Meeting Poets | Poem 8 | English 8th | Tulip Series | (Eunice de Souza)

Poems – Tulip Series | jandkncert |

Meeting Poets | Poem 8 | English 8th | Tulip Series |

(Eunice de Souza)

Meeting Poets

Meeting poets, I am disconcerted sometimes:

By the colour of their socks,

The suspicion of a wig,

The wasp in the voice,

And an air, sometimes of dankness.

 

Best to meet in poems:

Cool speckled shells

In which one hears

A sad but distant sea.

(Eunice de Souza)

 

Short Summary

"Meeting Poets" by Eunice de Souza is a reflective poem that explores the speaker's encounters with various poets. The speaker describes interacting with poets who are often self-absorbed, pretentious, or disconnected from everyday life. Despite the speakers' admiration for the poets' work, they find themselves disillusioned by the poets' attitudes and behaviors. The poem captures the disconnect between the idealized image of poets and the reality of their personalities. Ultimately, "Meeting Poets" offers a wry commentary on the complexities of human nature and the gap between artistic inspiration and personal character.

THINKING ABOUT THE POEM

Q1. Why is the poet confused when she meets poets?

Ans. When the poet meets the poets she is confused to see the different appearance of their socks, suspicious wigs on their heads and bitterness and unpleasantness in their voice while they talk.

Q2. What is the best way to know poets?

Ans. Best way to know poet is to read their poem in which they write their feelings with sadness and pleasures.

Q3. What does the poet compare the poets with?

Ans. The poet compares the poets with the shells covered with cool speckles with sad voices but less friendly.

Q4. Explain the phrase – ‘wasp in the voice’.

Ans. ‘Wasp’ is a flying insect. There is bitterness in its sting. So ‘wasp in the voice’ in the poem indicates the bitterness in the voice.

LANGUAGE WORK

Write the Denotative and connotative meaning of the following words from the poem:

Colour             appearance                  disorderliness, shabbiness

Suspicion         not trustworthy           artificial

Dankness         humid, moisture          unpleasantness

Cool                not warm                     calm, not excitable

Speckled         spotted                                    imagery, false appearance

Distant                        far away                      not friendly

Let’s Talk

Poets are awkward people. They live and behave differently, but their poetry is beautiful. Form groups and discuss whether it is true about all poets.

Answer:

It is often said that poets are awkward or different in their behaviour because they see the world from a unique perspective. They observe small things deeply, think emotionally, and express feelings that others might not notice. This may make them appear unusual in their habits or lifestyle. However, it is not true about all poets. Many poets live simple, normal lives while creating beautiful poetry. Their creativity does not always make them awkward—it just means they think in a more thoughtful, sensitive way. Some poets are quiet, while others are friendly and social. What matters most is the beauty and depth of their poetry, not how they behave in daily life. So, while some poets may live differently, it is not true for every poet.

 

Let’s Write

1. You must have read about the life and poetry of various poets. Choose your favourite poet and write about his life and poetry in about 150 - 200 words.

Answer:

Rabindranath Tagore was a famous Indian poet, writer, and philosopher. He was born on 7th May 1861 in Kolkata. Tagore is best known for his poetry collection Gitanjali, which won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. His poems reflect deep thoughts about nature, life, love, and spirituality. He wrote in both Bengali and English. Tagore was not only a poet but also a social reformer, painter, and educationist. He founded Visva-Bharati University at Santiniketan to promote learning beyond classroom walls. His poems are simple yet full of meaning, touching people’s hearts. Famous poems like “Where the mind is without fear” show his love for freedom and peace. Tagore’s songs, known as Rabindra Sangeet, are still popular today. His poetry inspires people to live with kindness, courage, and a love for nature.

 

2. Write a personality profile of any local poet Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor.

Answer:

Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor, also known as the “Poet of Kashmir,” was a famous Kashmiri poet and social reformer. He was born in 1885 in Mitrigam, Pulwama district, Kashmir. Mahjoor’s poetry mainly focused on love, freedom, nature, and social awakening. He introduced new styles to Kashmiri poetry, moving beyond traditional religious themes and focusing on everyday life, nature, and human emotions. His simple language and meaningful verses made his poetry popular among both common people and scholars. Mahjoor’s poems inspired the people of Kashmir to think about progress, unity, and self-respect. His famous works include poems like “Walo Ho Baaghawano,” which speaks about the beauty of nature. Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor is remembered not just as a poet, but as a voice for change and peace in Kashmiri society.