Poem Exercises

POEMS

Practice 1

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

At dawn they returned home
their soaky clothes torn
and approached the stove
their limbs marked by scratches
their legs full of wounds
but on their brows
there was not a sign of despair

The whole day and night just passed
they had to brave the horrendous flood
in the water all the time
between bloated carcasses
and tiny chips of tree barks
desperately looking for their son’s
albino buffalo that was never found

There were born amidst hardship
and grew up without a sigh or a complaint
now they are in the kitchen, making
jokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

By Latiff Mohidin Translated by Salleh Ben Joned

a. Why were their clothes ‘soaky’?

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b. Write down the line in the poem which reveals that this incident took place in a village?

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c. What does the phrase “bloated carcasses” refer to?

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d. In your opinion, what kind of attitude do the last two lines imply? Explain.
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Practice 2:

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP (stanzas 1 and 2)
At dawn they returned home
their soaky clothes torn
and approached the stove
their limbs marked by scratches
their legs full of wounds
but on their brows
there was not a sign of despair

The whole day and night just passed
they had to brave the horrendous flood
in the water all the time
between bloated carcasses
and tiny chips of tree barks
desperately looking for their son’s
albino buffalo that was never found
By Latiff Mohidin Translated by Salleh Ben Joned

a. Write down the line which shows that they have been out for long hours?

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b. The theme may not be exactly about hardship as implied by the title. What is the theme related to?

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c. What does the phrase ‘albino buffalo’ reveal?

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d. What moral value did you learn from the poem? Explain.

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Practice 3:

He Had Such Quiet Eyes (Stanzas 1 and 2)

He had such quiet eyes
She did not realise
They were two pools of lies
Layered with thinnest ice
To her, those quiet eyes
Were breathing desolate sighs
Imploring her to be nice
And to render him paradise

If only she’d been wise
And had listened to the advice
Never to compromise
With pleasure-seeking guys
She’d be free from “the hows and whys”
Bibsy Soenharjo-1968

a. What does the phrase ‘two pools of lies’ refer to?

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b. Which lines show that the man is saying “I love you, and if you love me, prove it!”

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c. Which stanza shows that there is a sense of regret?

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d. What do you understand by the phrase “the hows and whys”?

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Practice 4:

He Had Such Quiet Eyes

He had such quiet eyes
She did not realise
They were two pools of lies
Layered with thinnest ice
To her, those quiet eyes
Were breathing desolate sighs
Imploring her to be nice
And to render him paradise

If only she’d been wise
And had listened to the advice
Never to compromise
With pleasure-seeking guys
She’d be free from “the hows and whys”

Now here’s a bit of advice
Be sure that nice really means nice
Then you’ll never be losing at dice
Though you may lose your heart once or twice
Bibsy Soenharjo-1968

a. What does the phrase ‘thinnest ice’ imply?

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b. In this poem, the poet talks about the betrayal of a young girl’s feelings for a man. She believes in his sincerity to her as he had pleaded to her to surrender to him. Write the two lines depicting this.

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c. What is the main theme in this poem?

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d. What did you learn from this poem? Explain.

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Practice 5:

Are You Still Playing Your Flute?

Are you still playing your flute?
When there is hardly time for our love
I am feeling guilty
To be longing for your song
The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo
Uncovered by the breath of an artist
Composed by his fingers
Blown by the wind
To the depth of my heart.

Are you still playing your flute?
In the village so quiet and deserted
Amidst the sick rice fields
While here it has become a luxury
To spend time watching the rain
Gazing at the evening rays
Collecting dew drops
Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers.

Are you still playing your flute?
The more it disturbs my conscience
to be thinking of you
in the hazard of you
my younger brothers unemployed and desperate
my people disunited by politics
my friend slaughtered mercilessly
this world is too old and bleeding.
By Zurinah Hassan

a. Who is the persona in the poem?

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b. Write one line from the poem that depicts that people are jobless.

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c. Provide three phrases that depict the message of cruel realities of a nation in uncertainty of its future.

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d. In your own words describe why the poet used the word “sick” to describe the rice fields.

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Practice 6:

Are You Still Playing Your Flute? (Stanzas 1 and 2)

Are you still playing your flute?
When there is hardly time for our love
I am feeling guilty
To be longing for your song
The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo
Uncovered by the breath of an artist
Composed by his fingers
Blown by the wind
To the depth of my heart.

Are you still playing your flute?
In the village so quiet and deserted
Amidst the sick rice fields
While here it has become a luxury
To spend time watching the rain
Gazing at the evening rays
Collecting dew drops
Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers.

By Zurinah Hassan

a. What did the persona mean when she said ‘deserted’?

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b. Why is the persona feeling guilty?

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c. Why is the question “Are you still playing your flute’ repeated as the starting line of all the stanzas?

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d. In your opinion, is this a romantic poem? Provide reasons for your answer.

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Practice 7:

Nature by H.D Carberry

We have neither Summer nor Winter
Neither Autumn nor Spring.
We have instead the days
When the gold sun shines on the lush green canefields-
Magnificently.
The days when the rain beats like bullet on the roofs
And there is no sound but thee swish of water in the gullies
And trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds.
Also there are the days when leaves fade from off guango trees’
And the reaped canefields lie bare and fallow to the sun.
But best of all there are the days when the mango and the logwood blossom
When bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey,
When the tall grass sways and shivers to the slightest breath of air,
When the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow stars
And beauty comes suddenly and the rains have gone.

a. In your words describe the weather as depicted in the poem.

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b. State one moral value that you have learnt from the poem.

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c. Note that the poem ends with the line “and beauty comes suddenly and the rains have gone”. Describe how this bears a resemblance in our life.

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d. In the opening lines of the poem, the poet describes the things that are absent. In your opinion, what is the poet trying to convey?

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Practice 8:

Nature by H.D Carberry

We have neither Summer nor Winter
Neither Autumn nor Spring.
We have instead the days
When the gold sun shines on the lush green canefields-
Magnificently.
The days when the rain beats like bullet on the roofs
And there is no sound but thee swish of water in the gullies
And trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds.
Also there are the days when leaves fade from off guango trees’
And the reaped canefields lie bare and fallow to the sun.
But best of all there are the days when the mango and the logwood blossom
When bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey,
When the tall grass sways and shivers to the slightest breath of air,
When the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow stars
And beauty comes suddenly and the rains have gone.

a. Why do you think H.D.Carberry wrote the poem?

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b. List three words related to nature.

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c. Which line in the poem ‘Nature’ suggests the sense of smell?

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d. Based on your knowledge of the poem ‘Nature’, describe a theme in the poem.

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IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

Stanza 1

At dawn they returned home	They had been out for the whole night and came back at dawn / They returned home after they have completed their task / work
their soaky clothes torn	Their clothes were torn and wet / They are engaged in hard labour as it is the nature of their work
and approached the stove	They quickly went to the stove to dry up and get warm / They go to the place that could provide them the warmth
their limbs marked by scratches and legs full of wounds	Their bodies were full of wounds and scratches / Their life is not an easy life because they have to suffer physically in the process
but on their brows there was not a sign of despair	However, they were not seen to be hopeless / There are no regrets and they appear to be receptive of their physical sufferin

With injuries on their arms and legs, the parents come home after a hard day’s work. Though garbed in smelly and shabby attire, they are not bothered by their appearance. They accept their life as it is and there are nor regrets or shame for the kind of work they do. They need to survive and that is all they care about for the moment.

Stanza 2

The whole day and night just passed	It rained heavily and continuously / That is their day to day life
they had to brave the horrendous flood in the water all the time between bloated carcasses and tiny chips of tree barks	There was a terrible flood and they have to endure the terrible floodwater with the dead animals and tiny chips of tree barks / They have to endure hardship, suffering and obstacles whatever the circumstances will be.
desperately looking for their son’s albino buffalo that was never found	A couple of poor villagers were looking for their son’s albino buffalo but they could not find it / The parents continue seeking hope and a better future for their younger generation and even though they may know that they are searching for something that is beyond their reach because the condition that they have been living in has plagued them for years.

Life is a routine despite the fact that they have encountered many obstacles. The nature of their work forces them to face daily challenges and possibly even death but they are not easily broken. Their hard life seems like a disease. They endure hardship continuously and at the same time hope for a better future for their family.

Stanza 3

They were born amidst hardship	The villagers were born in poverty and had always lived in adversity / It is their misfortune to suffer
and they grew up without a sigh or a complaint	But they had learned to accept their fate and cope with it as they never complain or give up easily / They have accepted their life
now they are in the kitchen, making jokes while rolling their cigarette leaves	They continue to enjoy simple pleasures in life, joking and rolling their cigarette leaves as they prefer to spend their time with their family and grateful that they still have their homes rather than moaning over what they have lost / Their lives are very much the same. Life has to go on, food is needed for survival and so is their peace of mind to keep them sane.

They are fated to suffer. However, they accept themselves as they are. Life goes on and they seek to survive. They treat life nonchalantly and instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they make the best of it. They have no illusions about life.

Vocabulary

approached – went towards, came neared

limbs – arms and legs

despair – losing hope

horrendous – frightening and terrible

carcasses – dead bodies

albino – a person or animal that lacks of natural colouring as a result of genetic malfunction

amidst – among or surrounded by

hardships – a very difficult condition

sigh – making a long sound especially because one feels boared, disappointed or tired

Elements Of The Poem

Setting

Place: poor flood-ridden village, inside the home of the family

Time: The time is at dawn after a bad flood

Point of View

The poet uses the third person point of view by using ‘they’, describing a family returning to their home after a bad flood. He is amazed by the strength, courage, and determination in the family experiencing hardship.

Tone

·      The poem carries grim tone and acceptance

·      The mood is sober and pity when the persona describes how the couple struggle to find the buffalo in the flood

·      The tone of relief and respect for the couple for their attitude and outlook and the ability to be cheerful even though in hardship.

·      The tone changes as the poem progresses

·      The poet finishes off the first and last stanza with a heartening note.

Themes

(i) Consequences of a flood on flood victims

- The poem portrays a clear picture of the effects of a flood

- The family sustains scratches and wounds during flood

- They have to brave the water amongst drowned, bloated carcasses

(ii) Being happy during hardship

- Life is full of difficulties and problems. Therefore, we should not let these problems spoil our happiness. We should not feel sad and depressed if we are born poor and things do not favour us.

- Living in poverty and adversity is not a setback. What is important is that we must learn to make the most of the situation regardless whether is pleasant or unpleasant.

- The poor couple is undeterred neither by their hopeless condition nor their failure to find the albino buffalo. They remain happy and cheerful.

(iii) Having the right attitude

- We determine our attitude our way of looking at things in life. By having proper attitude we can live happily even in the worst situation.

- The poor couple spends the whole day and night looking for their son’s albino buffalo in the floods.

(iv) Man’s relationship with Nature

- Man must appreciate nature. Man should not take nature for granted.

- Man is considered vulnerable and weak against natural disaster like floods.

- Nature can be destructive and man can be easily hurt and harmed. Therefore, man has to be humble before nature.

- The poor couple struggle in the terrible floodwater among bloating carcasses of dead animals and floating tree barks for their son’s albino buffalo. Unfortunately, they fail to find the buffalo.

(v) Facing hardship with optimism

- We should remain optimistic in the midst of hardship and must not lose hope and complain when things do not favour us.

- The poor couple gets soaked in the heavy rain and their clothes are torn while searching for their son’s albino buffalo in the horrible flood. They get their bodies scratched and wounded in the harsh, dark night. In spite of their discomfort, they do not seem to lose hope.

(vi) Value of Love

- The couple risks their lives to look for their son’s albino buffalo in the floods. This shows that they love their son very much

(vii) Determination

- The couple shows determination to search for the missing albino buffalo, braving the terrible flood water. Yet they do not give up as they do not want to disappoint their son. They are determined to remain cheerful and still carry on with their life.

(viii) Positive Attitude

- The poor couple fails in their attempt to locate the albino buffalo and they also fail to get out of the vicious cycle of poverty. Yet they portray stoicism in accepting their lost of life and adapt to their horrible circumstance with cheerfulness. They are poor but happy, made possible by their positive attitude in life.

Moral Values

1. We should not lose hope in the midst of hardship

Like how the family still can make jokes and role their cigarettes near the stove in the house. They are not really emotionally affected by the flood.

2. We must learn to remain calm and cheerful

Like how the family can still make jokes and roll the cigarettes near the stove in the house. They are not really emotionally affected by the flood.

3. We should not grumble and complain when things do not favour us.

The couple did not complain but just get on with their daily activities and enjoy simple pleasures in their lives.

4. We should respect and love our family

The couple spent the whole day looking for their son’s albino buffalo in the floodwaters because they love their son.

5. Be grateful with what we have

The couple is happy with whatever life they have as they still indulge in their daily simple pleasures.

6. Do not take nature for granted.

7. Man must appreciate nature.

8. Always look on the brighter side of things.

Like the family in the poem, they still manage to enjoy the simple pleasures that they have. We must always look on the brighter side of things. This is even when things prove to be difficult and we are surrounded by danger. By doing so, we are happier people.

9. Accept the hardship and be resilient

The poem gives an example of the hardships we can be in. Despite the hardship, we must remain resilient and strong. This is by accepting the hardship and enduring it. Often the difficult time is not a permanent situation. Like in the family in the poem, dealing with flood is something that they have been facing for quite some time. They take the situation as part and parcel of life as they are still able to enjoy simple pleasures of life and do not complain.

Message

1. We must always look at the positive side of things

2. We must accept hardship we are in and be resilient

3. We should never give up in whatever situation that we are in.