Poem Notes

Introduction

The poem explores the childhood desire to be someone else, someone whose life appears less constrained and more free-spirited than one's own. The speaker expresses a longing for a life different from their daily routine, reflecting on themes of freedom, longing, and social constraints.

Stanza 1: The Hawker

The poem begins with the speaker's observation of a hawker:

  • Time: The speaker is walking to school at ten in the morning, a time when the day is just beginning to unveil its possibilities.

  • Setting: The speaker walks along 'our lane', a familiar space that evokes memories of childhood and innocence.

  • Encounter: The speaker meets a hawker, whose presence symbolizes freedom and the joys of life outside structured routines.

  • Hawker's Cry: The hawker is selling bangles, specifically 'bangles, crystal bangles!', creating a vivid image of vibrant and delicate objects that attract attention.

  • Freedom: The speaker perceives the hawker as free from constraints, noting:

    • 'There is nothing to hurry him on'

    • 'there is no road he must take'

    • 'no place he must go to'

    • 'no time when he must come home'
      This imagery emphasizes the contrast between the hawker's liberation and the speaker's own lack of freedom in their daily life.

  • Desire: The speaker expresses a wish to be a hawker, spending the day freely crying, 'Bangles, crystal bangles!' This longing reflects a childlike yearning for exploration and joy.

  • Symbolism: The hawker represents the spirit of freedom, creativity, and the simplicity of life outside societal expectations. He embodies the idea of living in the moment and relishing the small pleasures that life has to offer.

Stanza 2: The Gardener

The second part of the poem shifts focus to a gardener:

  • Time: The speaker is returning from school at four in the afternoon, a time when the warmth of the day begins to fade, inviting a sense of calm.

  • Setting: The speaker observes the gardener through the gate of a house, a barrier that represents the rules of society separating the speaker from their desires.

  • Activity: The gardener is digging the ground, an act that embodies both labor and connection to nature.

  • Freedom: The speaker again emphasizes the gardener's freedom:

    • 'He does what he likes with his spade'

    • 'he soils his clothes with dust'

    • 'nobody takes him to task if he gets baked in the sun or gets wet'
      This appreciation for the gardener's unconstrained life evokes a sense of nostalgia for unstructured play and creativity.

  • Desire: The speaker wishes to be a gardener, digging away at the garden without anyone stopping them, embodying a desire for autonomy and self-satisfaction through simple, fulfilling tasks.

  • Symbolism: The gardener represents nurturing, patience, and growth, both in nature and within oneself. He symbolizes a fulfilling life that comes from working with the earth and fostering life, contrasting with the societal pressures the speaker feels.

Key Vocabulary

  • Hawker: A person who makes money by selling goods that they carry with them, often in public spaces, symbolizing freedom and entrepreneurial spirit.

  • Crystal: In this context, refers to transparent glass, signifying beauty and delicacy, often associated