5th Poem
Soft Storm
By Abhi Subedi
"Soft
Storm" by Abhi Subedi is a thoughtful poem that shows the
poet’s quiet feelings against violence, injustice, and suffering in society.
The “soft storm” means his inner pain
and silent protest. The poet sees both beauty and sadness
around him and wants peace, justice, and hope for all people.
About the Poet: Abhi Subedi is a famous Nepali poet, playwright,
and essayist. He writes about society, peace, and human emotions.
Setting: The poem is set in a busy city where
both beauty and pain exist side by side. It shows the outer world and
the poet’s inner feelings.
Tone: The tone is calm but emotional. It
shows sadness, concern, and silent protest against the problems
in society.
Themes
1. Inner Conflict: The poet
feels a silent struggle inside his heart when he sees the problems in society.
2. Violence and Injustice: The poem
shows sadness about the violence and unfair treatment of innocent people.
3. Hope and Peace: Even in dark
times, the poet wishes for a better world filled with peace and kindness.
4.Beauty vs. Suffering: The poet sees
both the beauty of life and the deep pain that exists around him.
a. When does the speaker grow soft? Enlist the occasions when he grows soft.
The speaker grows soft when he hears the pain
of the world, sees the sky blooming like crocus flowers, watches the moon slide
across the sky, and when the moon softly sings about streetlights and dirty
streets.
Or,
In the poem Soft Storm
by Abhi Subedi, the speaker grows soft or emotional during these times:
·
When he hears the noise and suffering of the earth.
·
When the sky looks like blooming crocus flowers.
·
When the moon moves quickly across the sky.
·
When the moon sings about streetlights and dirty streets in the
city.
b. What do you understand by ‘this
seamless city’?
‘This seamless city’ means a place that looks
smooth and well-connected on the outside but hides deep problems like pain,
sadness, and injustice within it.
c. Describe the poor children
portrayed in the poem.
The poem shows poor children crying under a
tree, hungry and ignored, living on the streets without food, care, or love,
showing how society forgets them.
d. What do you understand by ‘the
unwedded gardens of history’?
‘The unwedded gardens of history’ means parts
of history that are forgotten or ignored, like the rich culture of Kathmandu
that people no longer care for.
e. Why was the forlorn child wailing?
The forlorn child was crying because he lost
his mother in a place filled with painful memories, showing the deep hurt
caused by past violence and neglect.
f. What do you understand about ‘soft
storm’?
‘Soft storm’ means a quiet emotional struggle
inside the poet, filled with sadness and care for the problems in the world,
without shouting or anger.
g. Why does the speaker call our time
‘mad time’?
The speaker calls it a “mad time” because people are acting selfishly, nature is changing strangely, and the world has lost peace, values, and love.
In Advance
a. When does the speaker grow
soft? List the occasions when he grows soft.
In the poem Soft Storm by
Abhi Subedi, the speaker becomes emotional and gentle (soft) during certain
moments. He feels this way when:
- He
hears the noise and pain of the world.
- The
sky looks like crocus flowers.
- The
moon falls or moves quickly in the sky.
- The
moon sings about streetlights and dirty streets in the city.
Or,
a. When does the speaker grow
soft? Enlist the occasions when he grows soft.
The speaker grows soft during moments of emotional reflection and sensitivity.
These are times when he is deeply moved by nature and the human condition. He
feels soft when he hears the suffering of the earth, sees the sky blooming like
flowers, watches the moon sliding down the sky, and when the moon sings quietly
about urban life. These moments show his inner compassion and the way he
responds to beauty, pain, and the strange harmony between the natural and human
worlds. They reflect his awareness of the silent struggles around him.
b. What do you understand by ‘this
seamless city’?
The phrase "this seamless
city" refers to a place that appears smooth and connected on the surface,
but may hide complexities underneath. It suggests a city where everything seems
to flow naturally without clear boundaries or separations. In a deeper sense,
it can mean a city that looks peaceful and orderly but carries hidden suffering
and stories. The poet might be commenting on how cities appear unified and
perfect from the outside, yet are filled with unseen problems like poverty,
loneliness, and injustice. The term invites readers to look beyond appearances
and understand deeper realities.
c. Describe the poor children
portrayed in the poem.
The poem shows poor children as symbols
of sadness and neglect. They are hungry, homeless, and struggling to survive in
the streets of the city. These children are described crying under a
bat-hanging tree in a place called Kesharmahal. Their situation highlights the
harsh reality many children face in urban areas—ignored by society, lacking
food, shelter, and care. The poet uses their image to evoke sympathy and to
draw attention to how even in a beautiful, historic city, there are innocent
lives suffering every day. They represent the forgotten part of society.
d. What do you understand by ‘the
unwedded gardens of history’?
The phrase "unwedded gardens
of history" suggests places or aspects of history that have been ignored,
untouched, or not properly connected with the present. These gardens symbolize
the cultural and historical heritage that has been left behind or not given
proper care. In the context of the poem, it may refer to the rich traditions
and past of Kathmandu that are now overlooked or forgotten in the rush toward
modernization. The poet is possibly mourning how history is no longer deeply
rooted in people’s lives and has become disconnected from everyday experience.
e. Why was the forlorn child
wailing?
The forlorn child in the poem is
crying out of sadness and loss. He is searching for his mother in a place
filled with memories of pain and violence. The “corridors of violent history”
suggest that his mother may have been a victim of past suffering or conflict.
The child’s crying represents the deep emotional wounds left behind by war,
poverty, or neglect. It shows how even the youngest and most innocent are
affected by historical trauma. This image is powerful and heartbreaking,
reminding us of the long-lasting impact of societal violence.
f. What do you understand about
‘soft storm’?
The term "soft storm"
refers to strong emotions and inner conflicts that are not loud or violent, but
still deeply powerful. It represents the poet’s quiet struggle and sorrow over
the chaos in the world. A soft storm doesn’t destroy like a hurricane, but it
stirs the heart with sadness, compassion, and concern. In this poem, it
symbolizes the speaker’s emotional response to the injustice, suffering, and
confusion he sees around him. Even though the storm is soft, it affects the
soul. It is a poetic way of showing sensitivity in troubled times.
g. Why does the speaker call our
time ‘mad time’?
The speaker calls our time a “mad
time” because the world seems filled with chaos, disorder, and strange events.
People act selfishly and care more about material things than kindness or
nature. The natural world is also changing in unexpected ways—flowers bloom in
the wrong season, birds sing sadly, and the earth seems disturbed. These signs
show a world out of balance. The poet sees people losing their values and
becoming disconnected from what truly matters. This madness isn’t just noise
and confusion—it’s a loss of wisdom, peace, and humanity.
Text related exercises
a. The poet uses the word ‘soft’
with the words like ‘storm’ and ‘gale’, which generally refer to disorder and
violence. What effect does the poet achieve through the use of such anomalous
expressions?
By combining opposite words like
"soft" and "storm," the poet creates a strong emotional
contrast that catches the reader’s attention. Storms usually suggest chaos,
noise, or destruction, but describing them as "soft" brings out a
feeling of quiet sadness and deep reflection. This contrast shows the poet’s
emotional response to the harshness of the world—his protest is not violent but
thoughtful. These expressions show that emotions don’t need to be loud to be
powerful. The poet uses this technique to highlight silent suffering and to
express deep compassion for the troubling realities he observes.
b. What is the speaker’s attitude
towards the time he describes in the poem?
The speaker views the time he
lives in as confusing, painful, and full of contradictions. He describes it as
a "mad time" where people act without reason, driven by materialism
and selfishness. He sees the natural world responding strangely to human
actions, like flowers blooming out of season or birds singing unsettling songs.
His attitude is full of disappointment, frustration, and sadness. He is deeply
troubled by social injustices, ignored heritage, and suffering children.
Instead of reacting with anger, he reflects and observes quietly, but his
dissatisfaction is clear. He longs for peace, compassion, and meaning in a
chaotic world.
c. What is the speaker like? Is he
a rebel? Why? Why not?
The speaker is sensitive,
observant, and deeply connected to both the social and natural world. He
notices the pain around him—poverty, violence, and the loss of cultural
identity—and responds with quiet reflection. He doesn’t shout or demand change
with force, but his words question the world’s madness and express a desire for
transformation. This makes him a different kind of rebel: not one who fights
with weapons, but one who resists through empathy, poetry, and emotional
honesty. His rebellion is through awareness and compassion, using thoughtful
language to inspire change rather than direct confrontation.
In Simple Words
In Soft Storm, Abhi Subedi shows the poet’s quiet sadness while looking at the problems in the world. The title “soft storm” means a strong feeling inside him that is gentle, not loud, showing that even without shouting, emotions can be powerful. The poem shares how the world feels messy, but the poet’s reaction is calm and full of deep thought.
The speaker feels upset by what he sees and hears around him. He talks about the noise of the earth, the moon moving strangely, and how it sings about city lights and dirty streets. These strange images show that something is wrong in both nature and city life. He describes the city as “seamless,” meaning it looks smooth and fine, but it actually hides pain and problems inside.
The poet also talks about the sadness of poor children, especially those crying with hunger in places like Thamel. These children are ignored by others, showing the gap between the rich and poor. He mentions how the culture and history of Kathmandu are being forgotten, which is shown in the phrase “unwedded gardens of history.”
The speaker says we live in a “mad time,” where people are selfish, confused, and disconnected from what truly matters. Kindness and human values are disappearing. His “soft storm” is the quiet voice of his heart, full of emotion and care for the world’s pain.
In the end, Soft Storm shows a world filled with disorder, but the poet’s gentle emotions stand as a peaceful protest. The poem asks us to see the truth, feel with our hearts, and think about how to bring kindness back into society.
Summary of Soft
Storm by Abhi Subedi
In Soft Storm, Abhi
Subedi captures the poet’s emotional disturbance while observing the world’s
chaos. The title, “soft storm,” contrasts the idea of a violent storm with a
more gentle, internal feeling. The poet uses this to show that while the world
may be in turmoil, his reaction is more calm but still deeply emotional.
The speaker feels disturbed by the
sights and sounds of the world around him. He describes the earth’s noise and
how the moon behaves strangely, falling and singing songs about the city’s
lampposts and streets. These unusual happenings represent how nature and life
seem to be out of order. The poet describes a city that looks peaceful on the
outside, but it hides its true problems, symbolizing a “seamless city” where
there are no clear boundaries.
The poem focuses on the suffering
of the poor, especially homeless children seen crying from hunger in busy areas
like Thamel. These children are ignored by society, highlighting the growing
social divide. The poet also reflects on how the history and culture of
Kathmandu have been forgotten, as seen in the phrase “unwedded gardens of
history.”
The speaker sees the modern world
as “mad time,” filled with confusion, selfishness, and disorder. People are
disconnected from each other, and the values of humanity are fading. The poet’s
soft storm represents his emotional response to this madness, as he feels both
sadness and compassion for the suffering around him.
In the end, Soft Storm portrays
a world where the poet’s gentle yet powerful inner feelings challenge the chaos
and selfishness of modern society. The poem calls for awareness and change,
though in a quiet, reflective way.
1. Metaphor
Definition: A direct comparison between two things
without using "like" or "as".
Example: “Soft Storm” – The title itself is a
metaphor.
Meaning: It compares the poet’s quiet inner
emotional pain to a storm, showing how deep and powerful his feelings are,
even if they are not loud or violent.
2. Personification
Definition: Giving human qualities to non-human things.
Example: “The moon sang of lampposts and gutters…”
Meaning: The moon is described as if it can sing,
which shows the poet’s emotional connection to nature and the city.
3. Imagery
Definition: Descriptive language that appeals to the
senses.
Example: “The sky grew like crocuses”
Meaning: This creates a visual image of the sky
blooming like flowers, symbolizing beauty in the middle of chaos.
4. Symbolism
Definition: Using symbols to represent ideas or feelings.
Example: “Seamless city”
Meaning: The city looks smooth and connected on the
outside but hides pain, injustice, and suffering beneath.
5. Alliteration
Definition: Repetition of the same sound at the beginning
of nearby words.
Example: “forlorn child was wailing in the corridors of violent
history”
Meaning: The repeated ‘w’ sound in “was wailing” adds a musical
tone and emphasizes the sadness of the child.
6. Juxtaposition
Definition: Placing two opposite ideas close together to
highlight contrast.
Example: Beauty of crocuses vs. suffering of poor children
Meaning: The poet shows the contrast between natural beauty and human
suffering, making the reader feel the imbalance in the world.
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