Human and Helpful Dust

6. GITANJALI
(Indian Literature)

I ask for a moment’s indulgence to sit by thy side.
The works that I have in hand I will finish afterwards.
Away from the sight of thy face my heart.
Knows no rest or respite, and my works becomes
An endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil. Today the summer has come at my window.
With its sights and murmurs; and the bees are
Plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.
Now it’s time to sit quiet, face to face with thee,
And to sing dedication of life in this
Silent and overflowing leisure.
The child who is decked with the prince’ robes
And who was jeweled chain around his neck
Loses all pleasure in his play; his dress
Hampers him at every step.
In fear that it may frayed, or stained
With dust he keeps himself from the world,
And is afraid to even move.
Mother, it is no gain, thy bondage of finery,
If it keeps one shut off from the healthful dust
Of the earth, if it robs one of the right of entrance
To the great fair of human life.

Questions: A. Vocabulary Building. Use the following words in a sentence. 1. Respite – a short interval of rest or relief
Answer: God’s love to us has no respite, it’s never ending.

2. Ply – to join together, as by molding or twisting
Answer: I saw some workers plying the busy canals of the city.

3. Minstrel – a performer in a comic variety show
Answer: It was not long until the dogs uncovered the minstrel on the banks of the tyne and tore him to pieces.

4. Hampers – to prevent the free movement, action or progress of
Answer: His pessimism is what hampers him to capture success.

5. Fray- to stain, chafe, or strain
Answer: That promise is looking much frayed around the edges.

B. Discussion 1. When a person is exposed to the free leisure of life, like being exposed to the healthful dust of the earth, does it make him a better person?
Answer:
Yes, it does. Allowing a person to be exposed to the healthful dust of the earth is like giving him a break, a chance to grow and develop a prospect to unleash any hidden skills or talents, an opportunity to prove himself.

2. What lines in the poem identify the free leisure of life?
Answer:
The lines that identify the free leisure of life are:
“Today the summer has come at my window.
With its sights and murmurs; and the bees are
Plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.
Now it’s time to sit quiet, face to face with thee,
And to sing dedication of life in this
Silent and overflowing leisure.”

3. Narrate your own experience on being exposed to the helpful dust of the earth.
Answer:
At the young age of 18, I can say that I already have encountered some of that helpful dust of the earth. Primarily, my parents are tolerant enough to teach me basic initiatives and allow me to acquire a sense of industry. Also, my mentors during my elementary and secondary education taught me a lot and made me susceptible to any trials and unexpected circumstances. But for the most part, going to college is largely a helpful dust for me. Well, for once, we live roughly half a thousand kilometers from Zamboanga City and choosing to study here at WMSU was a tough decision. But it’s all worth it, doing that made me independent and steadfast. Every trials and challenges, I consider them as a helpful dust because dealing with it and having them overcome is educating. Aside from that, having the chance to work with people who share the same ideals as mine is absolutely gratifying. Being involved in activities that promotes community welfare and fight for our passion and advocacy is, and will always be, a helpful dust that I love to expose myself with.

4. What do lines 12-15 suggests?
Answer:
These lines refer to any person who is afraid to go out from his shell and crack out life’s possibilities. A person hiding cowardly inside his dress, like a child decked with prince’ robes. Someone who is afraid to take chances and commit mistakes. A person who doesn’t like to come out from his comfort zone, try something new, push the limits, and is not willing to accept failures whenever he/she would encounter it. An insolent austerity that hinders him to achieve more and obtain greater heights, like a child having a chain around his neck and a dress that hampers him at every step.

5. What is the theme of the poem?
Answer:
The poem talks about a life of a certain person, his struggles and agonies. It tells us story of human life, a simple life composed of good and awful encounters, a man’s battle in search for freedom, contentment, success, and happiness. The poem conveys a thought that life is fusion of ups and downs; it makes us think of moving forward, be brave, to just keep on striving hard, not to be afraid of trying, and not to let hindrances overcome our capacities.