SUMMARY OF THE POEM "ANIMALS" 

(Akanksha Koundal 20142)

The poem "Animals" is in section 32 of Song of Myself written by Walt Whitman. He is regarded as the 'Bard of Democracy and he was one of the most influential poets of America. "Leaves of Grass" is the name of his anthology of poems . It was first published in 1885.   In this poem , the poet Walt Whitman admires animals for being better than human beings. The poet wishes to live with animals and to experience a life where no one complains and where everyone is free of sins and sorrows. The most important theme of the poem is that the poet compares human beings with animals. In this poem , Walt Whitman has given an educational point .

God shaped man and animals for dwelling on earth. God gave human beings a higher position than animals. Walt Whitman the great American poet, believes animals are better than humans. The poet appreciated some qualities in animals which man doesn't have. He expressed his observations about animals and man through his poem "Animals" . The poet wishes to live among the animals because according to him animals are calm and self- sufficient. They do not whine and weep about their condition. They are always satisfied and do their work towards God. Animals always express their love and respect for human beings. They do not possess an obsession with possessing things. They do not show respect for others. Where humans are crazy about material things. Humans lie awake at night. They cry for the wrong that they have done. At last, they lose their temper over trifles. Animals are quite happy. They don't waste their time discussing their duties to God like human beings. He observes that humans don't have those qualities which animals possess such as signs of love, quietness, kindness, selflessness, honesty, patience etc. These qualities are absolutely essential for a glossy life.

The poet has a deep aspiration to learn from the animals.  The poet is too amazed with their qualities. He feels that the life of human beings is  full of stress, depression, anxiety and unhappiness. So , he desires to turn away from living with other human beings. He wants to live in the company of animals for good because he thinks that he will get real happiness among animals. It is the reason that he desires to make a relationship with animals.

Summary of the Poem "Animals" 

(Neha Kumari 20132)

The poem "Animals" has been written by Walt Whitman. He was regarded as the "Bard of Democracy" and one of the most influential poets of America. The poem is a tribute to animals. This poem is a comment on human beings who are very different from animals. Animals don't complain about their problems and conditions. 

In this poem the poet says that he can live with animals for a short time. Animals are so calm and do not depend on others. Sometimes he looked at them for half a day. They do not worry about their life and they don't complain about their conditions and problems. They don't worry about their duty to god as religious minded people do. They don't get up at night and don't think about their sins. Poet comments that animals don't feel disgusted when discussing their responsibility to God. There is no one who is dissatisfied and crazy with a great enthusiasm to have something belonging.  They never bend down on their knees to another like human beings who lived thousands of years ago. None of them are brothers about respect or worldly achievement. The poet shares these qualities with animals; he finds a reflection of himself in them. Poet says that there are signs of himself. The poet does not know where they get these signs. The poet thinks that he must have ever passed by them before and then he must have forgotten them. Now he is to move on. Therefore the poet Walt Whitman wants to convey the message that man should live a happy, contented, peaceful life like the animals. He should not indulge in amassing wealth. It will make him selfish, greedy, commit sins for his behaviour and follies and spend sleepless nights.

                                                     Summary of the Poem When I am Dead, My Dearest

(Priyanka 20121)

The Victorian poet Christina Rossetti wrote "Song (When I am Dead, My Dearest)" in 1848 at the age of 18, though it wasn't published until 1862 in her collection “Goblin Market and Other Poems”. The poem focuses on death and mourning, with the speaker urging a loved one not to waste too much time grieving for her when she dies. Christina Rossetti’s poem “When I am Dead, My Dearest” has two stanzas and each addresses different issues. In the first stanza, she talks about what she expects her loved ones to do after her death while in the second, she talks about what she will do after her death.Poetess tells her loved ones that no one mourns after her death. She does not want anyone to sing and cry for her after death. She also refuses to let someone plant roses or a shady Cypress tree on her grave. She is against this pretense where people sing songs to mourn, she tells us that when she is dead she won't be able to hear any songs, see any roses or feel the Cypress’ shade. The poet thinks that if  someone really wants to mourn he or she should be humble like grass. The poetess, while addressing to her loved ones, says that to express their love it is a ritual to mourn after her death or after the death of anyone, however, the poetess is against such empty rituals. Instead she would like to be left alone in the dream-like twilight of death. She wishes to be fresh like the green grass that becomes immortal after getting the dewdrops. Tears of true love like the dewdrops will keep the grass always green; such tears will make their love eternal. She gives her dearest one the freedom to remember or forget  her as he or she wishes. After her death, she will be buried in the grave and she will go into the world of the dead. She will pass the rest of her time dreaming through the never ending evening when the sun neither rises nor sets. Perhaps she will remember it. Perhaps she will forget it. She is not afraid of death as it is unavoidable. Everyone has come from mother earth and has to go back to mother earth. It is a universal truth. She also wishes that the people after her death should not mourn over her death but should live their life happily. 

"The Olive Tree" by Mark O'Connor

                                                                                        (Neha Kumari, 20132)

"The Olive Tree '' is a nature poem. Mark O'Connor wrote it when he was in Italy. The poem describes how in times of war the olive trees would be cut down and destroyed, but they come back to life. This poem is about the power of nature.  On the surface level, the poem talks about the longevity of The Olive tree and its resilience. The poem celebrates nature's ability to revive,  despite all kinds of natural calamities and human efforts to destroy it. The poem describes the power of nature through The Olive tree. The poet begins by saying that nobody knows how long an olive tree lives because,"Drought, axe,fire" have all proved to be failures in the destruction of olive trees. Even when Olive tree is hacked down, and its mean root dug out for fuel, shoots will spring out from the side routes in the spring. Sometimes the tree is left leafless for years due to Frost,  but when they revive again. Invading armies can cut them down for their war vehicles, but the trees return to life through the debris of the war Machine. Now the poet says that There is something that can destroy the Olive Tree. Goats nibble up the leaves of the tree leaving it bare. Sometimes, a man comes across a dead orchard of olive trees that were destroyed by fire or goats  centuries ago. He settles down at that place and fences it. Over some time the stumps of the Dead Olive trees revive again. The family of this man prosper through The Olive oil business. Then again there is a natural calamity of war. Olive orchards might get destroyed and get buried under the ground only to be repaired in another age. This cycle of destruction and renewal goes off endlessly. Socrates who lived a thousand years ago lectured in the Olive tree that lives to this day. In the garden of Gethsemane, Christ spent a night. This poem tells us about the power of nature, no matter how difficult it may be, but nature never ends.This poem tells us that no matter what happens, olive trees are always there. The theme of the poem  is resilience of nature, power of nature, and revival in due course of time. The cycle of nature where death or destruction is followed by birth or revival. 

Summary of the Poem  "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" ( by Neha Kumari 20132)

The poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is written by William Butler Yeats who was one of the greatest modern poets and dramatists. In this poem the poet talks about various things. Firstly in the first stanza, the poet says that he wants to go Innisfree. Then he will build a small room for himself with clay and small sticks that he will use to make walls and fences of the cabin. Also, when he will live there then he will need some food to eat. So, he will grow nine rows of beans near his cabin. Along with that, he will have a beehive to get fresh honey from the beehive. Moreover, the poet says that the open space, where he will build his room will be full of the buzzing source of the bees. There he will live alone in peace and calmness. 

In the second stanza, the poet describes that when in innisfree, he will feel peaceful. And gradually he will feel peaceful as the peace will shower like dew drops from the veil of the morning clouds. When it is cloudy in the morning, the view of the sky is not very clear, then it will appear as if the morning has worn a veil and is hidden. Moreover, looking at this scene makes him feel peaceful. In the midnight, when he sees the twinkling in the night sky, they find him at peace. During the afternoon, when the sunlight gives a purplish glow, which also gives him peace. In the evening, when he sees the linnet bird flying in the sky, then again he feels peaceful. 

In the third stanza, the poet states that now he will take a stance and will go to Innisfree, because all this time the sound of the lake waters striking the shore repeats in his mind. In addition, the sound of the lake attracts him towards the lake. Moreover, whenever he is standing on the roadway or on the grey-colored pavements, he hears the sound in the innermost part of his heart.

Summary of the Poem  "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" ( by Akansha Koundal 20142)

The poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree '' is written by William Butler Yeats. He was an Irish poet. In this poem the poet thinks about various things. He wants to go to Innisfree. There he will build a small room for himself with clay and small sticks that he will use to make walls and fences of the cabin. Also, when he will live there then he will need some food to eat. So, he will grow nine rows of beans near his cabin. Also, he will have a beehive to get fresh honey from the beehive. The poet says that the open area where he will build his room will be full of the buzzing sound of the bees. There he will live alone in peace and calmness. He describes how he feels peaceful. He will have peace of mind. This peace is slow and invisible, descending on his mind from the silence, solitude and natural charms of the dreamy island like dewdrops falling from the sky and settling on the grass. The song of cricket will regale his ears in the morning. He will feast his eyes with the charming beauty of Innisfree at midnight when it looks like a fairyland . The light of moon and stars glimmering through the mist. At noon, the sun casts a purple glow on the island, which invests it with a romantic charm.  The flutter of the wings of the linnet returning home in the evening produces a musical sound that thrills his mind with heavenly pleasure. The poet wants to go to Innisfree without delay, because he hears the lake beating on the shore and making gentle splashing sounds, day and night. Even in the crowd and noisy surroundings of the city life he cherishes within his heart the gentle sound of the lake water striking against the shore. So, he must arise and go to Innisfree. The recurring theme of the poem is the close bond of human beings towards nature and natural phenomena. In the  poem " The Lake Isle of Innisfree" the poet is tired of city life and he wants to spend the rest of his life amidst nature. He believes that nature will provide him peace, stress free,carefree life which will be present in the lake Isle of Innisfree. He will pass his days enjoying the charms and beauties of nature, twinkling dewdrops on the grass, chirping of cricket and the midnight glimmer. He wants to build his home close to nature. Living close to nature will give a shooting effect to the troubled soul. The poem also gives vivid and colourful pictures of nature. They gratify our senses of sight and hearing. It evokes an atmosphere of dreaminess and expresses the poet's desire to escape from city life to the lap of nature in the island of Innisfree. The poet contrasts every aspect of city life with the life in natural surroundings that are full of pleasure, contentment and peace. This is a poem about the value of nature. City life is full of stress, noise and pollution , but in the lap of nature human beings can find peace.

SUMMARY OF THE POEM" REFUGEE MOTHER AND CHILD" BY CHINUA ACHEBE :

                                                             (by Akanksha Koundal 20142)

Chinua Achebe is a great Nigerian novelist,poet  and short story writer. His first novel "Things Fall Apart" has been translated into 45 languages. His poem "Refugee mother and child" is a celebration of motherhood. It is a refugee camp somewhere in Africa. The poet gives us a realistic picture of a mother and her child. Thousands of poor people are thrown out of their homes due to political disturbance or calamities. The refugees are in a miserable condition in the refugee camp. Their children are dying of poverty and diseases. But the poet draws our attention to a particular mother and her child. They are compared with Saint Mary holding infant Jesus Christ in her arms. She  loves her child because Jesus is the saviour of mankind and the son of God. The world worships her and her child. The poet introduces a poor ordinary, unknown mother and child. The mother knows her child is dying slowly. But she still loved her son very much. Other mothers in the camp know this truth about their children and so they are careless about their children. They don't want to waste their time, energy and love for the dying children. It is unprofitable for them. The air was heavy with odours of diarrhoea of unwashed children. But this mother is very different. She is the symbol of motherhood. She loves her child. Her love for him is infinite. She doesn't want anything in return for her love and sacrifice. She combs his rust-coloured dirty hair left on the skull of his head. She carefully parts the hairs as if she were preparing him for school in the morning. She is doing a lot of work including kissing his forehead. It is like an act of putting flowers in his coffin, the last love of a mother to her son. The poet uses 'ghost' and 'rust' as metaphors of death. The mother keeps smiling while combing his hair, because she knows that very soon the child will die. Therefore, he would become the saviour of mankind. But the refugee mother can not be proud of any such achievement of her poor son. His death is not a matter for the world. The refugee mother can not expect anything in return for her sacrifices and maternal love for her poor sick child. Still her love and care continues for him till death. "Refugee Mother and Child" touches our hearts with the mother's love and the compassion enhances the prestige of motherhood. A mother's love is the strongest love no matter what the situation is. God puts certain people in certain situations for a reason. A solution that could resolve scenarios like this is giving back and paying attention more to those who need it instead of wasting the talents and opportunities God has granted us with. One message the reader can take from this poem is to cherish every moment in life. This poem is highly recommended to those who need to wake up to reality and be grateful for what they have.

Summary of Refugee Mother and Child written by Chinua Achebe           (by Neha Kumari 20132) 

The poem "Refugee Mother and Child" has been written by Chinua Achebe. In this poem, the poet presents the sadness of death by creating a tragic atmosphere. In this poem, the poet describes the conditions of the migrant children to their sadness. It is a refugee camp somewhere in Africa. The poet gives us realistic picture of a mother and her child. Hundreds of poor people are thrown out of their homes due to political disturbances or natural calamities. The refugees are in a miserable condition. The children are slowly dying of poverty and diseases. But the poet draws our attention to a particular mother and child. They are compared with St.Mary holding infant Jesus because Jesus is the saviour of mankind and the son of god. The world worships her and her child. The poet introduces a poem or ordinary, unknown mother and child. The mother knows her child is slowly dying. It is of no use caring for him. Other mothers in the camp know this truth about their children and so they are careless about their dying children.  But in this poem, the mother is very different. She is the epitome of motherhood. She loved her child. Her love for him is infinite and divine. She doesn't want anything in return for her love and sacrifice. S his dirty here left on the skull of his head. She carefully parts the hair as if she is preparing him for school in the morning. She is doing a lot of work including kissing his forehead. It was an act of putting flowers in his small coffin. The last love of a mother to her son. The poet uses the words "Ghost" and "rust" as metaphors of death. The mother keeps smiling while combing his hair, because she knows that very soon the child will die. While carrying infant Jesus in her arms, St. Mary knows well that her son will be nailed to the cross for the benefit of humanity. Therefore, he would become the saviour of mankind. But the refugee mother cannot be proud of any such achievement of her poor son. His death is not a matter  for the world. Yet her maternal love for her child surpasses even the love of Madonna for her infant Jesus. The refugee mother can not expect anything in return for her poor Sick child. Still her love and care continues for him till his last breath. The comparison with Madonna and infant Jesus serves to heighten the emotional appeal of the poem. Simple and direct the poem "Refugee Mother and Child" touches our hearts with love and compassion and enhances the dignity of motherhood. 

Theme of the poem:-

The main theme of this poem is mother's love. One proverb that relates to the poem is "love never gets lost, it's only kept". This proverb means love is a feeling you can never get rid of. This proverb relates to the poem with the mother's relationship with her child. Even if the child has passed away, the mother will still always love her child. Mother's love is the strongest love no matter what the situation is. This proverb can also relate to another approver but that is written "love is a painkiller". Mother will go through hell and back for their loved ones no matter what. On the other hand, the second theme of this poem is struggle. A Proof that relates to Achebe's poem is a "United Family Eats from the Same Place". Means regardless of the situation family should always be taken care of. The fact of the matter is family is family. This proverb is related to the poem with the idea of struggle. Four instances in the poem talks about how hungry the children were when they were struggling. Relates because if one person starved, they all starved. Even though they tried their best to survive in their situation it was hard because they were in a Refugee camp.

Summary of the poem "IF" by Rudyard Kipling :   (by Akanksha Koundal)

Rudyard Kipling was a famous British short story writer, novelist and poet. He was born in Bombay butts and Ave. He went to England for his education. This poem is an inspirational poem which tells us how to deal with different situations in life. The poet conveys his idea about how to win this life and how to be a good human being. The poem is written in the form of advice from the father to his son. It is important to remain humble and live with pride. As per the poet, it is important to live with your head up when you are winning no matter when others are losing. It is important to maintain calm and cool if the losers who are unable to keep their heads up, blame you for their loss. One should also keep no place for doubt in their life, no matter whether others are pointing the fingers of doubt. However, just ignoring their belief or doubt is not the solution. The father reveals the secret to his son on how to become a better human being. He motivates him to develop certain  traits in order to succeed in life. Father addresses his son to never give up after failure but to get up, reunite his soul and begin his struggle again. One should always think and analyse the cause of those disbeliefs which others point out. One should also have patience in life and know how to wait since patience is the virtue of success. One should be truthful and not a part of the game of blame and lies. No matter if one is welcomed with hate, but one should try not to give hate in return. Be good to others so that others should not get any opportunity to hate. It is important to be humble, doubt free, keep patience, be truthful and shower love, but in order to achieve these attributes, do not show off. Do not try to look too good or too wise, means do not force yourself on what you are not. Just be yourself and be unique. The poet says that he should dream big but never make the dreams his master. Similarly, he should always think good about the future, goals ; but never make thoughts your aim because in order to succeed in life we have to work hard. Dreaming and thinking will never lead one to the path of success. When a person dreams to achieve his goal, at the same time he should also work hard to achieve the goal. One should treat both these extreme situations with a moderate emotion. The poet advises that one should not be led by the extremities. It is also important not to forget one's part. The way one travels, the journey from ground to sky, involves lots of hardships and tough lessons. The poem talks about being bold. In life, events of gains and losses do come. If in one go, you lose all your money and achievements then you have to start from the very beginning. All the struggle which you did in order to undertake those earnings, you land up at the beginning of that struggle. But you should become humble and not cry about the big loss your suffered. One should have self control and patience so that one builds stamina and will power. It is the will power which can derive your success. No matter if you talk with lots of people, but not try to groof up with them to build a false value or to impress someone. You should maintain the good qualities in you. You should also maintain your simplicity, no matter if you are in the company of high-class people. You should be modest and not influenced by anyone, neither by your friends nor by your enemies. You should be forgiving of nature. If you keep and imbibe all these attributes in your life, you will be the king of yourself, untouched by any harm. You will be the winner of all the powers on this mother earth. You will become a real man of virtue.