Does the poem "Going Down A Bicycle" convey a message beyond its literal meaning? Explain and support your answer.
Answers
Answer:
TRUE HAPPINESS LASTS A LIFETIME
Explanation:
The poem, Going Down the Hill on a Bicycle, written by Henry Charles Beeching describes the thrilling ride of a boy going downhill.
The poet talks about how he waits at the top of the hill in anticipation of an exhilarating ride and then starts rolling down slowly. As the bicycle picks up speed and the wind rushes by, he feels like he is flying and compares his joy to the freedom of a bird in flight. This ride downhill aids him in understanding the sense of independence that flying provides.
But as the joyride comes to an end he realizes that all hills end in a valley, but if one has the determination to climb a long hill again, he will be rewarded with a joyous flight.
Though the reader may think of the poet as rash, he has taken a few precautions before his joyride. The poet mentions how he lifts his feet from the pedals and keeps his hands still so that he would not lose his balance and fall off the bicycle, while it is dashing down the hill
The boy is not afraid of falling down or isn't bothered about anything else happening in the world, he is enjoying the very present moment of his life with joy...
He is finding true happiness even in tiny moments of this life...
Therefore the theme of the poem is "True happiness lasts a lifetime."