By-William Wordsworth
A simple Child,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?
I met a little cottage Girl:
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered round her head.
She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad:
Her eyes were fair, and very fair;
- Her beauty made me glad.
“Sisters and brothers, little Maid,
How many may you be?”
“How many? Seven in all,” she said,
And wondering looked at me.
“And where are they? I pray you tell.”
She answered, “Seven are we;
And two of us at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea.
“Two of us in the church-yard lie,
My sister and my brother;
And, in the church-yard cottage, I
Dwell near them with my mother.”
“You say that two at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea,
Yet ye are seven! I pray you tell,
Sweet Maid, how this may be.”
Then did the little Maid reply,
“Seven boys and girls are we;
Two of us in the church-yard lie,
Beneath the church-yard tree.”
“You run about, my little Maid,
Your limbs they are alive;
If two are in the church-yard laid,
Then ye are only five.”
“Their graves are green, they may be seen,”
The little Maid replied,
“Twelve steps or more from my mother’s door,
And they are side by side.
“My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit,
And sing a song to them.
“And often after sun-set, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer,
And eat my supper there.
“The first that dies was sister Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,
Till God released her of her pain;
And then she went away.
“So in the church-yard she was laid;
And, when the grass was dry,
Together round her grave we played,
My brother John and I.
“And when the ground was white with snow,
And I could run and slide,
My brother John was forced to go,
And he lies by her side.”
“How many are you, then,” said I,
“If they two are in heaven?”
Quick was the little Maid’s reply,
“O Master! we are seven.”
“But they are dead; those two are dead !
Their spirits are in heaven!”
’Twas throwing words away; for still
The little Maid would have her will,
And said, “Nay, we are seven!”
Meaning
Lightly- ସ୍ୱାଭାବିକ ଭାବରେ draws-ନିଏ Breath-ନିଶ୍ୱାସ ପ୍ରଶ୍ୱାସ
Limb- ଅଙ୍ଗ cottage-କୁଡ଼ିଆ ଘର thick-ମୋଟା
many a curl-ଅଧିକ କୁଞ୍ଚକୁଞ୍ଚିଆ clustered- ଗୁଚ୍ଛ rustic- ଗ୍ରାମ୍ୟ
woodland-ଜଙ୍ଗଲଭୂମି air-ଭାବଭଙ୍ଗୀ wildly-ଅସଜଡ଼ା ଭାବରେ
clad-ପିନ୍ଧିଥିବା ପୋଷାକ fair-ସୁନ୍ଦର glad-ଖୁସି
maid-ବାଳିକା wondering-ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ ହେବା Conway- ଏକ ସ୍ଥାନର ନାମ
dwell-ବାସ କରିବା church-yard- ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚର କବର ଖାନା beneath-ତଳେ
laid-ରଖାଯାଇଛି stockings-ମୋଜା graves-କବରଗୁଡିକ
often-ବାରମ୍ବାର knit-ବୁଣିବା kerchief-ରୁମାଲ
ye-ତୁମେ hem-ସିଲେଇ କରିବା porringer- ତାଟିଆ (ଝୋଳ ପିଇବା ପାତ୍ର)
supper-ରାତ୍ରୀ ଭୋଜନ Jane- ଛୋଟ ଝିଅର ଭଉଣୀର ନାମ moaning-ଦୁଃଖରେ କାନ୍ଦିବା
released-ମୁକ୍ତ କଲେ pain-ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣା went away- ମରିଗଲା
snow- ତୁଷାରପାତ slide-ଖସିଗଲା forced to go-ମରିଗଲା
spirits- ଆତ୍ମା heaven- ସ୍ୱର୍ଗ lies-ପୋତାହୋଇଛି
twas-ଯେପରିକି throwing words away- ବେପରୁଆ ଭାବରେ କହିବା
nay-ନା would have will-ତା' ନିଜ ଇଛାରେ
Description in Odia
କବି ପ୍ରଥମ ପଦରେ ଏକ ଗ୍ରାମ୍ୟ ସରଳ ପିଲା ବିଷୟରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରିଛନ୍ତି | ସରଳ ପିଲାଟି ସ୍ୱାଭାବିକ ଭାବରେ ଶ୍ୱାସକ୍ରିୟା କରେ ଓ ଚଳଚଞ୍ଚଳ ଏବଂ ସତେଜ ଦେଖାଯାଏ ଏବଂ ତା'ର ଅଙ୍ଗପ୍ରତ୍ୟଙ୍ଗରୁ ଚଳଚଞ୍ଚଳ ଜଣାପଡ଼େ | ତା'ର ଶାରୀରିକ ଭାବଭଙ୍ଗୀରୁ ସେ ସରଳ ପ୍ରକୃତିର ଜଣାପଡ଼େ ଓ ତା'ର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ ଧାରଣା ଭିନ୍ନ ଅଟେ | ଜଣେ ବୟସ୍କ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୟ ଧାରଣା ଜଣେ ପିଲାଠାରୁ କିପରି ଭିନ୍ନ ତାହା କବି ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରିଛନ୍ତି |
କବି ଜଣେ ଛୋଟ ଝିଅଟିକୁ ଭେଟିଲେ | ସେ ଥିଲା ଆଠ ବର୍ଷର | ତା'ର ମୁଣ୍ଡ ବାଳ ଗହଳିଆ ଆଉ କୁଞ୍ଚକୁଞ୍ଚିଆ ହୋଇ ମୁଣ୍ଡ ଚାରିପଟେ ଗୁଡ଼େଇ ହୋଇଥିଲା | ତା'ର ଭାବଭଙ୍ଗୀ ଗ୍ରାମ୍ୟ ବନବାସୀ ପରି ଥିଲା | ସେ ଅସଜଡ଼ା ଭାବରେ ପୋଷାକ ପିନ୍ଧିଥିଲା | ତା'ର ଆଖି ଦୁଇଟି ସୁନ୍ଦର ଥିଲା | ଝିଅଟିର ସୌନ୍ଦର୍ଯ୍ୟ କବିଙ୍କୁ ଆନନ୍ଦିତ ଆଉ ଆକର୍ଷିତ କରିଥିଲା |
କବି ଝିଅଟିକୁ ତା'ର ଭାଇ ଓ ଭଉଣୀମାନଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ ପଚାରିଲେ | ଝିଅଟି ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲା ଯେ ସେମାନେ ସମୁଦାୟ 7 ଜଣ ଓ ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରି କବିଙ୍କୁ ଚାହିଁଲା | କବି ତା'ର ଭାଇ ଓ ଭଉଣୀଙ୍କ ଠିକଣା ବିଷୟରେ ତା' ଠାରୁ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ଚାହିଁଲେ | ସେ ଝିଅଟି କହିଲା ଦୁଇଜଣ କନୱେ ସହରରେ ଅଛନ୍ତି, ଦୁଇଜଣ ସମୁଦ୍ରକୁ ଯାଇଛନ୍ତି ଆଉ ଦୁଇଜଣ ମୃତ ଓ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚ ରେ ଥିବା କବରଖାନାରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ପୋତାଯାଇଛି ଏବଂ ସେ ତାର ମା'ଙ୍କ ସହିତ ରହୁଛି |
ଝିଅଟିର ଉତ୍ତରରେ କବିଙ୍କର ହୃଦବୋଧ ହେଲା ନାହିଁ | ଯଦି ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଦୁଇଜଣ ମୃତ ତେବେ କିପରି ଏହା ସାତ ହେବ | ସେ ପୁଣି ଝିଅଟିକୁ ସେ ଯାହା କହିଥିଲା ମାନେ ପକାଇ ଦେବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କଲେ | କବି ଝିଅଟିକୁ ପଚାରିଲେ ଯେ ସେ ତାଙ୍କୁ କହିଲା ଦୁଇଜଣ କନୱେ ରେ ରହୁଛନ୍ତି ଓ ଦୁଇଜଣ ସମୁଦ୍ରକୁ ଯାଇଛନ୍ତି | ତଥାପି ସେମାନେ ସାତ ଜଣ | ଏହା କିପରି ହେବ ? ସେ ବାଳିକାଟିକୁ ଆଉଥରେ କହିବାକୁ ଅନୁରୋଧ କଲେ | ତା'ପରେ ଝିଅଟି ତା'ର ଉତ୍ତରରେ କହିଲା ସେମାନେ ଭାଇ ଭଉଣୀ ମିଶି ସାତଜଣ ଏବଂ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଦୁଇଜଣ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚ ପାଖ କବରଖାନାରେ ଗଛମୂଳେ ଶୋଇଛନ୍ତି | କବି ତା'ପରେ ପୁଣି ତା'କୁ ବୁଝାଇବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟାକରି କହିଲେ ଯଦିଓ ସେମାନେ ତା'ର ମନରେ ଓ ଶରୀରରେ ଜୀବନ୍ତ ଅଛନ୍ତି; ତଥାପି ସେମାନେ ମୃତ ଓ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚ ପାଖ କବରଖାନାରେ ପୋତା ହୋଇଛନ୍ତି | ତେଣୁ ସେମାନେ କେବଳମାତ୍ର ପାଞ୍ଚ ଜଣ |
ଝିଅଟି ସେମାନେ କେବଳ ପାଞ୍ଚ ଜଣ ଭାଇ ଓ ଭଉଣୀ ବୋଲି କଦାପି ମାନିବାକୁ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ନ ଥିଲା | ଦୁଇଜଣଙ୍କର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଅଲଗା କରିପାରି ନାହିଁ ବୋଲି ସେ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରୁଥିଲା | ସେମାନଙ୍କ କବରଗୁଡ଼ିକ ସବୁଜ ଥିଲା ଓ ସେଠାରୁ ଦେଖି ହେଉଥିଲା | ମା'ଙ୍କ ଘରର ଦ୍ୱାରଦେଶରୁ ଏହା ମାତ୍ର 12 ପାଦ କିମ୍ବା ତା'ଠାରୁ ଟିକିଏ ଅଧିକ ଦୂରରେ ଥିଲା | ତେଣୁ ସେମାନେ ପାଖାପାଖି ବାସ କରୁଥିଲେ | ବହୁ ସମୟରେ ସେ ସେଠାରେ ମୋଜା ବୁଣୁଥିଲା ଓ ରୁମାଲ୍ ସିଲେଇ କରୁଥିଲା | ସେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେଠାରେ ଭୂମି ଉପରେ ବସି ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଗୀତ ଗାଉଥିଲା | ବହୁ ସମୟରେ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟାସ୍ତ ପରେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ଉଦୟ ପରେ ସେଠାରେ ପରିଷ୍କାର ଆଲୋକ ପଡୁଥିଲା , ସେ ସେଠାକୁ ହାଲୁଆ ନେଇଯାଉଥିଲା ଆଉ ରାତ୍ରି ଭୋଜନ କରୁଥିଲା |
ଝିଅଟି କହିଲା ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଭିତରୁ ପ୍ରଥମେ ତା' ଭଉଣୀ ଯାନୀର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଘଟିଲା | ସେ ମୃତ୍ୟୁଶଯ୍ୟାରେ ପଡ଼ିରହି ଶାରୀରିକ ଓ ମାନସିକ ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣାରେ କାନ୍ଦୁଥିଲା | ଭଗବାନ ତାକୁ ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣାରୁ ମୁକ୍ତି ଦେଲେ ଓ ସେ ମରିଗଲା | ତାକୁ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚ ର କବରଖାନାରେ କବର ଦିଆଗଲା | ଖରାଦିନେ ତା' କବର ଉପରୁ ଘାସ ଶୁଖିଗଲା ପରେ ସେ ଓ ତା' ଭାଇ ଜନ କବର ଚାରିପାଖେ ଖେଳୁଥିଲେ | ଆଉ କିଛି ମାସ ପରେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଶୀତ ଆସିଗଲା ସେ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ତୁଷାର ପଡି ଧଳା ପଡିଗଲା | କବର ପାଖରେ ଖେଳୁଥିବାବେଳେ ଜନର ଗୋଡ ଖସିଗଲା ଓ ସେ ତଳେ ପଡି ମରିଗଲା | ଭଉଣୀ କବର ପାଖରେ ତାକୁ କବର ଦିଆଗଲା |
ତା'ପରେ କବି ଝିଅଟିକୁ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ କଲେ ଯେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଦୁଇଜଣ ସ୍ଵର୍ଗରେ ରହୁଥିଲାବେଳେ ସେମାନେ କେତେଜଣ ଅଛନ୍ତି ? ଏହାର ଉତ୍ତରରେ ବାଳିକାଟି ସେହି ସମାନ କଥା କହିଲା | ସେ ଝିଅଟି ସେମାନେ ସାତଜଣ ବୋଲି କହିଲା | କବି ଜୋର ଦେଇ କହିଲେ ଯେ ଦୁଇଜଣ ମରିଯାଇଛନ୍ତି ଏବଂ ସ୍ଵର୍ଗରେ ଅଛନ୍ତି | କିନ୍ତୁ ବାଳିକାଟି ବୁଝିପାରିଲା ନାହିଁ | ତଥାପି ସେ ତା' କଥାରେ ଅଟଳ ରହିଲା ଯେ ସେମାନେ ସାତ ଜଣ | ଯାହା ହୋଇଗଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେମାନେ ସାତଜଣ |
Description In English
In the first verse, the poet describes a rural simple child. The simple baby breathes naturally and looks vibrant and fresh, and the limbs appear vibrant. Her physical appearance reveals a simple nature and her perception of death is different. The poet describes how the perception of the death of an adult is different from that of a child.
The poet met a little girl. She was eight years old. Her head was bald and wrinkled and wrapped around her head. Her demeanor was like that of a rural villager. The beauty of the girl made the poet happy and attractive.
The poet asked the girl about her brothers and sisters. The girl replied that they looked at the poet with a total of seven and amazed. The poet wanted to know from her about the address of her brothers and sisters. The girl said two were in the city of Conway, two had gone to sea, two were dead and buried in a church cemetery, and she was living with her mother.
The poet's heart did not respond to the girl's reply. How can it be seven if two of them are dead. He tried to throw her away again. The poet asked the girl if she had told him that the two were living in Conway and that the two had gone to sea. Yet they are seven. How can this be? He asked the girl to speak again. The girl then replied that they, seven brothers and two sisters, and two of them were sleeping under a tree in a cemetery near the church. The poet then tried to explain it to her again, saying that although they were alive in her mind and body; Yet they are dead and buried in a cemetery near the church. So there are only five of them.
The girl was never ready to accept that they were just five brothers and sisters. He believed the deaths of the two could not separate them. Their graves were green and could be seen from there. It was only 12 feet from the door of her mother's house. So they lived nearby. Most of the time he was weaving socks there and sewing handkerchiefs. He also sat on the ground and sang for them. Often after the sun went down, when the moon was up, there was clear light, and he would take the porringer and eat dinner.
The girl said her sister Jane was the first of them to die. She was lying on her deathbed crying in physical and mental pain. God relieved him of the pain and he died. He was buried in the church cemetery. He and his brother John were playing around the grave after the grass dried up from his grave on dry days. A few months later, when winter came, the area was covered in snow and turned white. While playing near the grave, John's leg slipped and he fell to the ground and died. He was buried near her sister's grave.
The poet then asked the girl, "How many of them are there when two of them are in heaven?" In response, the girl said the same thing. The girl said they were seven. The poet emphasizes that the two are dead and are in heaven. But the girl did not understand. Yet he insisted that they were seven. Whatever happened, they were seven.
About the Poet
William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was one of the greatest poets of the country
and of natural life. He regards nature as a great teacher and his poems seek to establish
an intimate relationship with it. He also depicts simple rustic life in a number of poems.
He is the author of several memorable lyrics such as “Daffodils”, “The Solitary Reaper”
and “Lucy Poems”.
ୱିଲିୟମ୍ ୱାର୍ଡସୱର୍ଥ (1770-1850 ) ଦେଶର ତଥା ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ଜୀବନର ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ କବିମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଜଣେ | ସେ ପ୍ରକୃତିକୁ ଜଣେ ମହାନ ଶିକ୍ଷକ ଭାବରେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରନ୍ତି ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କ କବିତାଗୁଡ଼ିକ ଏହା ସହିତ ଏକ ଅନ୍ତରଙ୍ଗ ସମ୍ପର୍କ ସ୍ଥାପନ କରିବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରେ | ସେ ଅନେକ କବିତାରେ ସରଳ ରୁଷ୍ଟିକ୍ ଜୀବନକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଚିତ୍ରଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି | ସେ “ଡ୍ୟାଫୋଡିଲ୍ସ”, “ଏକାକୀ ରେପର୍” ଭଳି ଅନେକ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ଗୀତର ଲେଖକ ଅଟନ୍ତି | ଏବଂ “ଲୁସି କବିତା” |
Question & Answer
1. What notable features of a simple child does the poet describe in the first stanza?
(ପ୍ରଥମ ପଦରେ ଜଣେ ସରଳ ପିଲାର କେଉଁ ଭାବଭଙ୍ଗୀ ବିଷୟରେ କବି ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରିଛନ୍ତି ?)
Ans-In the first stanza, of the poem, the poet describes how a simple child breathes naturally. Little
is known about the death of the child.
2. What does the poet write about the habitation and the appearance of the girl?
(ଝିଅଟିର ବାସସ୍ଥାନ ଓ ଚେହେରା ବିଷୟରେ କବି କ'ଣ କହିଛନ୍ତି ?)
Ans-The poet writes about the girl's residence and face, that the child lives with her mother in a
hut. The girl's hair was thick and curly and wrapped around her head. The girl was dressed
casually. But her eyes were beautiful.
3. How does the poet start the conversation with the girl and what does the girl say
in reply?
(କବି କିପରି ଝିଅଟି ସହ କଥାବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିଛନ୍ତି ଓ ଝିଅଟି ଉତ୍ତରରେ କ'ଣ କହିଛି ?)
Ans- the poet begins his conversation with the girl by asking her about the number of her
brothers and sisters. The girl replies that they are seven in all.
4. What answer does the girl give to the poet relating to her brothers, sisters and
mother?
(ଝିଅଟି ତା' ଭାଇ, ଭଉଣୀ ଓ ମା' ବିଷୟରେ କବିଙ୍କୁ କ'ଣ ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଇଛି ?)
Ans- The girl replies that two of his brothers and sisters dwelt at Conway, other two brothers has
gone to sea and two of them lie in the church-yard and she lives with her mother.
5. Why does the answer given by the girl puzzle the poet ?
(ଝିଅଟି ଦ୍ୱାରା ଦିଆଯାଇଥିବା ଉତ୍ତର କବିଙ୍କୁ କାହିଁକି ବିସ୍ମିତ କରିଛି ?)
Ans-The poet did not understand the girl's answer. Because when the girl's two brother and
sister die, they will be five. But the girl says they are seven. So the poet became puzzled.
6. What arguments does the girl put forth to prove that her two dead brothers and
sisters have
not been separated from her ?
(ତା'ର ମୃତ ଦୁଇ ଭାଇ ଓ ଭଉଣୀ ତା'ଠାରୁ ଅଲଗା ନୁହନ୍ତି ବୋଲି ପ୍ରମାଣ କରିବାକୁ ଝିଅଟି କ'ଣ ଯୁକ୍ତି କରିଛି ?)
Ans-The girl's reply about her two dead brother and sister was truly surprising. She believes
them to be alive as their are green and can be seen from there because the graves are very
close to their house. It is the place where she keeps herself always active with food and song.
She always feels their presence in her body and mind and never experienced their absence.
So they are not separated from her.
7. How does her sister suffer before her death ?
(ତା' ଭଉଣୀର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ପୂର୍ବରୁ କିପରି ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣା ଭୋଗିଛି ?)
Ans-The girl's sister, Jane, was bedridden before she died. Eventually God relieved her pain
and she died.
8. How does God release Jane from her suffering ?
(ଈଶ୍ବର ଜାଣିକୁ ତା' ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣାରୁ କିପରି ମୁକ୍ତି ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି ?)
Ans- The little girl believes that it is God who releases her sister Jane after considerable
suffering. Thus her sister passes away.
9. What did she and her brother use to do round her sister’s grave when the grass
was dry ?
(ଘାସ ଶୁଖିଗଲା ପରେ ସେ ଆଉ ତା' ଭାଇ ତା' ଭଉଣୀର କବର ଚାରିପଟେ କ'ଣ କରୁଥିଲେ ?)
Ans- When the grass was dry both the little girl and her brother John played round the grave
of their sister.
10. At what time of the year did John die ?
(ଜନ କେତେବେଳେ ମରିଥିଲା ?)
Ans- In winter, the girl's sister's grave was white in the snow. At the time, she and her brother
John were playing there. Suddenly John's feet slipped and he fell to the ground and died.
11. How does the poem end ?
(କବିତାଟି କିପରି ଶେଷ ହେଇଛି ?)
Ans- The poem ends with the assertion of the little girl that they are still seven. She finally
accounts that the spirit of the dead are in heaven. In spite of that she believes that their total
number amounted to seven. She still have associations with her dead brother and sister.
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