Appreciating Poetry
Poem-9
Read the following poem and do the activities that follow.
The Wind
By Christina Rossetti
I could not see the wind, but I could feel
Its gentle touch, its breath upon my cheek.
It blew through the trees like a whispering friend,
And danced with the leaves in a soft, sweet ballet.
It sang through the night like a lullaby,
Caressing the flowers and soothing their sighs.
It roared through the day like a mighty king,
Ruling the world with its powerful wings.
I saw its effects in the bending grass,
And the ripples it made in the pond’s glass.
Though I could not see its face or form,
I knew it was there, both gentle and warm.
So the wind is like a spirit, unseen,
But its presence is felt in everything.
It moves through the world with a soft, sweet grace,
Leaving its mark on the earth’s face.
Questions:
a) Answer the following questions.
i. What does the wind symbolize in the poem?
ii. How does the poet use metaphors to describe the wind?
iii. What is the significance of the imagery related to the wind’s effects in the poem?
iv. How does the poem reflect the theme of unseen forces and their impact?
v. What message does the poem convey about the nature of influence and presence?
b) Identify 3 metaphors and 3 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.
c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.
Answer:
a) Answer the following questions.
i. What does the wind symbolize in the poem?
In the poem, the wind symbolizes an unseen but powerful force that influences and interacts with the world. It represents the idea of an invisible presence that affects the environment and evokes different emotions.
ii. How does the poet use metaphors to describe the wind?
The poet uses metaphors such as "the wind is like a spirit" to describe the wind as an ethereal, invisible force. Another metaphor is "it roared through the day like a mighty king," which represents the wind’s powerful and commanding presence. These metaphors help to convey the wind’s impact and character.
iii. What is the significance of the imagery related to the wind’s effects in the poem?
The imagery of the wind’s effects, such as "bending grass" and "ripples in the pond’s glass," highlights the wind’s influence on the environment. It shows how the wind interacts with nature, creating visual and sensory experiences that make its presence felt, even though it is unseen.
iv. How does the poem reflect the theme of unseen forces and their impact?
The poem reflects the theme of unseen forces by portraying the wind as an invisible yet influential presence. It emphasizes how such forces can have a significant impact on the world, shaping the environment and evoking responses, even though they cannot be directly seen or touched.
v. What message does the poem convey about the nature of influence and presence?
The poem conveys that influence and presence can be powerful and meaningful even when they are not directly visible. It suggests that unseen forces, like the wind, play a crucial role in shaping and affecting the world around us, and their impact can be felt through their effects on nature.
b) Identify 3 metaphors and 3 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.
Metaphors:
"The wind is like a spirit" – This metaphor represents the wind as an ethereal and invisible force, emphasizing its intangible nature and its influence on the world.
"Sang through the night like a lullaby" – This metaphor compares the wind’s sound to a lullaby, highlighting its soothing and calming effect.
"It roared through the day like a mighty king" – This metaphor conveys the wind’s powerful and commanding presence, illustrating its strength and authority.
Similes:
"Blew through the trees like a whispering friend" – This simile compares the wind’s movement through the trees to the gentle presence of a friend, emphasizing its gentle and comforting nature.
"Danced with the leaves in a soft, sweet ballet" – This simile likens the wind’s interaction with the leaves to a ballet, highlighting its graceful and delicate movement.
"Ripples it made in the pond’s glass" – This simile compares the pond’s surface to glass, illustrating the wind’s effect on the water’s smooth, reflective surface.
Purpose of their uses:
The metaphors and similes in the poem help to create a vivid and relatable image of the wind. Metaphors like "a spirit" and "a mighty king" convey the wind’s unseen yet impactful nature, while similes like "a whispering friend" and "a soft, sweet ballet" enhance the description of the wind’s gentle and graceful interactions with nature. These figures of speech make the wind’s presence and influence more tangible and evocative.
c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.
Reading this poem brought a sense of calm and appreciation for the natural world. The imagery of the wind interacting with nature, such as "dancing with the leaves" and creating "ripples in the pond’s glass," evoked a feeling of gentle movement and serene beauty.
The metaphorical descriptions of the wind as a "spirit" and a "mighty king" gave me a sense of awe and respect for this invisible force. The way the poem portrays the wind’s soothing presence and its powerful impact on the environment highlighted the beauty and complexity of natural forces.
Overall, the poem made me reflect on the subtle yet profound influence that unseen forces can have on our surroundings. It emphasized the idea that even though we may not always see these forces, their effects are deeply felt and appreciated.
Theme of the Poem:
In Christina Rossetti’s poem "The Wind," the speaker describes the wind as an invisible force that can be felt rather than seen. The wind gently touches the speaker’s cheek and moves through the trees like a friendly whisper. It dances with the leaves in a graceful way and sings softly through the night like a lullaby, calming the flowers. During the day, the wind roars powerfully, like a king with mighty wings, influencing the world around it. The speaker notices the wind’s effects, such as bending the grass and creating ripples in a pond. Although the wind cannot be seen, its presence is evident in the way it moves and touches everything. The poem portrays the wind as a graceful, invisible spirit that leaves its mark on the earth.
Full Explanation and Vocabulary
"The Wind" by Christina Rossetti with Bangla translations in a table format:
Line | Easy Analysis | Bangla Meaning |
I could not see the wind, but I could feel | The speaker couldn't see the wind, but could feel its presence. | আমি হাওয়াটাকে দেখতে পারিনি, কিন্তু তার উপস্থিতি অনুভব করতে পেরেছি। |
Its gentle touch, its breath upon my cheek | The wind felt soft and cool on their cheek. | এর কোমল স্পর্শ, আমার গালে তার শ্বাস। |
It blew through the trees like a whispering friend | The wind moved through the trees softly, like a friend whispering. | এটি গাছগুলোর মধ্যে মৃদু বাতাসের মতো বয়ে চলেছিল, যেন একজন বন্ধু ফিসফিস করছে। |
And danced with the leaves in a soft, sweet ballet | It moved among the leaves gracefully, like a gentle dance. | এটি পাতা গুলোর সাথে নৃত্যরত ছিল, একটি মিষ্টি, কোমল নৃত্যের মতো। |
It sang through the night like a lullaby | The wind made a soothing sound throughout the night. | রাতভর এটি একপ্রকার স্নিগ্ধ সঙ্গীতের মতো গান গাইত। |
Caressing the flowers and soothing their sighs | It gently touched the flowers and made them feel calm. | এটি ফুলগুলোকে স্নেহ করত এবং তাদের sigh গুলোকে শান্ত করত। |
It roared through the day like a mighty king | During the day, the wind was strong and powerful, like a king. | দিনের বেলায় এটি শক্তিশালী এবং রাজকীয় ছিল। |
Ruling the world with its powerful wings | The wind controlled everything with its strength. | এটি তার শক্তিশালী পাখনা দিয়ে সবকিছু নিয়ন্ত্রণ করত। |
I saw its effects in the bending grass | The speaker noticed how the wind made the grass bend. | আমি দেখেছি কিভাবে হাওয়া ঘাসগুলোকে বাঁকিয়ে দেয়। |
And the ripples it made in the pond’s glass | The wind created ripples in the water of the pond. | এবং পুকুরের পানিতে ঢেউ তৈরি করত। |
Though I could not see its face or form | The speaker couldn’t see the wind’s appearance. | যদিও আমি এর মুখ বা রূপ দেখতে পারিনি। |
I knew it was there, both gentle and warm | They felt that the wind was present and it was both gentle and warm. | আমি জানতাম এটি এখানে আছে, কোমল এবং উষ্ণ। |
So the wind is like a spirit, unseen | The wind is compared to a spirit, which cannot be seen but is felt. | তাই হাওয়া এক প্রকার অদৃশ্য আত্মার মতো, যা দেখা যায় না কিন্তু অনুভব করা যায়। |
But its presence is felt in everything | Its effect can be seen and felt everywhere. | কিন্তু এর উপস্থিতি সব কিছুতেই অনুভূত হয়। |
It moves through the world with a soft, sweet grace | The wind moves gracefully and gently through everything. | এটি সারা বিশ্বে কোমল এবং সুন্দরভাবে চলতে থাকে। |
Leaving its mark on the earth’s face | The wind leaves noticeable effects on everything it touches. | এটি পৃথিবীর মুখে তার চিহ্ন রেখে যায়। |
Vocabulary
30 key words and expressions from the poem "The Wind" by Christina Rossetti, including their meanings in simple English and Bangla:
Word/Expression | Meaning (Simple English) | Bangla Meaning |
Breath | The air that is taken in and out of the lungs | শ্বাস |
Caressing | Gently touching or stroking | মৃদু স্পর্শ করা |
Gentle | Soft and mild | নরম এবং কোমল |
Grace | Elegance or smoothness | শৈলী বা সুরলতা |
Impact | The effect or influence of something | প্রভাব |
Lullaby | A soothing song sung to help someone sleep | স্নিগ্ধ গান |
Mighty | Powerful or strong | শক্তিশালী |
Presence | The state of being present or existing | উপস্থিতি |
Ripples | Small waves or undulations on a surface | তরঙ্গ |
Roared | Made a loud, deep sound | গর্জন করা |
Spirit | An invisible force or essence | আত্মা |
Sighs | Long, deep breaths expressing sadness or relief | দীর্ঘশ্বাস |
Soothing | Comforting or calming | শান্তিদায়ক |
Soft | Not hard or rough; gentle | নরম |
Sweet | Pleasant and agreeable | মিষ্টি |
Unseen | Not visible or detectable | অদৃশ্য |
Wings | The parts of a bird or insect used for flying | পাখনা |
World | The earth and everything in it | পৃথিবী |
Bending | Curving or leaning | বাঁকা |
Effect | The result or outcome of something | প্রভাব |
Form | Shape or structure | আকৃতি |
Gentle touch | Light, soft physical contact | নরম স্পর্শ |
Whispering friend | Quietly speaking or making soft sounds like a friend | ফিসফিস করা বন্ধু |
Night | The time between evening and morning | রাত |
Day | The time between morning and evening | দিন |
Pond's glass | The surface of the water in a pond | পুকুরের জল |
Soft, sweet ballet | A delicate and graceful dance | নরম, মিষ্টি নৃত্য |
Moved through | Passed through | চলা বা গমন করা |
Earth’s face | The surface of the earth | পৃথিবীর মুখ |