A Sindhi Woman

Jan Stallworthy
Context:
This is a symbolic and thought-provoking poem. While describing the beautiful gait of a
Sindhi woman, the poet has highlighted the dignity of labour. He has paid a glowing
tribute to work. He seems to suggest that work brings symmetry and beauty in life. Those
who learn to carry the weight are least bothered by the obstacles of life. Moreover,
physical labour gives vitality and strength to human body. On the other hand, those who
are not habitual of work become old before time. He also depicts a realistic picture of a
Karachi slum. He concludes that only hard work and steadfastness can lend grace to life.
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet presents the Sindhi women as a symbol of hard work and dignity.
In spite of being a poor woman she believes in hard work and self-esteem. The poet pays
a rich tribute to work. He conveys the message that hardships should be faced with
patience and dignity.
Times
Tanakh Bible from Ecclesiastes
Context:
Times emphasized the importance of time. He says that everything happens at an
appropriate time. Time bring beauty and symmetry in life. Everything in the universe
observes time limits. This observance of time brings harmony and unity. If there had been
no such observance of time there would have been chaos and disorder in the universe.
We should also heed and follow time to move our life symmetrical and balanced
Explanation:
These are simple and very musical lines. In these lines, the poet highlights the importance
of time. He says that everything happens at an apposite time. Nothing takes place out of
position in this world. Everything Is scheduled according to a specific time. We can make
our life happy and satisfied by following the plan of nature.
Ozymandias
Percy Bysshe Shelly
Context:
Ozymandias is a symbolic and thought-provoking poem. While describing the miserable
plight of the king’s statue, the poet has severely debunked pride and arrogance. He seems
to suggest that these are such nefarious feelings as are imprinted on man’s face forever.
The poet wants to convey that we should be gregarious and courteous in our dealings
with others so that we might be remembered in good words when we will be no more in
this world.
Explanation:
In these ironic lines the poet highlights the concept that all the feelings of pride and
superiority in humans are only illusion. The broken statue conveys a very clear message
that “pride hath a fall”. The poet strongly condemns the degenerate feelings of pride,
narcissism and snobbishness. The poet wants to convey the message that we should be
courteous and humble in our dealings.
The feed
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi
Context:
This is a symbolic and thought-provoking poem. While describing a mother’s love for her
young ones, the poet has highlighted the dominating poverty and over population in the
world. He seems to suggest that the available resources are not sufficient to feed the
ever-increasing population in the world. Moreover, the world powers are whiling away
their energies in splitting the atom and inventing modern weapon which only bring ruin
in the world. He has emphasized the need of utilizing our potential in alleviating poverty
and increasing production of food.
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet keenly observes the movement and gestures of the mother
sparrow and her children. He conveys his observation in a simple and vivid language. The
poet pays a rich tribute to the pure, eternal and immortal love of a mother. The poet has
symbolically expressed the difficulties and hardships of a poor family.
The Hollow
Thomas Stearns Eliot
Context:
This is a symbolic and thought-provoking poem. In this poem the poet wants to say that
human beings have become soul less. They try to depend upon each other but they can
not make a society. All their efforts are like the running of rats or the rustling of grass.
We do have shapes inside there is nothing. We only seem to be walking souls but
actually we are not even that. The poet seems to suggest that the modern man is raising
only slogans and do nothing too give concrete shape to their intentions because their
minds are filled with rubbish ideas. He also suggests that our forefathers were practical
in their doings
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet depicts a true picture of a barren and desolate society of the
modern age. The Poet declares modern era as a “Waste Land”. The modern man lacks
wisdom and his mind is stuffed with worthless straw. Modern age is an era of
Materialism which stuffed our souls with greediness and selfishness. These two evils of
modern epoch have made us inwardly hollow and shallow. The poet has used beautiful
similes to convey his meanings to us.
Leisure
William Henry Davies
This is symbolic and thought-provoking poem. The poet seems to criticize the modern men who are
terrible engrossed in worldly pursuits. He wants to convey that the man of today is so absorbed in
amassing wealth he has no spare time to enjoy the beauties of nature which are present all around us.
Nature is so abundant and captivating that it can not be described in words. The poet has emphasized
the need of spare time to enjoy the alluring sights of nature to get an escape from the hectic routine of
life