Summer Friends - Mary Lamb
The Swallow is a summer bird;
He in our chimneys, when the weather
Is fine and warm, may then be heard
Chirping his notes for weeks together.
Come there but one cold wintry day,
Away will fly our guest the Swallow:
And much like him we find the way
Which many a gay young friend will follow.
In dreary days of snow and frost
Closer to Man will cling the Sparrow:
Old friends, although in life we’re crost,
Their hearts to us will never narrow.
Give me the bird—give me the friend—
Will sing in frost—will love in sorrow—
Whate’er mischance to-day may send,
Will greet me with his sight to-morrow.
বাংলায় ব্যাখ্যা (Bengali Explanation):
এই কবিতাটি আমাদের জীবনে প্রকৃত বন্ধুত্বের অর্থ শেখায়। কবি মেরি ল্যাম্ব দুটি পাখির উদাহরণ দিয়েছেন: **সন্দেশ** এবং **চড়ুই**।সন্দেশ পাখি (Swallow): এটি হলো সেই বন্ধু, যে শুধু ভালো সময়ে পাশে থাকে। যখন গ্রীষ্মের আরামদায়ক আবহাওয়া থাকে, তখন সে আমাদের চিমনিতে বাসা বাঁধে এবং গান গায়। কিন্তু যখনই ঠান্ডা ও কঠিন শীতকাল আসে, সে দূরে উড়ে চলে যায়। কবি বলছেন যে অনেক "আনন্দপূর্ণ তরুণ বন্ধু" এই সন্দেশ পাখির মতোই আচরণ করে。
চড়ুই পাখি (Sparrow): এটি হলো সেই প্রকৃত বন্ধু, যে খারাপ সময়েও আমাদের সঙ্গ ছাড়ে না। যখন বরফ ও ঠান্ডা আসে, তখন চড়ুই পাখি মানুষের আরও কাছে আসে। এটি প্রতীকীভাবে বোঝানো হয়েছে যে পুরোনো বন্ধুরা, যারা জীবনে কষ্ট পায়, তাদের হৃদয় কখনো সংকীর্ণ হয় না।
কবি এমন একজন বন্ধু চান, যে শুধু ভালো সময়ে নয়, দুঃখ ও কঠিন পরিস্থিতিতেও পাশে থাকবে এবং ভালোবাসবে। এই ধরনের বন্ধুকে তিনি চড়ুই পাখির সঙ্গে তুলনা করেছেন।
About the Poet - Mary Lamb
Mary Ann Lamb (3 December 1764 – 20 May 1847) was an English writer, who is best known for her collaboration with her brother Charles on the classic children's book Tales from Shakespeare (1807).
Mary suffered from mental illness throughout her life. Despite these profound challenges, she was a sharp and witty writer and a beloved figure in a literary circle that included famous poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.
Her poem "Summer Friends" reflects on the themes of loyalty and true friendship, contrasting fair-weather companions with those who remain steadfast through difficult times.
বাংলায় পরিচিতি (Bengali Translation)
মেরি অ্যান ল্যাম্ব (৩ ডিসেম্বর ১৭৬৪ – ২০ মে ১৮৪৭) একজন ইংরেজ লেখিকা ছিলেন, যিনি তার ভাই চার্লসের সাথে শিশুদের জন্য লেখা ক্লাসিক বই টেলস ফ্রম শেক্সপিয়ার (১৮০৭)-এর জন্য সবচেয়ে বেশি পরিচিত।
মেরি তার সারাজীবন মানসিক অসুস্থতায় ভুগেছিলেন। এই গভীর চ্যালেঞ্জ সত্ত্বেও, তিনি একজন বিচক্ষণ ও বুদ্ধিদীপ্ত লেখিকা ছিলেন এবং স্যামুয়েল টেলর কোলরিজ ও উইলিয়াম ওয়ার্ডসওয়ার্থের মতো বিখ্যাত কবিদের অন্তর্ভুক্ত একটি সাহিত্যিক মহলে একজন প্রিয় ব্যক্তিত্ব ছিলেন।
তার কবিতা "সামার ফ্রেন্ডস"-এ আনুগত্য এবং প্রকৃত বন্ধুত্বের বিষয়গুলো প্রতিফলিত হয়েছে, যেখানে ভালো সময়ের বন্ধুদের সাথে সেইসব বন্ধুদের পার্থক্য দেখানো হয়েছে যারা কঠিন সময়েও অবিচল থাকে।
Words from the Poem
অনুশীলনী
বইয়ের সব প্রশ্নের সমাধান
Activity 1 ▼
Tick the correct alternative:
(i) The swallow comes to the poet in (a) spring (b) summer (c) winter
(ii) Many young friends follow the behaviour of the (a) sparrow (b) pigeon (c) swallow
(iii) The sparrow accompanies the poet in times of (a) snow and frost (b) rain and thunder (c) sunshine and warmth
(iv) The poet wants a friend who will be like (a) swallow (b) sparrow (c) nightingale
Activity 2 ▼
Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(a) The swallow chirps for weeks together when the weather is fine and warm.
(b) In a cold day the swallow will fly away.
(c) Even when old friends are separated, their hearts will never narrow.
(d) The poet wishes for a bird that will sing in frost and love in sorrow.
Activity 3 ▼
Answer the following question:
Why do you think the swallow leaves the poet during the winter season?
The swallow leaves the poet during the winter season because it is a summer bird. The weather becomes cold and harsh, with snow and frost, which is not suitable for a bird like the swallow. It flies to a warmer place to survive the winter.
Activity 4 ▼
Fill in the following chart with information from the text:
| Who | Does what | When |
|---|---|---|
| The Swallow | chirping his notes | when the weather is fine and warm |
| The sparrow | will cling closer to Man | in dreary days of snow and frost |
| Old friends | their hearts to us will never narrow | in life we're crost (separated) |
| A true friend of the poet | will sing in frost, will love in sorrow | when the poet had mischance |
Activity 5 ▼
Answer the following questions:
(a) What does the swallow do in summer?
In summer, the swallow comes to the poet’s chimneys when the weather is fine and warm. He chirps his notes for weeks together.
(b) How is the behaviour of a "gay young friend" similar to that of the swallow?
The behaviour of a "gay young friend" is similar to that of the swallow because both are present during happy and favorable times. Just as the swallow flies away on a cold wintry day, many fair-weather friends leave during difficult times.
(c) What type of a friend does the poet want?
The poet wants a friend who is like the sparrow. This friend should be loyal and stay close even during the "dreary days of snow and frost." He wants a friend who will "sing in frost" and "love in sorrow" and be a constant presence regardless of misfortune.
(d) Whom does the poet like-the swallow or the sparrow? Give reasons for your answer.
The poet likes the sparrow more than the swallow. The swallow represents friends who are only around during good times, while the sparrow represents a true and faithful friend who stays close during difficult times, symbolized by "dreary days of snow and frost." The poet desires the unwavering love and loyalty of a friend like the sparrow.
Activity 6(a) ▼
Read the following sentences. Identify Noun clauses, Adjective clauses and Adverb clauses and fill in the chart given below:
| Noun clause | Adjective clause | Adverb clause |
|---|---|---|
| I expect that I shall get a prize. | The umbrella which has a yellow handle is mine. | When I was younger I used to fly kites. |
| I remember the house where I was born. |
Activity 6(b) ▼
Change the following sentences into indirect speech:
(i) The sailor said to us, "There will be a storm".
→ The sailor told us that there would be a storm.
(ii) The teacher said to the student, "Did you come to school yesterday?"
→ The teacher asked the student if he had gone to school the previous day.
(iii) The tired guest said to the host, "Please give me a glass of cold water."
→ The tired guest requested the host to give him a glass of cold water.
(iv) Rita said, "How happy I am!"
→ Rita exclaimed that she was very happy.
(v) My grandfather said, "May you live long!"
→ My grandfather wished that I might live long.
Activity 7 ▼
Make meaningful sentences of your own with the following words:
(a) guest:
My aunt was our special guest for the evening.
(b) dreary:
The dreary weather made me want to stay inside all day.
(c) narrow:
We walked down the narrow path to reach the river.
(d) mischance:
Due to some mischance, he missed his flight and had to reschedule.
Activity 8(a) - Writing
Develop the following story with the help of the points given below:
[Points: a farmer sees a snake almost dead with cold—takes pity on it—brings it home—warms it by the fire—the snake revives and is about to bite the farmer's son—the farmer kills the snake with a stick.]
The Farmer and the Snake
One cold winter morning, a kind farmer was walking through his field. He found a snake lying on the ground, stiff and almost dead with cold. Feeling sorry for the creature, he took pity on it. He carefully picked up the snake, brought it home, and placed it near the warm fireplace. The warmth revived the snake, and it began to move. Suddenly, the snake reared up and was about to bite the farmer's young son, who was playing nearby. Seeing this, the farmer wasted no time. He grabbed a stick and killed the snake instantly, saving his son. He realized that a wicked creature will never change its nature, no matter how much kindness is shown to it.
A Summer Friend
During my last summer vacation, I spent a memorable day with a little sparrow that had made a nest in a corner of our balcony. I named him Pip. Every morning, I would wake up and quietly watch him from a distance as he chirped and flitted about, searching for seeds. I would leave a small bowl of water and some grains for him. It was a simple, quiet friendship, but it taught me a lot about patience and the small joys of nature. He was my little summer friend, and I'll always remember our time together.
Summer Friends Quiz
Test your knowledge with 50 questions from this lesson!