The Little Boy Lost
Father, father, where are you going
O do not walk so fast.
Speak father, speak to your little boy
Or else I shall be lost,
The night was dark no father was there
The child was wet with dew.
The mire was deep, & the child did weep
And away the vapour flew
Theme:
A little boy cannot keep up with his father, so he cries out for the older man to slow down or speak to him so he can find his way. No one answers and the darkness rolls in, so the boy begins to weep. In the companion poem, God hears the little boy’s weeping and appears to him in the image of his father dressed in white. He leads the boy home to his mother, whom the boy greets with weeping.
Paraphrasing
Laugh, and the world laughs with you; When you're happy, others will join in your happiness. Laughter is contagious, so when you laugh, others will also smile and feel joy with you.
Weep, and you weep alone; But when you are sad and crying, you’ll often find yourself alone. People tend to avoid being around you when you're upset.
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, The world around us is filled with sadness, so it takes joy from people, events, or moments. The earth itself doesn't naturally have happiness, but needs it from us.
But has trouble enough of its own. The world is full of its own problems and difficulties, so it doesn’t have the capacity to share your sadness or join you in your sorrow.
Sing, and the hills will answer; When you sing or express happiness, the world seems to reflect your joy. Even nature, like the hills, seems to respond to your cheerfulness.
Sigh, it is lost on the air; However, when you sigh or express sadness, it feels like it fades away, unnoticed by the world. Your sadness doesn't get any response from your surroundings.
The echoes bound to a joyful sound, Echoes or sounds that reflect from nature or the environment seem to respond to joyful or happy sounds. Happiness brings a return of positive energy.
But shrink from voicing care. But echoes avoid reflecting sadness or worry. They seem to hide from negative emotions and won’t carry those feelings back to you.
Rejoice, and men will seek you; When you are happy and celebrating, people will come to you. Happiness attracts others, and they want to be part of your joy.
Grieve, and they turn and go; But when you are grieving or going through hard times, people will tend to leave. They don’t want to deal with your sadness and will distance themselves from you.
They want full measure of all your pleasure, People love to share in your happiness and good times. They want to experience the happiness you’re having, and they’ll stay to enjoy it with you.
But they do not need your woe. However, when you are struggling or in pain, people don’t want to be part of your suffering. They don’t want to experience your sadness and will often avoid you during those times.
Be glad, and your friends are many; When you're happy, you will have many friends around you. People are drawn to those who are cheerful and positive.
Be sad, and you lose them all,But when you're sad or going through difficult emotions, you might lose your friends. People are often quick to leave when you're feeling down.
There are none to decline your nectared wine, When you offer happiness or good times (symbolized as "nectared wine"), no one refuses it. Everyone wants to share in the sweetness of joy and positive moments.
But alone you must drink life’s gall. But when it comes to hardship or difficult times (symbolized as "life’s gall"), you must face it alone. People won’t share in your suffering, and you’ll have to endure it on your own.
Feast, and your halls are crowded; When you are celebrating or enjoying a feast, your home (or metaphorical "halls") will be full of people. Happiness and celebration attract others.
Fast, and the world goes by. But when you’re going through tough times or "fasting" (symbolizing times of deprivation or suffering), the world seems to ignore you and keep moving on without noticing your pain.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live, When you succeed and share your success with others, it makes you feel good and alive. Success and generosity bring joy to your life and help you connect with others.
But no man can help you die. However, when death comes, no one can help you. In the end, everyone must face death alone, as no one can prevent or control it for you.
There is room in the halls of pleasure There is always space for people in times of happiness and enjoyment. During joyful times, you’ll always find people around you.
For a large and lordly train,When you're living in pleasure and joy, many people will gather around you, like a grand procession or parade. Success and joy attract many followers.
But one by one we must all file on But when it comes to pain, loss, or suffering, each person must face it individually. No one can share the path of hardship with you; it’s something you must walk alone.
Through the narrow aisles of pain. Pain is narrow, isolating, and hard to navigate. When we go through difficult times, we must face them alone, step by step, without any help from others.
Short Answer Questions
What happens when you laugh, according to the poem?
When you laugh and show happiness, the people around you will also laugh and share in your joy. The poem suggests that joy is something contagious; when you're happy, others will be happy with you.
How does the world react when you weep?
The poet says that when you are sad or crying, you are alone in your sorrow. The world doesn’t share in your sadness, and you have to face it by yourself. It reflects the idea that people may not always empathize with your pain.
What does the earth borrow according to the poet?
The earth is described as borrowing its happiness or joy because it is already burdened with its own troubles. This suggests that the world is filled with sadness and problems, and it can’t afford much happiness, so it relies on others for joy.
What is the reaction of the hills when you sing?
When you sing, the hills respond to your voice, meaning they echo or reflect your joy. Singing is something joyful, and the hills, which are part of nature, answer back with the same joyful sound.
What happens when you sigh?
If you sigh, your sadness or disappointment is not acknowledged by anyone, and it is lost in the air. A sigh is a quiet expression of sadness, and no one responds to it, unlike the joy of singing, which is heard and answered.
How do people react when you rejoice?
When you are happy and rejoice, people will be attracted to you and want to be around you. Your happiness will make others seek you out, as they want to be a part of the joy and celebrate with you.
What happens when you grieve, as mentioned in the poem?
When you are grieving or sad, people tend to avoid you. They do not want to share in your sorrow and turn away. This reflects how people are often more willing to share in happiness but avoid sadness or grief.
How do your friends react when you are sad?
The poem suggests that when you are sad, you lose your friends. They are not there to offer comfort. The metaphor of "nectared wine" means that when you're happy and full of joy, everyone will enjoy your company, but when you face life’s bitter moments, you must go through them alone.
What happens when you feast versus when you fast?
When you feast or celebrate, your home is full of people, and you are surrounded by guests. People come to share your joy. But when you fast or have less, no one pays attention to you, and the world moves on without noticing you. It shows how people are attracted to abundance and joy but not to deprivation.
How does the poem describe the path of life’s pleasures and pain?
The poem contrasts the pleasures of life, which are shared with many people, to the pain, which we must experience alone. Life’s pleasures bring people together, but when it comes to suffering, it’s something we must go through alone. The "narrow aisles of pain" suggest that pain is personal and hard, whereas pleasures are wide and involve many people.
Multiple-choice questions based on the text:
What is the main theme of the poem "Solitude"?
A) The joys of being with others
B) The contrast between happiness and sadness
C) The importance of wealth
D) The power of nature
Answer: B) The contrast between happiness and sadness
According to the poem, when you laugh, how does the world respond?
A) It laughs with you
B) It ignores you
C) It cries with you
D) It avoids you
Answer: A) It laughs with you
What happens when you weep, as per the poem?
A) You weep alone
B) The world weeps with you
C) The earth laughs with you
D) People comfort you
Answer: A) You weep alone
What does the poem say about the earth's emotions?
A) The earth has plenty of joy
B) The earth borrows its happiness but has its own troubles
C) The earth only feels sadness
D) The earth’s happiness is everlasting
Answer: B) The earth borrows its happiness but has its own troubles
When you sing, what happens to the hills?
A) They remain silent
B) They echo back to you
C) They sigh along with you
D) They ignore you
Answer: B) They echo back to you
What happens when you sigh in the poem?
A) The world sighs with you
B) It is lost on the air
C) The air sighs with you
D) It turns into a joyful sound
Answer: B) It is lost on the air
What is said about friends when you are glad?
A) You lose them all
B) You have many friends
C) They become strangers
D) They avoid you
Answer: B) You have many friends
According to the poem, what happens when you are sad?
A) Your friends come to you
B) Your friends turn and leave
C) You become more popular
D) You find peace
Answer: B) Your friends turn and leave
What is the message in the line, "But no man can help you die"?
A) People can always help you live
B) Death is something one must face alone
C) Men can help with anything
D) Success leads to happiness
Answer: B) Death is something one must face alone
What does the poet suggest about life’s pleasures and pains?
A) Pleasure is easy to find, but pain is hard to overcome
B) Life's pleasures are free, and pain is not real
C) Life’s pleasures are enjoyed by many, while pain is a solitary journey
D) Both pleasure and pain are always shared by everyone
Answer: C) Life’s pleasures are enjoyed by many, while pain is a solitary journey
Summary of "Solitude" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox:
In the poem "Solitude," the speaker reflects on the nature of human relationships and the experience of loneliness. The central idea is that joy and success attract others, while sorrow and struggle often lead to isolation. The poem contrasts the responses people have when someone is happy versus when they are sad.
The first stanza sets the tone by stating that when someone laughs, others join in, but when they weep, they weep alone. The world enjoys joy but is indifferent to sorrow because it has its own troubles to deal with. The following stanzas continue this theme, showing that happiness brings people close, while grief drives them away. People seek pleasure, not pain, and thus, when one is joyful, they are surrounded by friends, but when sorrowful, they lose their support system.
In the next section, the poem describes how people celebrate with you when you feast, but when you fast, you are left alone. Similarly, success brings people into your life, but when you face failure or death, no one can help you. The speaker also contrasts the “halls of pleasure” where many people gather with the “narrow aisles of pain” where individuals must go through hardship alone, emphasizing the solitary nature of suffering.
The poem ultimately conveys that happiness is a shared experience, but sorrow, pain, and death are often faced alone. The speaker seems to reflect on the emptiness of human relationships, where people are more attracted to pleasure and success than to the challenges and griefs of others.
Theme
The theme of "Solitude" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox is the contrast between how people respond to joy and sorrow. Happiness and success attract others, while grief and pain lead to isolation. The poem emphasizes that while people gather around for pleasure, one must face suffering alone, highlighting the loneliness that often accompanies hardship.
Bangla Translation (Summary)
এলা হুইলার উইলকক্সের "নির্জনতা" কবিতার সারাংশ:
"নির্জনতা" কবিতায় বক্তা মানব সম্পর্কের প্রকৃতি এবং একাকীত্বের অভিজ্ঞতার উপর প্রতিফলন করেছেন। মূল ধারণা হল আনন্দ এবং সাফল্য অন্যদের আকর্ষণ করে, যখন দুঃখ এবং সংগ্রাম প্রায়শই বিচ্ছিন্নতার দিকে পরিচালিত করে। কবিতাটি যখন কেউ খুশি থাকে এবং যখন তারা দুঃখী হয় তখন মানুষের প্রতিক্রিয়ার তুলনা করে।
প্রথম স্তবকটি সুরটি সেট করে বলে যে যখন কেউ হাসে, তখন অন্যরা এতে যোগ দেয়, কিন্তু যখন তারা কাঁদে, তখন তারা একা কাঁদে। পৃথিবী আনন্দ উপভোগ করে কিন্তু দুঃখের প্রতি উদাসীন কারণ এর নিজস্ব সমস্যা রয়েছে। নিম্নলিখিত স্তবকগুলি এই থিমটি অব্যাহত রেখেছে, দেখায় যে সুখ মানুষকে কাছে নিয়ে আসে, যখন দুঃখ তাদের দূরে সরিয়ে দেয়। মানুষ আনন্দ খোঁজে, ব্যথা নয়, এবং এইভাবে, যখন কেউ আনন্দিত হয়, তখন তারা বন্ধুদের দ্বারা বেষ্টিত থাকে, কিন্তু যখন দুঃখিত হয়, তখন তারা তাদের সমর্থন ব্যবস্থা হারিয়ে ফেলে।
পরবর্তী অংশে, কবিতাটি বর্ণনা করে যে আপনি যখন ভোজ করেন তখন লোকেরা কীভাবে আপনার সাথে উদযাপন করে, কিন্তু যখন আপনি উপবাস করেন, তখন আপনি একা থাকেন। একইভাবে, সাফল্য আপনার জীবনে মানুষকে নিয়ে আসে, কিন্তু যখন আপনি ব্যর্থতা বা মৃত্যুর মুখোমুখি হন, তখন কেউ আপনাকে সাহায্য করতে পারে না। বক্তা "আনন্দের হল"-এর সাথে "বেদনার সংকীর্ণ পথ"-এর তুলনা করেছেন যেখানে অনেক মানুষ একত্রিত হয়, যেখানে ব্যক্তিদের একাকী কষ্টের মধ্য দিয়ে যেতে হয়, দুঃখের একাকী প্রকৃতির উপর জোর দিয়ে।
কবিতাটি শেষ পর্যন্ত বোঝায় যে সুখ একটি ভাগ করা অভিজ্ঞতা, কিন্তু দুঃখ, বেদনা এবং মৃত্যুর মুখোমুখি প্রায়শই একা হতে হয়। বক্তা মানব সম্পর্কের শূন্যতার প্রতিফলন করেছেন বলে মনে হচ্ছে, যেখানে মানুষ অন্যদের চ্যালেঞ্জ এবং দুঃখের চেয়ে আনন্দ এবং সাফল্যের প্রতি বেশি আকৃষ্ট হয়।
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