NCERT Solutions Class 9 English (Beehive (Poem))
The NCERT Solutions in English Language for Class 9 English (Beehive (Poem)) Poem – 3 Rain on the Roof has been provided here to help the students in solving the questions from this exercise.
Poem – 3 (Rain on the Roof)
Rain on the Roof
When the humid shadows hover
Over all the starry spheres
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears,
What a bliss to press the pillow
Of a cottage-chamber bed
And lie listening to the patter
Of the soft rain overhead!
Every tinkle on the shingles
Has an echo in the heart;
And a thousand dreamy fancies
Into busy being start,
And a thousand recollections
Weave their air-threads into woof,
As I listen to the patter
Of the rain upon the roof.
Now in memory comes my mother,
As she used in years agone,
To regard the darling dreamers
Ere she left them till the dawn:
O! I feel her fond look on me
As I list to this refrain
Which is played upon the shingles
By the patter of the rain.
– COATES KINNEY
Thinking about the Poem
I. 1. What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class.
(i) humid shadows
(ii) starry spheres
(iii) what a bliss
(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start
(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof
Answer –
(i) “Humid shadows” refers to the dark clouds that produce rain.
(ii) “Starry spheres” refers to the night sky abounding in stars.
(iii) “What a bliss” refers to the happiness of the poet. When it rains the poet gets into his cottage and enjoys the patter of rain upon the roof.
(iv) This refers to the various imaginary thoughts and fantasies that are aroused in the poet’s mind.
(v) This phrase means that numerous memories intermingle to form a beautiful picture that the poet recollects.
2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?
Answer – When it rains, the poet feels delighted to lie with his head pressed against the pillow of his cottage chamber bed and listen to the patter of the soft rain.
3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to?
Answer – The single major memory that comes to the poet is that of his mother and her fond look. The “darling dreamers” are the poet and his siblings in their childhood when they were lovingly put to sleep by their mother.
4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?
Answer – No, the poet is now a grown up man. His mother is not alive anymore.
II. 1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did?
Answer – Yes, when I was a young child, my mother tucked me in. She would sing me lullabies and send me
to sleep.
2. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem?
Answer – Yes, I like the rain. When it rains steadily I get into my house enjoy the weather with my family.
3. Does everybody have a cozy bed to lie in when it rains? Look around you and describe how different kinds of people or animals spend time, seek shelter etc. during rain.
Answer – No, not everyone is fortunate enough to have a cozy bed to lie in when it rains. Poor people who do not have a shelter to protect themselves from the rain. They wander here and there to find a place where they can stand under the tin roofs or trees. People who were out of their homes try to rush back towards their homes as soon as possible. Animals try to find places to save themselves from getting wet during rain.
