Form5 literature booklet with remarks(1)

What we learn in pleasure, we never forget Page | 1

POEMS:

In the Midst of Hardship

He Had Such Quite Eyes

Nature

Are You Still Playing the

Flute

POEMS:

In the Midst of Hardship

He Had Such Quite Eyes

Nature

Are You Still Playing the

Flute

Prepared by: MADAM K SMAMAM(2011)

In The Midst Of HarshipBy: Latiff Mohiddin

Lines from the poem Literal Meaning Figurative Meaning Remarks

At dawn they returned hometheir soaky clothes tornand approached the stovetheir limbs marked by scratchestheir legs full of woundsbut on their browsthere was no sign of despair

The family returns home early in the morning, soaked to the skin.They have scratches and wounds on their hands and legs. They do not look depressed or disturbed after what they have just gone through.

As we journey through life, we may experience situations that are painful and challenging.Despite these challenges, we should not despair.We should face hardships with courage.

The whole day and night just passedthey had to brave the horrendous floodin the water all the timebetween bloated carcassesand tiny chips of tiny barksdesperately looking for their son’salbino buffalo that was never found

They have been out the whole day and night.They have trudged through the floodwater which is full of twigs, branches and dead animals.They are looking for their son’s albino buffalo. However, they do not find it.

Our journey through life may be troubled and we may face obstacles and tragic losses along the way.



They were born amidst hardshipand grew up without a sigh or a complaintnow they are in the kitchen, makingjokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

Although they have been poor from birth and have experienced a lot of hardships, they have grown up without regrets.They are now relaxing in the kitchen, cracking jokes and preparing to have a smoke.

We may be born in to a life of hardship, but that does not mean that we should live in despair.We should learn how to cope with the difficulties we face, instead of dwelling too much on them.


He Had Such Quite EyesBy: Bibsy Soenharjo


He had such quiet eyesShe did not realiseThey were two pools of liesLayered with thinnest iceTo her, those quiet eyesWere breathing desolate sighsImploring her to be niceAnd to render him paradise

When the persona looked into the young man’s sincere-looking eyes, she was deceived into thinking that he needed someone to love.She was not aware that betrayal was second nature to him.His eyes even made her feel compelled to be “nice” to him.

Meeting people and getting involved in a social relationship is part and parcel of life.However, along the way, we may meet two-faced people with ulterior motives.Sometimes, they may across as so sincere that we innocently accept them as their friends or partners.

If only she’d been wiseAnd had listened to the adviceNever to compromiseWith pleasure-seeking guysShe’d be free from “the hows and whys”

When the persona was betrayed by the man, she wondered why she had not been wiser.She should have remembered the advice of not believing men blindly.If she had held on to her principles, she would not be asking herself why she had been cheated.

Social relationships can turn sour if one party betrays the other. Hence, one should be careful on the other party’s motives.In any case, do not compromise your principles, as someone who is sincere would not force you into giving up your morals.



Now here’s a bit of adviceBe sure that nice really means niceThen you’ll never be losing at diceThough you may lose your heart once or twice

The poet advises young ladies to be more careful before getting involved in relationships with men. They must make sure that they know the men well. They should learn to differentiate between sincerity and falsehood.They eventually meet the right man, though they may lose their hearts a few times before that.

It is always good to be cautions before committing to a relationship to avoid serious consequences.You have to make sure you can trust the person you befriend. Do not gamble with your affections, even you fall in love.


NatureBy: H.D Carberry


We have neither Summer nor Winter Neither Autumn nor Spring.

Lines 1 – 2Jamaica does not have the four seasons of summer, spring, autumn and winter.

Lines 1 – 2It may seem that we do not have the same things in life.

We have instead the daysWhen the gold sun shines on the lush green canefields -Magnificently.

Lines 3 – 5It has instead the days when the weather is very hot and the sun shines brightly on the rich green fields of sugarcane.

Lines 3 – 5But we do have good times when everything is bright and cheerful.

The days when the rain beats like bullets on the roofsAnd there is no sound but the swish of water in the gulliesAnd trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds.

Lines 6 – 8There are days when the rain comes down in heavily and beats forcefully on the roofs of houses.No other sound is heard except for the sound of water flowing in the gullies. The trees have to struggle against the strong winds to remain standing.

Lines 6 – 8There may be days when life becomes tough and seems difficult to deal with.



Also there are the days when leaves fade from off guango treesAnd the reaped canefields lie bare and fallow to the sun.

Lines 9 – 10At other times, tress shed their leaves and the field which have been harvested are left bare.

Lines 9 – 10There will be times when certain things go beyond our control and we have no choice but to let them be.

But best of all there are the days when the mango and the logwood blossomWhen the bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey,When the tall grass sways and shivers to the slightest breath of air, When the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow starsAnd beauty comes suddenly and the rains have gone.

Lines 11 – 15The best days are when Earth is alive again.Fruit trees, like the mango and logwood, bloom and the bushes are full of bees and the fragrance of honey. The grass grows tall and moves to the slightest breeze. The fields are covered with yellow buttercups that look like shinning stars and nature bursts with beauty after rainy days have gone.

Lines 11 – 15But we will also get the chance to experience the best times of our life. We have go through bad days in order to appreciate the good days.When these good moments occur, everything goes right and we enjoy life to the fullest.Then, we realize that everyone is actually getting the same things in life, only in different ways.


Are You Still Playing Your Flute?By: Zurinah Hassan


Are you still playing your flute?When there is hardly time for our loveI am feeling guiltyTo be longing for your songThe melody concealed in slim hollow of the bambooUncovered by the breath of an artistComposed by his fingersBlown by the windTo the depth of my heart

The persona wonders whether the person she is thinking of is still playing his flute.She feels guilty for wanting to hear his song, a song that is composed when he blows on the bamboo instrument, a song that touches her heart.

*The flute refers to the customs and traditions in our life. The flute is made of bamboo and is played by blowing into it and using one’s finger to create a melody, thus representing all that is natural and untainted.The persona is feeling guilty for longing for her previous life that was filled with values and traditions.

Are you still playing your flute?In the village so quiet and desertedAmidst the sick rice fieldWhile here it has become a luxury

The persona wonders, in a more questioning tone, whether the person is still playing his flute.The paddy fields and village where he stays are now deserted.

The persona wonders if the values and traditions in her village are being upheld now that many people have left the place.At her current place, she finds life passing by quickly and there is hardly time for her to enjoy the



To spend time watching the rainGazing at the evening raysCollecting dew dropsOr enjoying the fragrance of flowers.

Meanwhile, the persona is in a place where she finds it is difficult to enjoy her surrounding beauty.

simple pleasures of life.

Are you still playing the flute?The more it disturbs my conscienceto be thinking of youin the hazard of youmy younger brothers are unemployed and desperatemy people disunited by politicsmy friend slaughtered mercilesslyThis world is too old and bleeding.

The persona wonders, this time with a slight urgency, whether the person is still playing his flute.The memory of him is disturbing her conscience.At the same time, she is worried about her brothers who are jobless, her friend who was killed and the political situation in the country that has divided her people.

The persona feels uncomfortable that she keeps thinking about trivial matters such as customs traditions and her village when at present, troubles abound. There are unemployment, disharmony and merciless killings. She feels the world is changing for the worse.


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