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There are some who seem to fancy that for gladness they must roam,
That for smiles that are the brightest they must wander far from home.
That the strange friend is the true friend, and they travel far astray
They waste their lives in striving for a joy that's far away,
But the gladdest sort of people, when the busy day is done,
Are the brothers and the sisters who together share their fun.
It's the stick-together family that wins the joys of earth,
That hears the sweetest music and that finds the finest mirth;
It's the old home roof that shelters all the charm that life can give;
There you find the gladdest play-ground, there the happiest spot to live.
And, O weary, wandering brother, if contentment you would win,
Come you back unto the fireside and be comrade with your kin.
That for smiles that are the brightest they must wander far from home.
That the strange friend is the true friend, and they travel far astray
They waste their lives in striving for a joy that's far away,
But the gladdest sort of people, when the busy day is done,
Are the brothers and the sisters who together share their fun.
It's the stick-together family that wins the joys of earth,
That hears the sweetest music and that finds the finest mirth;
It's the old home roof that shelters all the charm that life can give;
There you find the gladdest play-ground, there the happiest spot to live.
And, O weary, wandering brother, if contentment you would win,
Come you back unto the fireside and be comrade with your kin.
Explanation:
The poet tries to break misconceptions about families in the young minds of people. He re-emphasises the idea discussed in stanza 2, that people might fancy wandering and getting in touch with strangers. People might think that they can be glad only if they roam, leaving the family behind. The poet understands that people, especially young ones, might think that they might achieve success and will be able to smile only when they wander around without any aim. More than believing a close family member, they tend to think that a stranger is a true friend. They travel around the world, seeking an element to fill the void within them. According to the poet, this kind of behaviour is a waste of time, as they are uselessly pursuing something that is already available to them. There is no necessity to search elsewhere when one happens to have a family that supports each other.
The poet says that the people who are the gladdest are the ones who have a family to go back to after a stressful situation, and the siblings who have each other's back are more prone to grow together and share the fun. In the final stanza, the poet emphasises the importance of being a stick-together family. People need to understand that it is the little things and trivialities that make life meaningful. One can win these joys of the earth, such as experiencing love, warmth, and the joy of caring, only by staying closer to the family. They are the ones to find the sweetest music of life and the best kind of excitement from life. He refers to the joy of living together to be as sweet as music.
The little things is what matters
Family is like the roof of the home that protects one from any kind of danger such as sun or rain. It is also the one roof that preserves all the charm that life can offer to any person. Within a playground, one can find a beautiful playground where one can relax after a stressful day. One can also find a happy and safe spot to live in within the embrace of the family members. After all, every action performed by an individual is a step to get closer to being loved and cared for. We all crave warmth and comfort, which can be offered only by families. The poet ends the poem with a call to the ones who have been roaming around to come back to the warmth of the fireside, beside one's family, and cherish one's kith and kin.
Family cuddled up near a fireside
Meaning of difficult words:
| S.No | Words | Meaning |
1 | Fancy | Feel a desire or liking for |
2 | Gladness | Ultimate happiness |
3 | Astray | Moving away from the correct path |
4 | Striving | Make great efforts to achieve something |
5 | Mirth | Amusement, as expressed in joy |
6 | Weary | Tired and stressful |
7 | Contentment | A sense of satisfaction |
8 | Comrade | A fellow member |
9 | Kin | Members of the family |
Reference:
State Council of Educational Research and Training (2019). English Standard-9. The Stick-Together Families- Edgar Albert Guest (pp. 190-195). Published by the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation.
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