When did my childhood go?
Was it the day I ceased to be eleven,
Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven,
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!
When did my childhood go?
Was it the time I realised that adults were not
all they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!
When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine,
To use whichever way I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those of other people
But my own, and mine alone
Was that the day!
Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know
Think it out
1. Identify the stanza that talks of each of the following.
$\begin{array}{|l|} \hline \text{individuality} \qquad \text{rationalism} \qquad \text{hypocricy} \\ \hline \end{array}$
2. What according to the poem is involved in the process of growing up?
3. What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?
4. Which do you think are the most poetic lines? Why?
Understanding the poem
Questions are based on
- Thematic comprehension
- Reflection on theme
- Poetic sensibility
