Back to: Karnataka Board Class 6th English Guide and Notes
Table of Contents
Introduction
The given poem ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ is penned by the poet Cecil Frances Alexander. In the poem, the poet attributes all things that are bright and beautiful as the creations of the Lord God. It was first published in 1848 in Cecil Alexander’s collection called Hymns for Little Children. Eventually, the children’s hymn/song would also become a popular children’s poem that kids often recite or declaim in school.
About the poet
Cecil Francis Alexander was a hymn poet and writer. Her passion for writing began in early childhood and by the 1840s she had become a well-known hymn writer and her compositions were included in the Church of Ireland hymnbooks. Her contributions were also in narrative poems, lyric poems, and translation of French Poetry to Dublin University Magazine.
Theme
In the poem “All Things Bright and Beautiful”, the poet praises the things and creatures made by Lord God. God has created this world full of bright and beautiful things. The creatures created by Him are great and small. God has made things wise and wonderful. The colorful flowers that we see are also created by the Lord God. He has made their glowing colors. The birds that sing fly with tiny wings that are made by God.
Stanza 1
All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful: The Lord God made them all.
The initial stanza makes it very clear that all creatures, whether they are bright, beautiful, small or great, wonderful or wise, were all made by the Lord God. Every single creature has a reason to be on this earth all these were made by God for a reason to be here.
Stanza 2
Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colours, He made their tiny wings.
She then explains the features of each living thing on earth. The colours of the flowers and the chirping of birds, the beginning of every new life are designed by God and hence we should thank him.
Stanza 3
The rich man in his castle, The poor man at his gate, He made them, high or lowly, And ordered their estate.
Next, she explains about men and their being on earth. Some are rich and have castles and some are poor and homeless. Whatever you may be now, is all God’s making and he has specific planning when he created each one of us and the reason for being here. Again, she portrays, that no matter what, you should thank God for what you are.
Stanza 4
The purple headed mountains, The river running by, The sunset and the morning That brightens up the sky.
In the next few stanzas, it is beautifully explained the different landscapes of nature. The mountains and the rivers, their placement, and the flow of rivers through them is a beautiful sight to see, similarly the sunset and the sunrise and just sights that makes one get lost for hours together.
Stanza 5
The cold wind in the winter, The pleasant summer sun, The ripe fruits in the garden, He made them every one.
God has also created the cold winds that blow during the winter season and the pleasant summer sun. And by his grace, the fruits in the garden ripen and be ready to eat. All these are God’s creations and the beauty of each of these can in no way be measured.
Stanza 6
The tall trees in the greenwood, The meadows where we play, The rushes by the water, To gather every day.
She then says about the tall trees in the forests and the meadows where we play, the ripe fruits in the garden, and the rushes of water all are made by the Creator in such a beautiful and well-ordered manner, that they just all happen together.
Stanza 7
He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things well.
The God Almighty has created all these things in a very thoughtful and useful way. That is why he has given us eyes to see and wonder at his creations and lips to praise him and his gifts to us.
