Life*

Henry Van Dyke Let me but live my life from year to year, With forward face and unreluctant soul; Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal; Not mourning for the things that disappear In the dim past, nor holding back in fear From what the future veils; but with a whole And happy heart, that pays its toll To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer. So let the way wind up the hill or down, O'er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy: Still seeking what I sought when but a boy, New friendship, high adventure, and a crown, My heart will keep the courage of the quest, And hope the road's last turn will be the best. mourning (v) - feeling or expressing great sadness veils (v) - to hide or cover something so that you cannot see it clearly or understand it crown (n) - a prize or position offered for being the best quest (n) - a long search for something that is difficult to find unreluctant * (adj.) - willing to do something ( * This form is generally not used but the poet has coined it for emphasis) A. Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions that follow.

. Let me but live my life from year to year, With forward face and unreluctant soul; a. Whom does the word ‘me’ refer to? b.

What kind of life does the poet want to lead? . Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal; Not mourning for the things that disappear a. Why do you think the poet is not in a hurry?

b. What should one not mourn for? . In the dim past, nor holding back in fear From what the future veils; but with a whole And happy heart, that pays its toll To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.

a. What does the poet mean by the phrase ‘in the dim past’? b. Is the poet afraid of future?

c. How can one travel on with cheer? The word sonnet is derived from the Italian word “sonetto,” which means a ‘little song’ or ‘small lyric’. In poetry, a sonnet has lines, and is written in 'iambic pentameter' (A line with ten syllables, accented on every second beat) .

The first eight lines of a sonnet is known as “octave” and the last six lines is known as “sestet”. Sonnets can be categorized on the basis of their rhyme scheme. Sonnet