The Guarrel

It is common for brothers and sisters to quarrel, although sometimes they may not even be able to say why they quarrel. But how long do such quarrels last? How do they end?

I quarrelled with my brother
I don’t know what about,
One thing led to another
And somehow we fell out.
The start of it was slight,
The end of it was strong,
He said he was right,
I knew he was wrong!

We hated one another.
The afternoon turned black.
Then suddenly my brother
Thumped me on the back,
And said, “Oh, come along!
We can’t go on all night -
I was in the wrong."
So he was in the right.

WORKING WITH THE POEM

1. With your partner try to guess the meaning of the underlined phrases.

(i) And somehow we fell out.

(ii) The afternoon turned black.

2. Read these lines from the poem:

(i) One thing led to another

(ii) The start of it was slight

(iii) The end of it was strong

(iv) The afternoon turned black

(v) Thumped me on the back

Discuss with your partner what these lines mean.

3. Describe a recent quarrel that you have had with your brother, sister or friend. How did it start? What did you quarrel about? How did it end?

Know Your Country

Answers

1. Haryana, Uttar Pradesh.

Built on the banks of the Yamuna river, Delhi is bordered on the west by Haryana and on the east by Uttar Pradesh.

2. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Rising from Amarkantak and flowing through Beraghat in Madhya Pradesh, the Narmada flows westwards across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat into the Gulf of Khambhat.