PRACTICE 1

A Fighters Lines
I am old and worn
and have lost all my strength
sufferings
and the history of the fight for independence
have forced sacrifices
that know no name
or life

from the wheelchair of the rest of my days

I, body and energy crushed
see and cannot do much
these times are too big a challenge
for the remnants of my crippled years
the net of deceit spread everywhere
disturbs me

In the name of justice

Wake up and form ranks sons of our ancestor
Be brave
And erect a wall of people
Stand up heirs of our freedom

I have no more voice

It is you now who should speak!
Marzuki Ali

1. Who is the persona in the poem?

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1. (a) What does the word history in line 4 refer to?
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(b) Why does the persona feel helpless?
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PRACTICE 2
LEISURE
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beautys glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
William Henry Davies
1. What or who is the poet referring to when he used the word
Beauty?
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1. Explain in your own words what is meant in the first two lines of the
poem.

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PRACTICE 3
A Fighters Lines (stanzas one and two)
I am old and worn
and have lost all my strength
sufferings
and the history of the fight for independence
have forced sacrifices
that know no name
or life

from the wheelchair of the rest of my days

I, body and energy crushed
see and cannot do much
these times are too big a challenge
for the remnants of my crippled years
the net of deceit spread everywhere
disturbs me
Marzuki Ali
1. What kind of tone do you sense from the first two stanzas?
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1. (a) Why does the persona feel helpless?
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(b) Describe what the poet means by the last two lines in stanza 2.
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PRACTICE 4
LEISURE
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beautys glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
William Henry Davies
1. Identify a line that demonstrates interactions with nature.
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1. (a) Which phrase is repeated all over the poem?
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(b) Explain what is indicated by this repetition.
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PRACTICE 5
A Fighters Lines
I am old and worn
and have lost all my strength
sufferings
and the history of the fight for independence
have forced sacrifices
that know no name
or life

from the wheelchair of the rest of my days

I, body and energy crushed
see and cannot do much
these times are too big a challenge
for the remnants of my crippled years
the net of deceit spread everywhere
disturbs me

In the name of justice

Wake up and form ranks sons of our ancestor
Be brave
And erect a wall of people
Stand up heirs of our freedom

I have no more voice

It is you now who should speak!
Marzuki Ali
1. What does the phrase a wall refers to?
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1. (a) Who is referred to by the pronoun you in the last line?
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(b)What message is the poet trying to spread? Explain
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PRACTICE 6
LEISURE
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beautys glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
William Henry Davies
1. What is implied by the word Leisure as used in the poem?
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1. Explain what the poet meant by the last two lines.

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ANSWERS:
PRACTICE 1
1. A soldier
1. (a)The war fought for independence
(b) He has been injured due to his involvement in the war for
independence. Now he is old and disabled and cannot do much to free his
country from new challenges. He still cares for the country but unable to
fight as he used to do.
PRACTICE 2
1. Nature
1. The poet questions the purpose of a life which is so full of worry that
it does not allow us any time to simply stand still and watch the
world go by. We should take the time to recognize the world around
us and see whats going on. One day we might have something or
someone, and the next their gone.
PRACTICE 3
1. In the Stanzas 1 and 2, the persona enhances the tone of frustration
as he shares his disabilities and weariness of not being able to fight
for the country anymore.
1. (a) He is old and disabled
(b) He voices out the problem encountered by the younger generation
nowadays. He implies how the modern generation deceives each other
and how the deceit is being spread day by day and it obviously bothers
him.
PRACTICE 4
1. Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
1. (a) No time

(b) The repetition is an indication of mankinds dilemma. We merely go on

with our fast paced lives as though nature is nothing special, when in
reality it is a magnificent creation like a work of art hanging in a museum.
PRACTICE 5
1. United population. In order to fight for our freedom, first we have
to be united.
1. (a) younger generation
(b) We must defend our independence after the hardships that our late
warriors had been through as they sacrificed themselves to grant us the
peace that we are able to enjoy now. With all of our efforts, we must work
hard to retain it.
PRACTICE 6
1. Time spent enjoying simple beauties cherished and regarded as a
forgotten pastime.
1. The fever and fret of worldly responsibilities deprives man of sweet
moments of leisure and rest. If human life is nothing but painful
cares and worries, then it is really poor and miserable. Man should
give as much importance to pleasure and peace of mind as to the
earning of money to raise his status.