Question

write the summary of the poem 'when autumn came' in 12th class

Answer 1

“This is the way that autumn came to the trees:

It stripped them down to the skin,

Left their ebony bodies naked.

It shook out their hearts, the yellow leaves,

Scattered them over the ground.

Anyone could trample them out of shape

Undisturbed by a single moan of protest.”

Autumn is described as a season which seems to disturb the heart, soul and body of the tree.  The first verse can also be a metaphor which describes how the heart, soul and body of human beings are torn apart by destructive forces.  “Ebony” bodies can be a metaphor to describe how human beings have been treated as slaves with land exploited for ulterior and selfish motives.  The bodies, hearts and souls of these poor and powerless people and any land can be manipulated and trampled over.  Landscapes and people can be severely conditioned, exploited and “trampled” out of shape.  This can be done without these people even being able to voice a single breath of protest.

Now, read and reflect on the second verse of the poem.

“The birds that herald dreams

Were exiled from their song.

Each voice torn out of its throat.

They dropped into the dust

Even before the hunter strung his bow.”

The second verse also has metaphorical connotations.  Autumn is a time when the sweet song of birds slowly fades away.  “Birds” can be a metaphor for people with dreams for justice and egalitarian societies being squashed.  Their voices and fight for justice are silenced by vested sinister interests, and they are sent into exile.   In fact, the poet himself was ironically sentenced to prison by the military government.  Faiz was, however, posthumously honored with the the nation’s highest civilian award Nishan-e-Imtiaz similar to the Bharat Ratna in 1990.

Now, read the last verse of the poem.

“Oh, God of May have mercy.

Bless these withered bodies

With the passion of your resurrection;

Make their dead veins flow with blood again.

Give some tree the gift of green again.

Let one bird sing.”

The last verse has an imagery of everything looking withered in the autumn season.  Similar to Jesus Christ and other human rights activists rising from the dead, the poet prays that these disturbed and withered voices fighting for freedom and justice will rise once again with renewed strength.  The poet prays that they will once again find their voices and continue the struggle for justice and freedom.

Answer 2

Explanation:

give a character sketch of mriganko babu