A Dawn Song - Ezra Pound | BOSEM Class 9 English Literature Reader

Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM)

Class: IX
English Literature Reader (Poetry)
Chapter: 7

A Dawn Song

Ezra Pound

A Dawn Song by Ezra Pound
God hath put me here
In earth's goodly sphere
To sing the joy of the day,
A strong glad song,
If the road be long,
To my fellows in the way.

So I make my song of the good glad light
That falls from the gate of the sun,
And the clear cool wind that bloweth good
To my brother Everyone.

Substance/Summary of the Poem

In this poem, the speaker feels that God has placed him on Earth to celebrate and sing about the beauty of the day. The poet expresses his intention to create a joyful and uplifting song, even if the journey ahead is challenging, to share with his fellow travellers. The speaker sings about the bright light from the sun and the refreshing wind that is beneficial to everyone.

Detailed Analysis of the Poem

The lines of the poem convey a deep sense of purpose and gratitude as the speaker reflects on his role in the world and his connection to nature and humanity.

"God hath put me here": The speaker acknowledges a divine presence in his life and feels a sense of purpose and placement on Earth. This line reflects the speaker's belief that they have been placed in this world for a specific reason.

"In earth's goodly sphere": The speaker acknowledges the beauty and goodness of the Earth, emphasising that it is a place of wonder and abundance.

"To sing the joy of the day, A strong glad song": The speaker expresses his desire to celebrate and express joy through his song. He intends to create a powerful, uplifting song that reflects the beauty and positivity of each day.

"If the road be long, To my fellows in the way": The speaker acknowledges the potential challenges ahead but remains committed to sharing his song with others who are also on life's journey. This line conveys a sense of solidarity and support for his fellow travellers.

"So I make my song of the good glad light That falls from the gate of the sun": Here, the speaker describes the inspiration for his song, drawing from the imagery of the warm, bright light that emanates from the sun. This light symbolises positivity and hope.

"And the clear cool wind that bloweth good To my brother Everyone": The speaker further emphasises the positive elements of nature by mentioning the clear, cool wind that brings goodness to everyone. This line reflects the speaker's desire to share joy and positivity with all people, symbolised by the reference to "brother Everyone."

Overall, the lines of the poem convey a message of purpose, joy, and interconnectedness. The speaker is inspired by the beauty of the Earth and seeks to share his uplifting song with others, regardless of the challenges they may face. The imagery of light and wind serves as powerful symbols of positivity and shared experience, reinforcing the speaker's intent to spread joy to those around them.

Solved Textual Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following in a sentence each.

1. Where has God put the poet?

Ans.: - God has put the poet in this beautiful earth.

2. What opinion does the poet have about the earth?

Ans.: - The speaker acknowledges the beauty and goodness of the Earth, emphasising that it is a place of wonder and abundance.

3. 'If the road be long'
What does 'road' signify here?

Ans.: - 'Road' here signifies the journey of life.

4. What is the 'source' of the poet's song?

Ans.: - The poet's song originates from God and the splendid creations of God, such as the gentle warmth of the sun and the refreshing coolness of the wind.

5. Identify 'brother' in the last line.

Ans.: - 'Brother' in the last line of the poem refers to everyone on earth.

II. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What is the purpose of the poet's life, according to him?

Ans.: - The poet recognises the existence of a divine presence in their life and experiences a profound sense of purpose and belonging on Earth. He believes that he has been placed in this world to rejoice in and express the beauty of each day, and to convey this joy to his fellow human beings.

2. What is the poet's attitude to life?

Ans.: - The poet expresses his heartfelt thanks to God for placing him on earth and desires to make a positive contribution to humanity. He aims to achieve this by using his uplifting songs to guide his fellow human beings through life's journey.

3. What kind of song is the poet going to sing?

Ans.: - The poet conveys his desire to compose a cheerful and inspiring song, which he aims to share with his fellow human beings as they navigate life's difficulties. He plans to do so by singing songs about the radiant sunshine and the invigorating breeze.

4. "...the clean cool wind that bloweth good." Explain.

Ans.: - The speaker highlights the positive aspects of nature by referring to the refreshing, brisk wind that brings goodness to all. This statement conveys the speaker's wish to spread joy and positivity to everyone, as symbolised by the mention of "brother Everyone" in the subsequent line.

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