Back to: Maharashtra Board Class 6th English Guide & Notes
Table of Contents
Introduction
The poet talks about a foal while describing its delicate features. The poem is divided in four stanzas and the rhyme scheme is as follows
First stanza- abacded
Second stanza- abcbdefd
Third stanza- abcbefeg
Fourth stanza- abcb
Stanza I
I saw a donkey one day old. His head was too big for his neck to hold; His legs were shaky and long and loose, They rocketed and staggered and weren’t much use.
The poet recalls seeing a newborn foal, one day old. The poet describes it as having a big head and a delicate neck that could hardly hold the weight. Shaky little legs that rocked and staggered, they were of not much use to the little donkey. The little legs couldn’t carry him far or too fast.
Stanza II
He tried to gambol and frisk a bit, but he wasn’t quite sure of the trick of it. His queer little coat was soft and grey and curled at his neck in a lovely way.
The little donkey tried to play around by jumping and frisking but he was not very confident of his tricks. His grey hair was soft and lovely as it curled at his neck.
Stanza III
His face was wistful and left no doubt that he felt life needed some thinking about. So he blundered round in venturesome quest, and then lay flat on the ground to rest.
His little face was full of hope and he understood that life was not something to be taken lightly, but something to ponder over. He stumbled around in an attempt to do something adventurous but then got tired and laid down.
Stanza IV
He looked so little and weak and slim, I prayed the world might be good to him.
When the poet looked at his little and slim fragile self, he could not help but pray for the world to be nice towards the foal and treat him well.
