger changes into wailing, seeing his daughter in a big danger. There was sorrow on both sides now. The father cried out, pleading her daughter to come back. He says that he is willing to forgive the chieftain but it is too late now. The daughter stretches one hand towards her father, the other holding her lover. Soon the waves topple the boat and the lovers drown. Lord Ullin with his pride shattered was left lamenting…

The Seven Ages

In this poem, William Shakespeare talks about the world being a stage and all men being players, having their entrances and exits. The act of every man is divided into seven ages. We start with the first stage being the infant. The infant has no work but to cry and puke on the nurse’s lap. The second stage is that of a schoolboy, who with his bag and a shining face goes unwillingly to school. The next stage is that of a lover who composes ballads for his lady love and sighs to attract her. He grows on to be a soldier who makes solemn promises, is fierce and is quick to quarrel for his reputation even when met by cannons. The next stage is that of the justice (judge) who has a big belly and severe eyes and is full of wisdom. The sixth stage depicts the elder man who wears spectacles and whose skin hangs loosely. His old clothes have become loose for his shrunken legs and his voice becomes high pitched like a child’s. The last stage of all makes the man a child again. He becomes dependent on others and gradually loses all his senses, even his memory.


The Road Not Taken

This poem by Robert Frost is about the decision that one makes in life. It tells us about the time when he comes to a fork in the road that he is travelling upon. He feels sorry that he cannot travel both the paths as he must choose one. The poet uses this fork in the road to represent a time in one’s life where he has to choose the direction he wishes to take in life. As he thinks about his choices he looks down one path as far as he can, trying to foresee what life will be like if he walks that path.

He then looks down the other trail and decides that the outcome of going down that path would be just as pleasant. At this point he concludes that the trail that has been less travelled on would be more rewarding when he reaches the end of it. Then he decides that he will save the other path for another day, even though he knows that one path leads to another and that he won’t get a chance to go back. He then says that someday in the future, he will be telling this story with a sigh, suggesting that he will wonder what life would be like if he had chosen the more walked path even though the path he chose has made all the difference.

I Cannot Remember My Mother

This is a touching poem by Rabindranath Tagore. The poem has a nostalgic feeling as the poet is trying to recall the happy moments spent with his mother. The poet says that when he used to play, he can faintly recall the tune that his mother would have hummed while rocking his cradle. That tune seems to hover over his playthings. He cannot remember his mother but when in the autumn mornings, the smell of shiuli flowers float in the air, it triggers the memories of his mother stringing the flowers for the morning service at the temple. When the poet looks out of his bedroom window to see the blue sky, he can feel the distant, still gaze of his mother spreading all over the sky.

PLAYS

The Bishop’s Candlesticks

This play by Norman Mc Kinnell tells us a very touching story. It shows us how love and kindness can change a man rather than violence. The story revolves around three main characters, the kindhearted bishop, his sister and an escaped convict. The bishop is a kind hearted man and believes in helping people in whatever way he can, even if he has to spend his savings or sell his silver. His sister is a practical lady and tries to convince her brother to save for them.
She comes to know that the bishop has sold his silver salt and pepper shakers to help poor Mere Gringoire pay her rent. She is upset and says to her brother that she is afraid that he might even give away the silver candlesticks, the only valuable left in the house. The bishop thinks about them, remembering that they were a gift to him by his dying mother and decides that he will not part with them.

They have dinner and were preparing to sleep when a convict walks through the open doors. He is hungry and threatens to kill them if he is not given food. The bishop calmly offers him what they had. He asks his sister to go to bed and told her to leave the candlesticks when she tried to take them with her. The convict eats hungrily and tells the bishop his sad story. He was arrested because he was caught stealing bread for his ailing wife. One day he escaped but had to steal for food again.

Just then they hear footsteps and the convict hides. It is the sergeant, he advises the bishop to be careful and lock the doors a convict has escaped. The bishop does not reveal that the convict is at his place. This somewhat softens the convict and he is not harsh with the bishop anymore. The convict steals the silver candlesticks and runs while the bishop is in the other room.

Sometime later the sergeant enters the house with his men. He had caught the convict with the bishop’s candlesticks and had come to him to confirm. The bishop says the convict is his friend and he had gifted the candlesticks to him. The sergeant leaves and the bishop tells the convict a safe escape route, asking him to take the candlesticks with him.