Read the poem given below and write the appreciation based on the following aspects:
Money is the poem.
• About the poem/poet and significance of the title.
• The form and theme, and its significance.
• Poetic style, language features/poetic devices used.
• Inspiration message, values, morals reflected in the poem.
• Special features.
• Your opinion and critical evaluation of the poem.
Answers
Williams H. Davies - a Welsh poet and writer- in his poem 'Money' speaks of both times: when he had money and when he did not. Davies tramped through the United Kingdom and United States.So he actually led a poor dimple life of a wanderer. He experienced personally the difference in the life of a rich man and a poor man.
The theme of the poem is the influence of money on the behavior of people. False friends are plenty when a man has money. The poet compares himself to a child with a trumpet. He is not allowed to blow it for there has been a death. The simile suggests that he is not advised to flaunt his wealth because there are false friends around.
He uses a simile again when the poor man's wife is described as humming about busily like a bee.
The poet also has seen that the lack of money does not mean lack of happiness. The poor man is able to laugh while a rich man frowns; the poet feels the rich must become poor to taste the simple joys of life - the use of antithesis helps to stress this point.
The poem has five stanzas of four lines each. The seven or eight syllable lines are short but rich in poetic devices. The rhyme scheme of 'abcb' is used in the first four stanzas, and it renders a uniform rhyme 'abab'. Repetition of the word 'money' stresses the way man gives money too much importance when it actually takes away our happiness.
The message is that money does not bring happiness. The poor are cheerful while the rich are worried.
The poem is very useful to remind us the value we attach to money. It is a necessity; however, is not the only thing to chase.