Poem 4 ENGLISH - Poem 4

Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That is hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know.
Questions:
Q.1. Why is the poet eager to know the lost place of his childhood?
Q.2. Where is poet able to find his lost childhood?

When did, my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine,
To use whichever way I choose
Producing thoughts that were not those of other people
But my own and mine alone,
Was that the day!
Questions:
Q.1. Explain ‘My mind was really mine’.
Q.2. ‘Producing thoughts that were not these of other people’s means.

When did my childhood go?
Was it the time I realised that adults were not
All they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!
Questions :
Q.1. Why does the poet not talk great of grown-up people?
Q.2. Why is the poet confused?

When did my childhood go?
Was it the day I ceased to be eleven.
Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven,
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!
Questions:
Q.1. Why is the age of twelve so important for the poet?
Q.2. When does the poet come to know that ‘Hell’ and ‘Heaven’ are imaginary concepts?

‘It went to some forgotten place, That’s hidden in an infant’s face’

‘Producing thoughts that were not those of other people’

‘Was it when I found my mind was really mine’

They talked of love and preached of love’

‘Was it the time I realised that adults were not, all they seemed to be’

Which do you think are the most poetic lines? Why?

What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?

What according to the poem is involved in the process of growing up?

Identify the stanza that talks of each of the following: individuality rationalism hypocrisy

Explain the refrain of the poem ‘Childhood’.