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Waves on the Sleepless Sea
‘Nature is immortal and all that is around us are the
manifestations of her various characteristics.
Lo! The trees of the wood are my next of kin1.
And the rock alive with what beats in me.
The clay is my flesh, and the fog my skin.
I am fierce with the gadfly2 and sweet with the bee.
The flower is naught3 but the bloom of my love.
And the waters run down in the tune I dream.
The Sun is my flower, up hung above.
I cannot die, though forever death
Weave back and fro in the warp4 of me.
I was never born, yet my births of breath
Are as many as waves on the sleepless sea.
- Swami Ramatirtha
1- nearest relation.2. a fly that stings horses 3. not anything 4. threads that make up a fabric
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About the Poem
The poem describes mother Nature. The trees are her nearest relations and the
rocks are full of her life. The clay is her body and the fog is the shroud she wears. Her
fierceness is embodied in the gadfly and sweetness in the bee. The flower is the symbol
of her love. The running streams play her dream-song. The sun symbolizes her resplendent beauty. Death is ever-present around her but she herself never dies. She cannot say
when she was born but her life has continued as incessantly as the waves of the sea.
W ord Power
A-
Given below are some common phrases. Complete them with the words given in the
box :
rustling, flapping, clattering, tinkling, chattering, clinking, banging,
jingling, creaking, pattering.
B-
1.
jingling of bells.
6.
______ of coin
2.
______ of teeth.
7.
______ of chains.
3.
______ of doors.
8.
______ of weapons
4.
______ of shoes.
9.
______ of wings.
5.
______ of rain.
10.
______ of leaves
Write antonyms of the given words:
dead, sour, hate, life, always
g questions in one or two sentences each:
Answer the following
1.
Who are the nearest relations of Nature?
2.
Where does the heart of Nature beat?
3.
What does the flower symbolise?
4.
How does the sun add to Nature’s beauty?
5.
Why does the poet describe sea as sleepless?
Waves on the Sleepless Sea
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g questions in two to four sentences each:
Answer the following
1.
2.
State at least six objects through which Nature describes herself.
If Nature herself is immortal, then how do countless births and deaths constitute her fabric?
Speaking Time
More about the consonant sounds
g pairs of words after your teacher and practise the contrasts:
Repeat the following
A.
(i)
(iii)
B.
/s/
/Z/
pressure
(ii)
/s/
/z/
tressure
loose
lose
fission
vision
face
phase
relation
invasion
place
plays
/w/
/v/
/w/
/b/
while
vile
went
bent
west
vest
way
bay
wine
vine
white
bite
(iv)
(i) The letters th are pronounced in two different ways.
Practise the following:
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(i)
/T/
thank
author
bath
thin
think
/D/
that
brother
bathe
then
those
(ii).
/n/
night
lunch
month
animal
son
/N/
angry
bank
thank
English
sing
Waves on the Sleepless Sea
(iii).
/j/
union
beauty
yard
yellow
yet
Inquiring
g about a patient (Telephonic conversation)
Suresh
:
Hello, Rakesh, how are you?
Rakesh
:
Thank you, Suresh. I’m not feeling well these days.
Suresh
:
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that! What’s wrong with you?
Rakesh
:
The doctor says my liver is not functioning properly.
Suresh
:
Which doctor have you consulted?
Rakesh
:
Dr. Aziz Khan. He had recommended some tests.
Suresh
:
Have you got the reports?
Rakesh
:
Yes, and the doctor has already started the treatment?
Suresh
:
Oh, I see. Has there been any improvement?
Rakesh
:
Yes, but the progress is very slow.
Suresh
:
Did you speak to the doctor about it?
Rakesh
:
Yes, I did. But he says that it will take some time.
Suresh
:
Any restrictions about diet, food, etc?
Rakesh
:
Yes, the doctor has advised me to take only boiled water and boiled food, lots
of liquid and no tea or coffee.
Suresh
:
Please, be careful about the diet.
Rakesh
:
Yes, I’ll do my best.
Suresh
:
Anything I can do for you?
Rakesh
:
No, thanks, Suresh. I’ll manage it.
Suresh
:
OK then. Take proper rest, I wish you quick recovery.
Rakesh
:
Thank you very much.
Waves on the Sleepless Sea
81
Pair work : Practise the above dialogue with your partner and try to use them while visiting any of you
friends/relatives etc. who is not keeping well.
W riting Time
Posters
There are mainly two types of posters
1.
those that give the information about an event e.g. a seminar, a function, a festival, a fair etc.
2.
those that create awareness about a certain issue eg. harmful effects of smoking or banning
plastic bags.
The posters generally have attractive slogans supported by appropriate illustrations.
g:
Now make poster for the following
Announcing the celebration of the annual day in the school.
Things to D o
Arrange a rally against the use of polythene bags which cause deaths of animals and blocks drainage
system resulting in man-made flood.
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Waves on the Sleepless Sea