Here's a poem titled Childhood, but it is not the poem in your text. Go through it carefully and try to answer the questions that follow each stanza. Once you've read the poem 'Childhood' by Markus Natten, which is in your textbook, compare and contrast it with the poem given below. You may also utilize this poem for one of the Sept-Oct essay topics which focus on the feelings of loneliness, isolation and boredom.
CHILDHOOD
Time in school drags along with so much worry,
and waiting, things so dumb and stupid.
Oh loneliness, oh heavy lumpish time . . .
Free at last: lights and colors and noises;
water leaps out of fountains into the air, 5
and the world is so huge in the woody places.
And moving through it in your short clothes,
and you don’t walk the way the others do—
Such marvelous time, such time passing on,
such loneliness. 10
and waiting, things so dumb and stupid.
Oh loneliness, oh heavy lumpish time . . .
Free at last: lights and colors and noises;
water leaps out of fountains into the air, 5
and the world is so huge in the woody places.
And moving through it in your short clothes,
and you don’t walk the way the others do—
Such marvelous time, such time passing on,
such loneliness. 10
Q.1. What does the child in the poem feel about the time he spends in the classroom?
Q.2. What do you think is meant by the word 'lumpish'?
Q.3. Do you think the language used is that of a school going child or an adult? Do consider the use of the word 'you' in line 8 when answering this question.
Q.4. When does the child feel joyous? Which images bring out the happiness and curiosity in the child's attitude at this time?
Q.5. The poet says that this time for the child is "marvelous" yet "lonely". Why do you think the child feels these contrasting emotions?
How strange to see into it all from far away:
men and women, there’s a man, one more woman;
children’s bright colors make them stand out;
and here a house and now and then a dog
and terror all at once replaced by total trust— 15
What crazy mourning, what dream, what heaviness,
what deepness without end.
men and women, there’s a man, one more woman;
children’s bright colors make them stand out;
and here a house and now and then a dog
and terror all at once replaced by total trust— 15
What crazy mourning, what dream, what heaviness,
what deepness without end.
(Hint: In this stanza, the speaker presents his point of view as someone looking back on childhood.)
Q.1. Given the hint above, what does the poet imply by "see into it all from far away"?
Q.2. What all has the poet achieved as an adult?
Q.3. Identify the contrast brought out in line 15
Q.4. What does the poet seem to "mourn" even though it seems crazy?
And playing: a hoop, and a bat, and a ball,
in some green place as the light fades away.
in some green place as the light fades away.
And not noticing, you brush against a grownup, 20
rushing blindly around in tag, half-crazed,
but when the light fades you go with small
puppety steps home, your hand firmly held—
Such oceanic vision that is fading,
such a constant worry, such weight. 25
but when the light fades you go with small
puppety steps home, your hand firmly held—
Such oceanic vision that is fading,
such a constant worry, such weight. 25
Q.1. What is the child doing when he brushes against a grownup?
Q.2. Who do you think is the grownup whom the child barely notices but who holds the child's hand firmly?
Q.3. Why do you think the child takes 'puppety' steps?
Q.4. Why do you think the child is worried or disappointed on being led home?
Q.5. What is the fading 'oceanic vision' the child refers to?
Sometimes also kneeling for hours on end
with a tiny sailboat at a grayish pond,
all forgotten because sails more beautiful
than yours go on crossing the circles;
and one had to think always about the pale, 30
narrow face looking up as it sank down—
Oh, childhood, what was us going away,
going where? Where?
with a tiny sailboat at a grayish pond,
all forgotten because sails more beautiful
than yours go on crossing the circles;
and one had to think always about the pale, 30
narrow face looking up as it sank down—
Oh, childhood, what was us going away,
going where? Where?
Q.1. Where does the child spend his time apart from the school and the playground?
Q.2. Why does the child's own sailboat often lie forgotten?
Q.3. What does the poet wonder was actually going away with each passing sailboat?
Q.4. What is the final worry of the child poet?
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