1

Summary of the Poem

Answer

The first part of the poem describes the action of the wind. The poet asks the wind to come softly. He requests the wind not to break the shutters of the windows, not to scatter the papers and throw down the books on the shelf. But the wind throws down the books and tears the pages of the books. The poet says that the wind pokes fun at weaklings. It brings down frail houses, crumbling doors, rafters, and even weak hearth. The wind crushes everything that is weak.

The poet advises us to be strong. Only then can we save ourselves against the wind. We should build strong homes with firm doors. Our bodies and hearts should also be strong. It is the way of the world to kick the weak and to be friends with the strong. The wind blows out the weak fires but makes the strong fires roar and flourish. Thus the poem conveys the idea that nobody cares for the weak. Even the wind is on the side of the strong people.

2

Quick Revision Notes

Answer

In this poem, the poet describes the action of the wind.
It breaks the shutters of the windows, throws down the books on the shelf and demolishes frail houses.
But it has no effect on strong houses.
It blows out weak fires. But it makes strong fires roar.
The poet conveys the idea that nobody cares for the weak.
The poet advises the weak ones to make themselves strong.

3

Paraphrasing of Wind (Poem)

Answer

Wind, come softly.
Don’t break the shutters of the windows.
Don’t scatter the papers.
Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.

The poet makes a request to the wind. As he is powerful, the poet requests him to blow slowly and not to damage our things. For this, he should slow down his speed.

There, look what you did — you threw them all down.
You tore the pages of the books.
You brought rain again.
You’re very clever at poking fun at weaklings.

Here, the power of the wind is shown, he has damaged everything and turn the pages of books. He is so powerful that he can cause rain. Moreover, the wind is making fun of weak thing by destroying them or overpowers them.

Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling
rafters, crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling
lives, crumbling hearts — the wind god winnows and
crushes them all.
He won’t do what you tell him.

The poet suggests that our weak houses cannot face the might of the wind. He can crush them all. The wind does not listen to anybody. We cannot control him.

So, come, let’s build strong homes,
Let’s joint the doors firmly.
Practise to firm the body.
Make the heart steadfast.

The poet thinks that as the wind is not listening to their request, we have to become strong at mind and heart, both physically and mentally. We must train our body and our hearts to fight against the destructive power of the wind.

Do this, and the wind will be friends with us.
The wind blows out weak fires.
He makes strong fires roar and flourishes.
His friendship is good.
We praise him every day.

If we are able to face the hardships and challenges in our life, the wind becomes our friend. The poet gives an example of the wind’s bad and good effects. The fire with weak force can be easily blowout by the wind. However, if
the fire is burning strongly, the wind makes it more fierce.

Wind, come softly.

Don’t break the shutters of the windows.
Don’t scatter the papers.
Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.