Poem: A Fighters Lines

I am old and worn

and have lost all my strength
sufferings
and the history of the fight for independence
have forced sacrifices
that know no name
or life
from the wheelchair of the rest of my days
I, body and energy crushed
see and cannot do much
these times are too big a challenge
for the remnants of my crippled years
the net of deceit spread everywhere
disturbs me
In the name of justice
Wake up and form ranks sons of our ancestor
Be brave
And erect a wall of people
Stand up heirs of our freedom
I have no more voice
It is you now who should speak!
Marzuki Ali
a. Who is the persona of the poem? (1m)
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b. Write two themes that can be found in the poem. (2m)
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c. What is the mood of the poem? (1m)
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d. Why is the persona telling the young generation to stand up for their freedom?
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e. What has the persona done for his country? (1m)
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f. From stanza 1, give one phrase that show the persona is not a young person. (1m)
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g. From stanza 2, what does the persona worry about? (1m)
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h. If the persona were your grandfather, would you do as he asks in the poem? Give reasons
to justify your choice. (2m)
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i. What sacrifices did the persona have to make? (1m)
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j. In the last stanza, who does you refer to? (1m)
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k. What do you think is the main theme of the poem? Give a reason. (2m)
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Poem: I Wonder
I wonder why the grass is green,
And why the wind is never seen?
Who taught the birds to built a nest,
And told the trees to take a rest?
O, when the moon is not quite round,
Where can the missing bit be found?
Who lights the stars, when they blow out,
And makes the lightning flash about?
Who paints the rainbow in the sky,
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?
Why is it now, do you suppose,
That Dad wont tell me, if he knows?
a. What does it mean when trees take a rest? (1m)
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b. What does the persona wonder about the stars? (1m)

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c. In the last stanza, why do you think the Dad does not give the persona the answers? (1m)
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d. Who do you think is the persona? Give a reason.(2m)
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e. Describe the persona. (1m)
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f. Give two themes of the poem (2m)
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g. Do you think it is good to be like the persona? Why? (2m)
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h. Can a tree take a rest?
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i. What does the poet really mean when she says that the trees take a rest? (1m)
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j. List three things that the persona is wondering about.
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k. State one moral value found in the poem.
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Poem: The River

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The Rivers a wanderer,

A nomad, a tramp,
He doesnt choose one place,
To set up his camp.

The Rivers a baby,

He gurgles and hums,
And sounds like hes happily,
Sucking his thumbs.

The Rivers a winder,

Through valley and hill,
He twists and he turns,
He just cannot be still.

The Rivers a singer,

As he dances along,
The country echoes,
The notes of his song.

The Rivers a hoarder,

And he buries down deep,
Those little treasures,
That he wants to keep.

The Rivers a monster,

Hungry and vexed,
Hes gobbled up trees,
And hell swallow you next

a. Why is The River like a nomad? (1m)

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b. Where would one find the treasures that The River keeps? (1m)
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c. What happens when The River is angry? (1m)
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d. Give 2 characteristics of The River. (2m)
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e. The river is often given human characteristics. We call this literacy device. (1m)
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f. What do you think are buried deep under the river? (1m)
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g. When does the river gobble up trees and swallow people? (1m)
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h. What does the phrase He doesnt choose one place tell us about the river? (1m)
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i. Give two words from the poem that the poet uses to describe the river as a winder (2m)
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j. In stanza 3, why does the persona call the river a hoarder? (1m)
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k. What is the river compared to in the last stanza? (1m)
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