Poems

UNIT 3

The Sower

The Village Blacksmith

UNIT2

From a Railway Carriage

Marvellous Travel

UNIT 1

Taj Mahal

We are the World

The Sower
Victor Marie Hugo
Sitting in a porchway cool, d

Fades the ruddy sunlight fast, b

Twilight hastens on to rule- a

b
Working hours are well-nigh past.

Personification
• porchway – പൂമുഖം

• Ruddy- red coloured

• Twilight –സന്ധ്യ

• Hastens –ധൃതികൂട്ടുക

• well-nigh - almost
Shadows shoot across the lands;

But one sower lingers still,

Old, in rags, he patient stands,-

Looking on, I feel a thrill.

• Shoot- spread

• Lingers- stay or remain in a place

• rags- old and torn clothes

Black and high his silhouette
zerbai
Dominates the furrows deep!

Now to sow the task is set,

Soon shall come a time to reap.

• Silhouette- dark shape of an object seen against light
background

• dominate – to rule or control

• Furrows –a small canal or trench

• Reap –cut and gather crops, etc. 2206B

 field
Marches he along the plain,

To and fro, and scatters wide

From his hands the precious grain;

Moody, I, to see him stride.

• March - to walk

• Plain – field

• scatter – sow, spread

• To and fro – back and forth

• Moody - thoughtful

• stride-walk with long steps

Darkness deepens. Gone the light.

Now his gestures to mine eyes

noble ,
ammoc a

Are august; and strange--his height

-

Seems to touch the starry skies.

Translated by Toru Dutt

• Gestures – movements
• August – noble
SUMMARY OF THE POEM
The poem describes a scene where the speaker sits
in a cool porch at the end of the day, watching the
sunlight fade and the evening take over. As the
shadows grow, only one person, a sower, remains
working in the field. Even though it is getting dark,
the sower continues his work, sowing seeds in the
furrows of the field. The sower appears tall and
strong, almost as if his height reaches the sky.
Though the sower is dressed in old, ragged
clothes, his patient work impresses the speaker.
The silhouette of the sower against the dark sky
looks powerful and dominant. The speaker reflects
on how the sower's task of scattering seeds will
soon lead to a time of harvest. The steady,
determined movements of the sower inspire a sense
of admiration and contemplation in the speaker,
who watches him march back and forth, planting
the seeds for the future.
The poem conveys respect for the sower’s
hard work and patience, and how his actions,
though simple, have a deep and important
purpose.
 Message and the theme of the poem

The poem emphasizes the value of hard work,

Nolbrasmus no
patience, and perseverance. It shows how, even
as the day ends and darkness sets in, the sower
continues to work with dedication. His efforts
today will lead to a fruitful harvest in the
future, symbolizing that persistent hard work will
eventually be rewarded.
 Poetic Devices
• Quatrain –

4 lines in each stanza

• Alliteration –

but a sower lingers still

=>
=>

dominates the furrows deep

= =>

Soon shall come a time to reap

=>
=

seem to touch the starry sky

=
> =>
• Personification -
on
twilight hastens to rule
-
shadows run across
-

• Inversion –
old, in rags patient he stands, -

now to sow the task is set, -

Soon shall the time come to reap, -
marches he along the plane , ~
from his hands the precious, ~

Now his gestures to mine eyes ~

Theme

• Admiration for the Working Class

• Perseverance

• The Cycle of Life (The act of sowing seeds

represents the beginning of a process that will
lead to growth and harvest, symbolizing the
natural cycles of life and the rewards of effort
over time.)
Appreciation of the Poem

“The Sower” is a beautiful poem written by Victor Hugo , and

translated by Toru Dutt. The poem beautifully describes a sower
working late into the evening, sowing seeds for the future harvest.
Herza
The setting is serene, with the fading sunlight and the arrival of
-

twilight creating a peaceful mood. The poet admires the sower's

dedication, as he continues his work despite the growing darkness.
The sower, old and in rags, symbolizes hard work and hope. His
silhouette against the deep furrows and the starry skies gives him a
no 1902 , a
majestic and almost divine appearance. The poet feels a sense of
-

wonder and respect for this figure, who seems to connect the earth
and the heavens.

The poem uses vivid imagery, like "shadows shoot across the lands"
and "his gestures… touch the starry skies," to create a striking visual
effect. It also conveys a deep message about perseverance and faith in
the future.
The poem follows an abab rhyme scheme, which adds rhythm and flow.
Alliteration like "darkness deepens" and "shadows shoot" makes the
poem more musical and memorable. The visual imagery is strong, with
phrases like "ruddy sunlight," "shadows," and "starry skies" creating
clear and vivid pictures. A clear contrast is shown between the poet,
who is idle, and the sower, who works hard despite the late hour. This
emphasizes the sower's dedication.
The final image of the sower under the starry sky makes him appear
almost heroic, representing the value of persistence and the
connection between human effort and nature. The simple yet
deep
profound theme and the poet's reflective tone make the poem
touching and inspiring.
The Village
Blacksmith
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Under a spreading chestnut-tree
ser Visual image
The village smithy stands;
strong
~

The smith, a mighty man is he, alliteration

strong
With large and sinewy hands;
strong
-

And the muscles of his brawny arms

-

Are strong as iron bands. similie

 rough
His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
misband
His face is like the tan; similie

warnndmat
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
- -
-

He earns whate'er he can,

And looks the whole world in the face,

asnustulzote
For he owes not any man.
Week in, week out, from morn till night,
ze
You can hear his bellows blow;

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,

Auditory
With measured beat and slow,

Like a sexton ringing the village bell, similie

When the evening sun is low.

bellows -

-9 abroad
,
ze

sledge-orls
sexton bell church
ringer in
-

a a
And children coming home from school

Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,

And hear the bellows roar, auditory

And catch the burning sparks that fly

Similie,
Visual
Like chaff from a threshing-floor.
forge-fireplace ,
22

chaff-221

Thresh-and opt 3
He goes on Sunday to the church,

And sits among his boys;

~ semmlenc the
He hears the parson pray and preach,
auditory
He hears his daughter's voice,

Singing in the village choir,

I
auditory

melzabe
And it makes his heart rejoice.
·b
It sounds to him like her mother's voice, similie

Singing in Paradise!

He needs must think of her once more,

How in the grave she lies;

And with his hard, rough hand he wipes

A tear out of his eyes.

 Brussels
Toiling,--rejoicing,--sorrowing,

Onward through life he goes;

Each morning sees some task begin,

Each evening sees it close

Something attempted, something done,

Microso
Has earned a night's repose.
-
 you
Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
have
you
For the lesson thou hast taught!

Thus at the flaming forge of life

sevejabis create
Our fortunes must be wrought;
zwsieg
-

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped

&

Each burning deed and thought.

 SUMMARY
The poem "The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
describes the life of a hardworking blacksmith who works under a large
chestnut tree in the village. The blacksmith is strong and muscular, with
hands that show his hard labor. He is an honest man, earning his living by
working hard every day and taking pride in his independence.
Throughout the week, the blacksmith works tirelessly, hammering iron
on his forge, and children passing by enjoy watching the sparks fly and
hearing the sounds of his work. On Sundays, he goes to church with his
children, and he feels happiness and pride as he hears his daughter sing
in the choir. The blacksmith’s life is simple but fulfilling, and he embodies
qualities of hard work, honesty, and dedication. The poem appreciates
these qualities and portrays him as a respectable, admirable person in
the community.
In the last part of the poem, the blacksmith hears his daughter’s voice
singing in church, which reminds him of his late wife. This memory
makes him emotional, and he wipes a tear from his eye, showing his
deep love and sorrow for her.

Despite his hardships, the blacksmith moves forward in life, working

hard every day. The poet admires the blacksmith, thanking him for
the life lesson he represents. Just like iron is shaped at the forge, our
lives and actions shape who we are. The poem ends by emphasizing
that each day has its work, and with honest effort, one can rest at
night with a sense of accomplishment.
Appreciation – The Village Blacksmith
The poem "The Village Blacksmith" was written by the famous American
poet and teacher Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It praises the idea of
finding happiness in life through hard work. Life has a mix of struggles,
sadness, and happiness. We should earn whatever we can through hard
work and live a content life. The poem’s message is that our own actions
and thoughts shape our future and fortunes.
u
The poem honors the blacksmith's dedication and success as an honest
and hardworking man. He works every day of the week, from morning
till evening, in his workshop under a chestnut tree in his village.
Even the school children enjoy watching the blacksmith at work. He
is a hardworking and honest man who does not owe anything to
anyone, so he can face the world confidently. He is also religious;
he attends church every Sunday, listens to the priest’s sermon, and
finds joy in his daughter’s singing in the choir. Her voice reminds
him of his beloved late wife, which makes him feel sad.

The poem has eight stanzas, each with six lines. The rhyme
scheme of the first stanza is ABABCB, while the rest of the stanzas
follow ABCBDB.
The poem also uses many examples of alliteration, like "You can
hear his bellows blow" and "You can hear him swing his heavy
& - >
-

sledge" as well as "He hears the parson pray and preach.“

- -
-
- &

The poem contains several similes, such as: "The blacksmith's

strong arm muscles are like iron bands," "His face is like the tan,"
"His sledge hitting the iron is like a sexton ringing the church
bell," "The burning sparks that fly are like chaff from a threshing-
floor," and "His daughter's voice is like her mother's voice."
The poem creates vivid auditory and visual images for readers. Examples of
auditory images include "the parson’s preaching," "the blacksmith’s
daughter’s singing," "the sound of the sledge hitting metal," and "the roar of
the bellows.“

Visual images include "the bright forge flames," "sparks flying," "the
healthy, strong blacksmith," and "his smithy under a chestnut tree.“

In conclusion, The Village Blacksmith celebrates the values of hard work,

honesty, and inner strength. Through the blacksmith’s daily labor and simple
life, the poem shows that true happiness and fulfillment come from
dedication and integrity. The poem’s rich imagery and heartfelt
message remind us of the dignity in honest work and the importance
of cherishing life’s joys and sorrows alike.
FROM A
RAILWAY
CARRIAGE
- Robert Louis Stevenson
 candorio firerasian
metaphor
Faster than fairies, faster than witches,
Gro mess
-

Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;

-

And charging along like troops in a battle similie

grasslands
All through the meadows the horses and cattle:
-

Visual
All of the sights of the hill and the plain

Fly as thick as driving rain; similie

And ever again, in the wink of an eye,

Painted stations whistle by. auditory

Summary

The train rushes faster than fairies and witches; It runs passing
houses, fences and ditches. It charges ahead like soldiers charge into a
battle field; It runs through meadows where horses and cattle graze.
The sights of hill and plain fly as the thick driving raindrops fall. As the
train rushes ahead, every now and then, at short intervals, painted
station buildings pass by.
Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,

All by himself and gathering brambles;

wanderer
Here is a tramp who stands and gazes;
-

And here is the green for stringing the daisies!

Here is a cart runaway in the road

Lumping along with man and load;

And here is a mill, and there is a river:

Each a glimpse and gone forever!

 Summary
A child is seen, who climbs a steep hill with much difficulty and gathers
Blackberries; A wanderer is seen, who stands and looks at the train in
wonder; Green, grassy plain is seen, where women sit and make daisy
garlands; A cart is seen out of control in the road lumping along with
its driver and heavy load; A mill and a river are also seen, but all for a
short moment in the sight, then pass away for ever!
• 2 stanzas

• octave- 8 lines

• Rhyme scheme – aabbccdd

 Appreciation of the Poem
“From a Railway Carriage “ is a beautiful poem written by RL Stevenson.
This poem captures the excitement of watching the world from a moving
train.

The poet describes how the train moves faster than fairies and witches,
with bridges, houses, and landscapes rushing past like a battle charge.
The vivid imagery makes the reader feel the speed and thrill of the
journey.
The train is rushing ahead passing houses, hedges and ditches like
troops charging along in a battle. He sees through the window of the
carriage meadows, horses, cattle, hill and plain. All these sights fly as
the driving rain. In the wink of an eye painted station buildings appear
in and disappear from his sight.
He also sees a child scrambling and gathering brambles, and a tramp gazing at
the train. Women making daisy garlands, a runaway cart in the road lumping
with heavy load, a mill and a river are some other sights. But each sight is a
glimpse and is gone forever. The poem highlights fleeting moments of life—a
child picking brambles, a tramp gazing, a cart on the road, and a mill by the
river. These sights are seen quickly, like glimpses that disappear forever.

The words and expression are arranged in a way that when recited aloud, we
get a locomotive rhythm and feel of a train journey. The poem has two stanzas
of eight lines each with the rhyme scheme 'aabbccdd'. The theme is a child's
(poet's) thrilling and exciting experience of a train journey.
Marvellous
Travel
Joshua Fernandez
I travel with my eyes,
Watching those silently cry,
Asking themselves the question why,
Someone left them without saying goodbye;
I travel with my thoughts,
I travel with my pen;
To write about children, women and men;
I travel with my voice,
I travel with my hope,
That something new, would spring into my horoscope,
Whether in Asia, America or Europe,
There'll always be something interesting to scope;

Spring – Zislabe
Horoscope - Zumao
I travel to many different places,
Nao
Mix with many races,
-

Identify tribesmen by their faces,

And little girls by their laces,
I travel without money,
So, please listen to my testimony,
The good, the bad and even the ugly,
Every experience is worth life's journey,

For I'll always be marvelled,

When ever I travel.

Testimony – majreabero
THEME OF THE POEM

Travel provides a learning experience like no other.

It inspires people to seek out new places, keeping
their pool of knowledge constantly topped up. It’s
a great way to not only learn new things and
immerse yourself in a new culture but it also
provides a constant urge to continue learning.
 SUMMARY OF THE POEM
The poem expresses the poet's deep connection to the
world through travel, not just physically but also
emotionally and mentally. The poet travels with his
"eyes," observing the silent pain and questions of those
who have lost loved ones. He travels with his "thoughts"
and "pen" to write about the lives of different people—
children, women, and men. The poet's journey is also
one of hope, wishing for something positive in his life.
The poet values every experience, whether good or
bad, as a part of life's journey. He finds wonder and
amazement in each new place and culture he
encounters, emphasizing that traveling is more than
just visiting places; it's about understanding and
connecting with people, their struggles, and their joys.
The poem highlights the richness of life that comes
from exploring the world with an open heart and
mind.
Appreciation of the poem
In the poem the poet talks about his views on travel.
The aim of travel is not simply killing time in
enjoyments and entertainments. According to the
poet, the aims of his travels are exploring the world,
knowing about different people and their lives and
having various experiences. These are the themes of
this poem too.
The poet travels with his eyes and thoughts to see the world, know about
the people and to enjoy various experiences. He travels with his pen and
voice. He asks the people about their problems and understands their
pains. He writes about the men, women, tribesmen and children of
different races and tribes.

The poet travels with the hope of getting new experiences that may change
his horoscope. He never travels with much money. He travels to different
parts of the world and mix with the people there. Wherever he travels - in
Asia, America or Europe - he hopes for something interesting. To the poet,
the good, the bad or the ugly experiences he gets from travel are worth the
life's journey.
Life is a journey from one's birth to death, and one's life
experiences may be the same as one's travel experiences
- good, bad or ugly. So, the poet is always marvelled
whenever he travels.
There are so many rhyming words in the poem. Examples
of Alliterations can be seen in lines "Someone left them
without saying goodbye"; / "That something new, would
spring into my horoscope", / "There'll always be
something interesting to scope"; / "Mix with many
races", / " The good, the bad and even the ugly," .
Examples of the poetic device Anaphora can be seen in
the repetition of "I travel with my" successively in
lines:
"I travel with my thoughts,
I travel with my pen";
"I travel with my voice, / I travel with my hope".
TAJ MAHAL
Rabindranath Tagore
You knew, Emperor of India, Shah Jahan,

That life, youth, wealth, renown

All float away down the stream of time.

Float
-
36 dbE
renown -fame
Your only dream

Was to preserve forever your heart's pain.

The harsh thunder of imperial power
Would fade into sleep
Like a sunset's crimson splendour, was
But it was your hope momp
That at least a single, eternally-heaved sigh would stay
To grieve the sky.
imperial power –
Crimson –
Splendour –
Heaved -
Though emeralds, rubies, pearls are all
But as the glitter of a rainbow tricking out empty air
And must pass away,
Yet still one solitary tear
Would hang on the cheek of time
In the form
Of this white and gleaming Taj Mahal.

Emeralds –
Rubies –
Pearls –
Tricking -
 SUMMARY

The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan understood that life, youth,

wealth, and fame would eventually disappear over time. His
only wish was to keep alive the pain in his heart, which was
his love for his wife Mumtaz. He knew that the power of his
empire would fade away like the red colors of a sunset.
But Shah Jahan hoped that his deep, lasting sorrow would
remain to touch the sky.
The poet says that valuable gems like emeralds,
rubies, and pearls, which shine like a rainbow,
will soon disappear. However, one single tear,
represented by the beautiful Taj Mahal, will
remain through time for future generations to see.
Appreciation Of the Poem
Rabindranath Tagore, India’s first Nobel laureate,
wrote the beautiful poem "Taj Mahal." The poem is
from his longer work, "Shahjahan," and it celebrates
Emperor Shahjahan’s undying love for his wife
Mumtaz Mahal. Shahjahan knew that nothing
in this world lasts forever. His love for Mumtaz
was priceless, and he wanted to preserve it
long after he was gone. The poem’s theme is
the shortness of life and the forever nature of art.
Life, with all its greatness, means nothing after death.
Wealth can't make death easy or provide comfort
after life. Fame and power also fade away.
Shahjahan wished to make his love for Mumtaz
eternal. His grief for her should always be
visible to the world. The Taj Mahal is a tear
on the face of eternity. The precious stones
on it are like rainbows that last only a short
while. The Taj Mahal will tell of his love for
many years, making it immortal. Tagore uses
comparisons to show how life is short but
true love and grief are lasting.
He compares imperial power to the fading
light of sunset and the precious stones to
rainbows that quickly disappear. The image
of the Taj Mahal as a tear is very striking.
Tagore paints a beautiful picture with his words.
Many poets have written about the shortness
of life, but for Tagore, love is eternal, and
Shahjahan becomes a true messenger of love.
The Taj Mahal stands as a symbol of
Shahjahan’s everlasting love.
We’re the World
There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it’s time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

Heed- pay attention

We can’t go on pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We all are a part of God’s great big family
And the truth, you know,
Love is all we need
(Chorus)
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
Send them your heart so they’ll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand
(Chorus)
When you’re down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there’s no way we can fall
“Well...well...well...”
Let’s realise that a change can only come
When we stand together as one.
(Chorus x 2)
 Appreciation of the Poem
'We are the World' is a charity song co-written
by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie Jr. The
song was released on 07 March 1985 by the
organization United Support of Artists for Africa
(USA for Africa) as a fundraiser for the victims of
the severe famine occurred in Africa in the
1980s.
When people are suffering and crying for help,
we should listen to their call for help to save
their lives. Such timely help is the greatest of all
gifts that we can give to the needy. We should
not think that some others will come and help
the suffering people.
The truth is that we all are the members of
the great family of God, and love is God's
greatest gift. All people need love and we
should love each other. If we consider all
the people of the world as the members of
one single family, and help the poor, we can
make a better day.
When we are choosing to help others,
actually we are helping ourselves and
saving our own lives. When we love and
help the poor, they will have a feeling that
they also have someone to take care of
them.
We should love them and feed them as God has
loved and fed us. We should know the fact
that when we stand together as one world
and one people, we can find solutions to all
problems and make a new world of love and
compassion.
This song is composed in a free verse style
without a metrical pattern, rhyme scheme and a
consistent stanza system. In the line 'We are the
world, we are the children’ there is an example
of metaphor, in which people are compared to
the strong world as well as to innocent children.
When people stand together, they are as strong
as the world; when they love and help others,
they are as innocent as children. A clear example
of Alliteration can be seen in the line, "That
someone, somewhere will soon make a change".
Other Poetic Devices

Repetition: The use of the same word or phrase

multiple times.
For example, "We are the world, we are the children“
Symbolism: A literary device where symbols work
to represent ideas. The songwriters use the heart
to symbolize love and care.
Simile :
Comparing two different things using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
As God has shown us…