Poetry Appreciation - If I Had but Two Little Wings (12)

Appreciating Poetry

Poem-10

Read the following poem and do the activities that follow.

If I Had but Two Little Wings

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

If I had but two little wings

And were a little feathery bird,

To you I'd fly, my dear!

But thoughts like these are idle things

And I stay here.

But in my sleep to you I fly:

I'm always with you in my sleep!

The world is all one's own.

But then one wakes, and where am I?

All, all alone.

Sleep stays not, though a monarch bids:

So I love to wake ere break of day:

For though my sleep be gone,

Yet while 'tis dark, one shuts one's lids,

And still dreams on.

Questions:

a) Answer the following questions:

i. What does the poet wish for in the poem?

The poet wishes for “two little wings” like a bird’s, so he could fly to be with a loved one. This desire expresses his longing to be close to someone dear, even though he knows it’s impossible.

ii. How does the poet express his longing to be with his loved one despite the distance?

The poet expresses his longing by imagining that he could fly to his loved one if he had wings. Though he can’t physically be with them, he feels close to them in his dreams. In his sleep, he can “fly” to be with them, even if only for a short time.

iii. What is the significance of sleep in the poem?

Sleep represents a temporary escape where the poet can feel connected to his loved one. In sleep, he can imagine being with them, as it gives him the freedom that reality doesn’t allow. However, waking up brings him back to loneliness, highlighting the contrast between dream and reality.

iv. How does the poem convey the idea of separation and loneliness?

The poem conveys separation and loneliness by contrasting the poet’s dreams, where he feels close to his loved one, with the reality of waking up “all alone.” His inability to reach his loved one makes his longing feel even stronger and more poignant.

v. What message does the poem give about the power of imagination and dreams?

The poem suggests that imagination and dreams allow us to experience closeness and connection even when physical distance makes it impossible. Dreams can give comfort, even if only briefly, letting the poet feel the warmth of his loved one’s presence, if only in his mind.

b) Identify 3 metaphors and 3 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.

Metaphors:

1. “Two little wings” – Represents the poet’s desire for freedom and the ability to reach his loved one.

2. “The world is all one’s own” – Suggests the freedom and boundless possibilities one feels in dreams.

3. “Sleep stays not, though a monarch bids” – Implies that sleep is beyond human control, even for a king.

Similes:(Note: The poem contains metaphors rather than similes, so hypothetical similes could be created if needed.)

Purpose of their uses.

The metaphors emphasize the poet’s longing for connection and the limitations of reality. They show how dreams offer a fleeting sense of freedom and closeness, even if they can’t replace real presence.

c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.

After reading If I Had but Two Little Wings, I feel a mix of sadness and comfort. The poet’s longing to be with his loved one, even though he’s far away, is deeply touching. I can feel the sense of loneliness he experiences, especially in the line “All, all alone.” It reminds me of times when we want to be with someone special but can’t reach them, no matter how much we wish.

The poem also highlights the comfort of dreams and imagination. When he sleeps, he’s able to feel close to his loved one, free from the limitations of distance and reality. Although it’s only temporary, this closeness in dreams seems to give him comfort. I also find it interesting how he tries to “shut one’s lids” to hold on to that feeling even when he wakes up. This part shows how powerful imagination and dreams can be—they can bring us happiness and peace, even when life itself feels lonely.

Overall, the poem makes me reflect on how dreams and thoughts of loved ones can help us cope with separation. Even if we can’t always be with the people we care about, the poem shows that love and imagination can keep us connected in a special way.

Theme:

The theme of If I Had but Two Little Wings revolves around longing, dreams, and the comfort of imagination. The speaker expresses a deep desire to be with a loved one, even wishing for wings to fly to them like a bird. Though he knows it is impossible, he finds solace in dreams where he feels close to this person. The poem captures the bittersweet feeling of finding happiness in dreams, even though reality leaves him alone. Ultimately, it reflects the power of imagination and dreams to give comfort, even when real-life desires remain unfulfilled.

Vocabulary with English and Bangla meanings:

30 vocabulary words from the poem and their meanings in English and Bangla:

Vocabulary	English Meaning	Bangla Meaning
Idle	Unproductive; without purpose	অলস, উদ্দেশ্যহীন
Feathery	Soft or light, like feathers	পালকের মতো হালকা ও নরম
Monarch	A king or ruler	রাজা, শাসক
Bids	Commands or orders	আদেশ দেয়, নির্দেশ দেয়
Ere	Before (an old-fashioned term)	পূর্বে, আগে (প্রাচীন শব্দ)
Break of day	Dawn; the very beginning of the morning	ভোর, দিনের শুরু
Lids	Eyelids; folds of skin that cover the eyes	চোখের পাতা
Dreams on	Continues to dream	স্বপ্ন দেখে, এমনকি আধা-জাগ্রত থাকে
All alone	Completely by oneself	সম্পূর্ণ একা, বিচ্ছিন্ন
Solace	Comfort or relief in sorrow	সান্ত্বনা, দুঃখের মধ্যে শান্তি
Longing	A strong desire or yearning	আকাঙ্ক্ষা, প্রবল ইচ্ছা
Feather	Soft, fluffy part of a bird's wing	পাখির পালক
Fly	To move through the air	উড়ে যাওয়া
Perch	To rest or sit, especially for birds	বসে থাকা (পাখির মতো)
Awake	To come out of sleep	জাগ্রত হওয়া
Lonesome	Feeling lonely	একাকী, নিঃসঙ্গ
Bid farewell	Say goodbye	বিদায় জানানো
Shuts	Closes	বন্ধ করে
Own	Belonging to oneself	নিজের
Dream	A series of thoughts during sleep	স্বপ্ন
Sleep	A state of rest	ঘুম
Yearn	To long or desire greatly	তীব্র আকাঙ্ক্ষা করা
Imagination	The ability to create ideas	কল্পনা
Comfort	A feeling of relief	স্বস্তি
Bitter	Feeling of sadness or disappointment	তিক্ত, দুঃখময়
Peaceful	Calm and tranquil	শান্তিপূর্ণ
Eternal	Lasting forever	চিরস্থায়ী
Flight	The act of flying	উড্ডয়ন
Solitude	The state of being alone	একাকীত্ব
Despair	Loss of hope	হতাশা

Bangla Translation

If I Had but Two Little Wingsযদি আমার থাকতো দুটি ছোট্ট ডানা

by Samuel Taylor Coleridgeস্যামুয়েল টেইলর কোলরিজ

If I had but two little wingsযদি আমার থাকতো দুটি ছোট্ট ডানা

And were a little feathery bird,এবং যদি আমি হতাম একটি ছোট পালকযুক্ত পাখি,

To you I'd fly, my dear!তাহলে আমি তোমার কাছে উড়ে আসতাম, প্রিয়!

But thoughts like these are idle thingsকিন্তু এই ধরনের ভাবনা আসলে অলস কল্পনা,

And I stay here.এবং আমি এখানে রয়ে যাই।

But in my sleep to you I fly:কিন্তু ঘুমের মধ্যে আমি তোমার কাছে উড়ে যাই:

I'm always with you in my sleep!ঘুমের মধ্যেই আমি সবসময় তোমার সঙ্গে থাকি!

The world is all one's own.ঘুমের জগৎ পুরোপুরি নিজের মনে হয়।

But then one wakes, and where am I?কিন্তু তারপর ঘুম ভাঙে, আর তখন আমি কোথায়?

All, all alone.সবকিছু, একেবারে একা।

Sleep stays not, though a monarch bids:ঘুম কখনো থাকে না, এমনকি একজন সম্রাট চাইলেও:

So I love to wake ere break of day:তাই আমি ভোরের আগেই জাগতে ভালোবাসি:

For though my sleep be gone,যদিও আমার ঘুম চলে যায়,

Yet while 'tis dark, one shuts one's lids,তবু অন্ধকার থাকতেই চোখ বন্ধ করে,

And still dreams on.এবং তখনও স্বপ্ন দেখতে থাকে।