An Ode To Solitude
Given below is a short poem on solitude. I have appropriately
enlarged the title as “ An Ode To Solitude”. Its author is the English poet
Alexander Pope (1688-1744). Pope was a perfect poet, poetry essayist, satirist,
translator and critic. He was self-educated, could not have ideal education in best contemporary
institutions. His education happened in
catholic schools and under the family priest. He was physically weak and of
biter temperament. To offend him was to invite a fatal hit-back. He is known for his best works like The Essay
on Criticism, The Rape of the Lock, Dunciad, Translations of Homer and an
edition of Shakespeare. He is also known
for immortal quotations like: A little
knowledge is a dangerous thing; To err is human, to forgive divine; and Fools
rush in where angels fear to tread.
The word ‘Solitude’
has several meanings, such as: loneliness, isolation, retirement, privacy,
seclusion, away from crowds.
Pope’s poem reads as
follows:
Happy the man, whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground.
Whose herds with milk, whose fields
with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire;
Whose trees in summer yield him
shade,
In winter, fire
Blest, who can unconcern’dly find
Hours, days and years slide soft away
In health of body, peace of mind,
Quiet by day.
Sound sleep by night, study and ease
Together mixt, sweet recreation,
And innocence, which most does please
With meditation.
Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
Thus unlamented let me die;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.
The
poem tells the benefits of solitude, contentment, meditation, limited responsibilities,
escape from too many companions, self-sufficiency in paternal land and unnecessary
desires of fame and recognition. Urdu poet Ghalib said : let me be drowned
rather than be entombed. Pope says: Let me steal from the world and not a stone
tell where I lie. How similar!
********
G. R. Kanwal
19th August 2023
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