Contemplation
by John Carpenter
For days and days I’ve climbed a tree
A dappled yellow tree
And gazed abroad at many things
I’ve always wished to see.
I see the green and gentle fields
All bounded in with hedge
And shining rivers swimming through
The rushes on the edge,
And little sheep who play all day
I watch them as they run,
While far away the roofs of town
Are shining in the sun.
I think it’s very nice to sit
So high and look so far—
How very large the world can be!
How many things there are!
Summary
The poem “Contemplation” by John Carpenter captures the peaceful reflections of someone who climbs a yellow tree to enjoy the beauty of the world around them. From this elevated spot, they observe green fields, flowing rivers, playful sheep, and distant town rooftops glistening in the sunlight. The poem expresses a sense of wonder at the vastness and richness of the world, highlighting the joy of quiet observation and appreciation of nature.
Word meanings
| English Word | Bengali Meaning |
| days | দিনগুলো |
| climbed | উঠেছি |
| tree | গাছ |
| dappled | ছোপ ছোপ |
| yellow | হলুদ |
| gazed | তাকিয়েছি |
| abroad | দূরে |
| many | অনেক |
| things | জিনিস |
| always | সবসময় |
| wished | চেয়েছি |
| see | দেখা |
| green | সবুজ |
| gentle | কোমল |
| fields | মাঠ |
| bounded | ঘেরা |
| hedge | ঝোপঝাড় |
| shining | ঝলমলে |
| rivers | নদী |
| swimming | সাঁতার কাটছে / বয়ে যাচ্ছে |
| through | মধ্য দিয়ে |
| rushes | ঝোপঝাড় |
| edge | কিনারা |
| little | ছোট |
| sheep | ভেড়া |
| play | খেলা |
| all day | সারাদিন |
| watch | দেখা |
| run | দৌড়ানো |
| far away | অনেক দূরে |
| roofs | ছাদ |
| town | শহর |
| sun | সূর্য |
| think | ভাবা |
| very | খুব |
| nice | ভালো |
| sit | বসা |
Contemplation
ভাবনা
For days and days I’ve climbed a tree
দিনের পর দিন আমি একটি গাছে উঠেছি
A dappled yellow tree
একটি ছোপ ছোপ হলুদ গাছে
And gazed abroad at many things
আর অনেক কিছু দূর থেকে দেখেছি
I’ve always wished to see.
যেগুলো আমি সবসময় দেখতে চেয়েছি
I see the green and gentle fields
আমি দেখি সবুজ আর কোমল মাঠ
All bounded in with hedge
যেগুলো ঘেরা ঝোপঝাড় দিয়ে
And shining rivers swimming through
আর উজ্জ্বল নদীগুলো বয়ে যাচ্ছে
The rushes on the edge,
কিনারার ঝোপঝাড়ের মধ্য দিয়ে
And little sheep who play all day
আর ছোট ছোট ভেড়াগুলো সারাদিন খেলে
I watch them as they run,
আমি দেখি তারা দৌড়াচ্ছে
While far away the roofs of town
আর দূরে শহরের ছাদগুলো
Are shining in the sun.
সূর্যের আলোয় ঝলমল করছে
I think it’s very nice to sit
আমি ভাবি, বসে থাকা খুবই ভালো
So high and look so far—-
এত উঁচুতে বসে এত দূর দেখা
How very large the world can be!
এই পৃথিবী কত বিশাল হতে পারে!
How many things there are!
এখানে কত কিছু আছে!
QUESTIONS FROM ENGLISH FOR TODAY
- Where do you think the tree was?
The tree was likely in the countryside, surrounded by fields, rivers, and near a town. - What were the four things the poet could see from the tree?
- Green and gentle fields
- Shining rivers
- Little sheep playing
- Roofs of the town shining in the sun
- Have you ever climbed a tree? If yes, what did you do it for? If not, why?
No, I have never climbed a tree because I fear to climb a tree.
QUESTIONS FOR MORE PRACTICE
(a) What color is the tree the poet climbed?
The tree the poet climbed is dappled yellow.
(b) How long did the poet climb the tree?
The poet climbed the tree for days and days.
(c) What does the poet like to do while sitting in the tree?
He likes to look far and observe the world
(d) What is the poet watching in the fields?
The poet watching little sheep playing and running in the fields.
(e) What do the rivers look like in the poem?
Shining and swimming through the rushes
(f) What are little sheep doing in the poem?
Playing all day and running
(g) How far away are roofs of town from tree?
Far away, shining in the sun
(h) How does poet feel about sitting high in tree?
He feels it is very nice and enjoys the view
(i) Why does poet think world is large?
Because from the tree he can see many things spread far and wide
(j) Do you think poet enjoys being up in tree? Why or why not?
Yes, because he finds it nice to sit high and look far
(k) How is tree?
Dappled yellow and tall enough to give a wide view
(l) What has poet wished to see?
The beautiful sights of nature and the town from above
(m) How are fields?
Green and gentle
(n) Through what do shining rivers run?
Through the rushes on the edge
(o) What does poet watch?
Sheep playing, rivers flowing, and town roofs shining
(p) Why do roofs shine?
Because of the sunlight
(q) What is very nice to poet?
Sitting high and looking far
(r) Why is poet astonished?
At how large the world is and how many things there are
(s) What does first stanza of poem Contemplation imply?
The poet enjoys climbing the tree and observing the world
(t) Why do you think speaker has climbed a tree?
To see and enjoy the beauty of nature and the world
(u) What main theme second stanza deals with?
The beauty of nature and peaceful countryside life
(v) Write about speaker’s attitude reflected last stanza of poem.
The speaker is amazed and appreciative of the vastness and richness of the world
(w) What does expression ‘green and gentle field’ symbolize in poem?
Peace, calmness, and natural beauty
(x) What does indicate by saying ‘shining rivers swimming through’?
The rivers are bright and lively, moving gracefully through nature
(y) How expression ‘little sheep who play all day’ relevant context of poem Contemplation’?
It shows the innocence and joy of rural life, which the poet admires
(z) What theme of poem ‘Contemplation’ by John Carpenter?
The main theme is appreciation of nature, childlike wonder, and the joy of observing the world from a peaceful, elevated place.
