4. Explanation of lines 5-12

Explanation:

 

In the second stanza, the poet paints a picture with his words as to how mother nature has provided resources in abundance. In reality, all the resources that a human being needs are already available. But in the long run, when people became greedy, things started changing for the worse. They wanted extra and started hoarding up. Differences started arising between people, and they fought for more without realising that all they wanted was already present within nature. All individuals are exposed to nature and resources like sun, air and water, and therefore are almost similar. Nature does not discriminate against humans.

 

 

The poet emphasises more on the need to promote equality among human beings by giving instances of how farmers produce a harvest that suffices as food for all the people in the world. When there is a war, countries face scarcity in terms of food production or economy, which the poet compares with the winter season when there is less harvest. He also says that our hands are similar to them, indicating that everyone works hard to sustain life, and therefore everyone's life is equally important and precious. Their labour is not in any way different from each other.

 

 

Kirkup then says that all human beings are created and seen equally in the eyes of God. The ability to see, hear, touch, taste, and feel are blessings bestowed on each individual. In spite of differences in race, colour and appearances, the physical features and emotions are common. People from across boundaries open their eyes to a new morning every day and close their eyes when they sleep. This indicates that people all over the world have dreams, aspirations, hopes and every day they wake up, they go about pursuing it. The poet also says that people possess strength. But this strength is not the one to be tested with wars, rather it will only be submitted to the power of love. No matter where people are or what culture they practise, love is a universal language. Since all human beings lead the same kind of common lifestyle, it is easy to empathise and understand each other and allow others to live.

 

Meaning of difficult words: