Page 50 - Real English 2024 Book 8

REAL ENGLISH 8

What do you make, O ye goldsmiths?

Wristlet and anklet and ring,

Bells for the feet of blue pigeons,

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Frail as a dragon-fly’s wing,
Girdles of gold for the dancers,
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Scabbards of gold for the king.
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Sarojini Naidu

12. very thin; delicate 14. sheaths for swords
13. belts for the waist

Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949) was a freedom fighter and poet. Her poems depicted the life
and events of the India of her time, and are widely read in India and abroad.

A Reflect

A1 Based on your reading of the poem, think carefully about the points given below and form your
own views.
1. The poet uses imagery for all five senses to create the atmosphere of a market in the
poem. Have you ever been to a traditional market like the one described in the poem? What
kind of market was it? What was your experience like? Think particularly about how you
experienced the market through your five senses.

2. What do you think is the significance of goods produced locally by small industries as opposed
to those produced on a large scale? Do you think they are better or worse in quality?
3. Do you think the poet is exoticizing (making something seem more glamorous than it really
is) the market? If so, why?

B Understand

B1 The table below lists the articles on display or for sale in the bazaars of Hyderabad. Fill in the
missing information. Put a cross where no information is available in the poem.

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