The Road not Taken by Robert Frost

Next in line is the infamous poem by Robert frost which is The Road not Taken.

As usual, I present to you the original poem

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I marked the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.  (source, poem hunter) PARAPHRASED ! Stanza 1 The poem starts with the author encountering two different road choices (the yellow wood means that it is somewhere in fall). He is having a hard time deciding which road he should take as he tried to look far down both road as he could to make up his mind. Stanza 2 The poet then decided to use the road less traveled by. The author thought the road he took is different from the usual one but realised that they are both quite the same Stanza 3 The poem continue with the decription of the road he took and that leaves were falling from the tree (perhaps the only difference he could find between both roads). the fact that the leaves were still fresh of the trees and had not been marked yet intrigue the author to come again to marked them (the author wants to be the first one to do so) Stanza 4 This last stanza is very tricky as to determine whether the author's decision is justifed. Because the author used the word sigh as if he is sad over the decision but the final line shows how much he appreciates the differences that road has made to his life. FINAL SAY The poem seems to focus on the decisions that one made in their life and how it affects them afterwards. It shows how much different choices could result in similar or rather different outcome. If youre not satisfied by my paraphrasing of this poem, please leave a comment and say how you think it should be done. THANK YOU

SONNET 138 by William Shakespeare

For this post i've decided to do another famous sonnet by Shakespeare but shifting from the theme on self-pity to unfaithfulness.

SONNET 138 by William Shakespeare

When my love swears that she is made of truth
I do believe her, though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutor'd youth,
Unlearned in the world's false subtleties.
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false speaking tongue:
On both sides thus is simple truth suppress'd.
But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O, love's best habit is in seeming trust,
And age in love loves not to have years told:
Therefore I lie with her and she with me,
And in our faults by lies we flatter'd be.

(source, Shakespeare Online)

PARAPHRASED!

The poet starts of his sonnet by mentioning his lover swearing of her love for him followed by the second stanza that mentions how the poet belives her though he knew she lied. (perhaps the poet still cannot accept the fact that she is unfaithful). 

Then the poet revealed that he is not some teenagers that can fall for lies like that. The poet describe himself as 'past his best' which could mean that he is actually quite old.

He praised his lover for believeng that she can lie to him and question himself whether or not she deserves to do so. With his insecurity over his age and love acting as a disguise to her unfaithfulness. The poet does not want to question the age difference between him and his lover. 

Thus the lies that they told each other help in maintaining their relationship as it canceled out any imperfection they both have.

FINAL SAY

I believe that the poet focus on the point of view of someone who is cheated on and how age is a disturbing factor when it comes to relationships.

If youre not satisfied by my paraphrasing of this poem, please leave a comment and say how you think it should be done.
THANK YOU

SONNET 29 by William Shakespeare

For the next poem I am going to paraphrase, I choose to do one of Shakespeare most famous Sonnet which is Sonnet 29

First, here is the poem in text

SONNET 29 by William Shakespeare

When, in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising
Haply I think on thee: and then my state,
Like to the Lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

That then I scorn to change my state with kings

(source, For Better, For Verse)

 PARAPHRASED!

Stanza 1
At a quick glance it seems that the poet is focusing on his misfortune. The poet is sad that people look at him poorly because he is not wealthy nor good-looking. He mention that he would spend time weeping and cursing over his miserable life.

Stanza 2
Then the poet start to mind his surrounding and wishing that he would be like some of the man around him. Man who are rich with lots of friends, so that he would be treated differently and that he would enjoy every moment if it happen

Stanza 3
In stanza 3, the author snaps from his daydream and despised himself. Then, he remembered his partner and his own self. He appreciated how much he can still count on the one he loves most.

Stanza 4
Finally, the poet still hates his condition and he wish to be able to change himself with the king

FINAL SAY

In my opinion, this sonnet is not one of Shakespear's best but it still delivers in giving the message that love is blind. This is because the poet speaks of himself badly but his lover still sticks with him while ignoring everything about him

If youre not satisfied by my paraphrasing of this poem, please leave a comment and say how you think it should be done.
THANK YOU

He Had Such Quiet Eyes by Bibsy Soenharjo

The second poem that I will take the pleasure of paraphrasing is He Had such Quiet Eyes by Bibsy Soenharjo.
First, here's the poem

HE HAD SUCH QUIET EYES

He had such quiet eyes

She did not realise

They were two pools of lies

Layered with thinnest ice

Were breathing desolate sighs

Imploring her to be nice

And to render him paradise

If only she'd been wise

And had listened to the advice

never to compromise

With pleasure-seeking guys

She's be free from "the hows and whys"

Now here's a bit of advice

Be sure that nice really means nice

Then you'll never be losing at dice

Though you may lose your heart once or twice

(source, english literature component textbook for form 4 and 5)

PARAPHRASED!

STANZA 1
My first guest after a quick glance of the poem is that the author is trying to convey the message of abusive husbands. This is base on the statement that "the eyes of the man are two pools of lies". This could mean that the man promised good things to the woman before but never fulfilled them. The last 4 lines in stanza 1 is another proof of the man abusing the woman by making her following all of his orders.

STANZA 2
In the second stanza, it shows that the woman did not listen to advices (probably from her parents) not to be with the man because of what they see in him

STANZA 3
In the last stanza the author is giving advice to the readers (female) that whenever you're looking for a husband, be sure to find someone who is actually sincere eventhough he did not reach some of the criteria that is wanted of him (good looking, tall, etc.)

FINAL SAY

This poem actually speaks for itself and that woman must choose their life partner wisely if they wish to be happy in the future.

If youre not satisfied by my paraphrasing of this poem, please leave a comment and say how you think it should be done.
THANK YOU

LEISURE by William H. Davies

The first poem that I will paraphrase stanza by stanza is a short yet meaningful in content.
Written by William Henry Davies, 'Leisure' is a poem focusing on how human is no longer capable of enjoying their environment.

The Poem

LEISURE

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare. 

(source, POEM HUNTER)

PARAPHRASED!

STANZA 1
The poet ask of life and whether it is meaningful, followed by the second line stating that we (human) are no longer able to spent time looking aimlessly on our surroundings


STANZA 2
In the second stanza, the poet mention that simple task like standing beneath trees and looking at farm animals is no longer doable. Perhaps the author is thinking of how as a child we would spent time doing this but no longer able to do so today.


STANZA 3
In this stanza, the poet focus on mother nature and it's beauty with the mentioning of woods (forest) and its inhabitants (the squirell)


STANZA 4
Here, the poet seems sad that we no longer have time to contemplate our surrounding in daytime and watch the beauty of stars at night


STANZA 5
Then, the poet talks on Beauty (could be reffering to the one we love) and that we are so strained so much on time that we could not even take a quick glance at her, let alone watced her dance


STANZA 6
In the sixth stanza the poet still focus on Beauty and added thay we are so busy that we can't even see her beautiful smile


STANZA 7
In the final stanza the poet answers his first question on the first stanza stating that this life is sad even if we never waste any time on our work. Because it is important for us to enjoy our surroundings if we still can

FINAL SAY 

I'm actually astounded by this poem and how it focus on the busyness of human lives (working) today that we are no longer enjoying it. The use of question and statement 'full of care' followed by stanzas mentioning our bad time management shows how we only 'care' on our occupation rather than caring on what is more important.

If youre not satisfied by my paraphrasing of this poem, please leave a comment and say how you think it should be done.
THANK YOU