Wrinkles | Poem 7 | English 8th | Tulip Series | (Arvind)

Poems – Tulip Series | jandkncert |

Wrinkles | Poem 7|English 8th | Tulip Series |
(Arvind)

Wrinkles

My mother

Making bold today

I begin to count

Wrinkles on your face

 

One wrinkle

Of the time

When your father

Uprooted you

 

From the backyard

Of his house

To plant you

In the courtyard of others

 

One wrinkle

Of that time

When I nourished myself

On your blood

And grew

In your womb

 

Another wrinkle

When I sucked

From your breast

The comeliness of your face

 

Still another wrinkle

When a girl

Too me away

From you

 

Mother, my mother

Taking courage,

In my hands today

I’m seeking

Under the skin of your wrinkles

A girl

 

Who was suppressed,

Who celebrated raade festival

With fondness,

Who went to the Tawi,

To immerse raade seedlings

And bathe during the Nvaratras,

Who played hopscotch

And the game of pebbles.

 

I’ll bring for you

Everything:

Colours for raade,

Tinsel for your dupatta,

 

Colourful pebbles

From across the Tawi,

Become that girl,

Mother,

Just for a day.

 

Short Summary

"Wrinkles" by Arvind is a poignant poem that reflects on the passage of time and the memories etched on a mother's face through the wrinkles. The speaker, presumably the poet's child, observes the wrinkles on their mother's face and begins to recount the events and experiences that have contributed to each line. These wrinkles represent significant moments in the mother's life, such as being uprooted from her home, nurturing her child, and facing separation from loved ones. The speaker expresses a desire to bring back the youthful spirit and joy of their mother's past, seeking to recreate moments of happiness and freedom that have been overshadowed by the responsibilities of motherhood. Overall, "Wrinkles" celebrates the resilience and sacrifices of mothers while also acknowledging their longing for the carefree days of youth.

THINKING ABOUT THE POEM

Q1. How many wrinkles does the poet find on mother’s face?

Ans. If we read the poem carefully, we will see that the poet has used the word “wrinkle” four times and “wrinkles” two times. So we can say that the poet has found four wrinkles on the mother’s face. Since the poet has written the last wrinkle as suppression, so there may be five wrinkles on the mother's face.

Q2. What does the first wrinkle represent?

Ans. The first wrinkle represents the marriage of his mother when her father got her married and she was separated from her birth home to another’s home where she had to live her entire life with an unknown person.

Q3. What do the second and the third wrinkle represent?

Ans. The second wrinkle represents the time when the child was not born and was in the womb of the mother growing there by sucking every drop of blood in the form of mother’s food.

The third wrinkle represents the time when he sucked the attractiveness of her face by sucking her milk from her breasts.

Q4. What is the poet seeking under the wrinkles of the mother?

Ans. Under the wrinkle of the mother, the poet is seeking a young aged girl who is fond of playing hopscotch and the game of pebbles.

Q5. What are the activities the poet’s mother used to do when she was a girl?

Ans. When the poet’s mother was a girl, she used to celebrate Raade Festival and immerse Raade seedlings in River Tawi. She used to bath during the Navratras and was fond of playing hopscotch and the game of pebbles.

Q6. How does the poem end?

Ans. The poem ends with the poet saying that he will bring colours of Raade, colourful stripes for his mother’s dupatta and colourful pebbles for his mother so that his mother would look like a girl as she was in a young age. He wishes to bring the happiness and pleasures of her young age so that she would be happy as she used to be in her young age.

LANGUAGE WORK

Write the meaning of the following phrases or expression as used in the poem:

Ans. 1. From the backyard to separate someone from his/her birthplace or quietly

2. On your blood to feed on the digested food, to make the host of someone.

3. Nourished myself to grow or develop own self

4. Took me away  to take someone away from the close one or separate someone from a dear one.

5. Taking courage being courageous

6. Under the skin beneath or below age, or feel or see something

7. From across the river to a long-distance, with hard work.

Let’s Talk

Discuss in the class our responsibilities towards our homes.

Answer:

We all have important responsibilities towards our homes to keep them clean, peaceful, and well-maintained. Every family member should contribute in some way—helping with household chores like cleaning, arranging things properly, and saving electricity and water. Respecting parents and elders is also part of our responsibility. We should avoid wasting food, damaging furniture, or creating unnecessary mess. Protecting the environment around our home, such as keeping the surroundings clean and planting trees, is also important. If something needs repair, we should inform elders instead of ignoring it. Simple acts like keeping our books and belongings in place, helping siblings with studies, and behaving politely add to a positive environment. A home becomes a happy place only when everyone in the family shares responsibilities with honesty and care.

 

Let’s Write

1. 'Paradise lies beneath the feet of mother'. Sum up the idea in a brief paragraph.

The saying "Paradise lies beneath the feet of mother" highlights the great respect and value given to a mother in our lives. It means that serving, obeying, and caring for our mother leads to true happiness and blessings in this world and the hereafter. A mother sacrifices her comfort, time, and energy to raise her children with love and patience. By respecting her, helping her in daily tasks, and never hurting her feelings, we earn her prayers and God's mercy. Her role is so important that our success and peace are linked to her happiness. Thus, honouring and looking after our mother is not just a duty but a path to paradise.

2. Write a brief profile of your mother.

My mother is a kind, caring, and hardworking woman who plays an important role in my life. Her name is ___________ (you can fill in the name). She is about _______ years old and is both gentle and strong. She manages our home with love and patience, taking care of everyone’s needs. My mother is good at cooking and keeps our home clean and organized. Along with her household duties, she also helps me with my studies and always gives me good advice. She teaches me good manners, honesty, and kindness towards others. In her free time, she enjoys reading and gardening. No matter how busy or tired she is, she always makes time for the family. Her love and support make me feel safe and confident. Truly, she is the most important and respected person in my life.