4th poem Class 9 Rickshaw Ride By John Hill

 Rickshaw Ride

    By John Hill

That man by the harbour
Spitting into the water
Is as old as China.

He is made of leather
And his folded face
Is like a sandbar
At low tide.

Will you take a ride
On his rickshaw?

He will not thank you
For your dollar
He knows that to you
A dollar does not matter.

Off you go with a clatter
Up to Victoria
On up the long hill
Pass the cathedral
To the peak tram.

Pull! Pull!
He leans to it.
His muscles at neck
and calf and shoulder
And his dark veins that snake
Take your eye
Not what passes by.

Let him not break
Something for my sake,
For my dollar.

You went to Hong Kong
They will say.
Did you take a rickshaw?
Was it fun?
Did he run, your rickshaw man?
Yes, he ran.
No, it was not much fun.

– John Hill

Find the synonyms

Stanza 1–2

harbour → port, dock, seashore (जहाज अड्याउने ठाउँ)

spitting → ejecting, throwing out (थुक्ने)

as old as China → very old, ancient (एकदमै पुरानो)

leather → tough skin, hide (छाला)

folded face → wrinkled, creased (चाउरिएको अनुहार)

sandbar → sand ridge, sandbank (बालुवाको ढिस्को)

low tide → receding sea, ebb (समुन्द्रको घटेको पानी)

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Stanza 3–5

rickshaw → three-wheeled passenger cart (मान्छेले तानेर चलाउने गाडी)

dollar → money, currency (डॉलर/पैसा)

matter → be important, count (महत्व हुनु)

clatter → rattling noise, loud sound (ठकठक आवाज)

Victoria → a place in Hong Kong (ठाउँको नाम)

cathedral → big church, temple-like structure (ठूलो चर्च)

tram → electric streetcar, train-like vehicle (विद्युत् गाडी)

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Stanza 6–7

lean to it → put effort, bend forward, strain (उत्साहपूर्वक जोड दिनु)

muscles → strength, brawn (पेशी)

calf → lower part of leg (खुट्टाको तल्लो भाग)

veins → blood vessels (शिरा)

snake (verb) → twist, wind, coil (सर्पझैँ बाङ्गो–टिङ्गो हुनु)

take your eye → attract attention (ध्यान तान्नु)

passes by → goes past, moves along (छेउबाट गुज्रनु)

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Stanza 8–10

sake → purpose, reason (कारण/लाभ)

break → collapse, injure (टुट्नु, बिग्रनु)

Hong Kong → city in China (ठाउँको नाम)

fun → enjoyment, amusement (मनोरञ्जन)

ran → pulled fast, hurried (छिटो तान्यो)

 

The poem "Rickshaw Ride" by John Hill is based on the poet's experience of riding a rickshaw in Hong Kong. The poem portrays the poor condition of the people in China who have to work hard for their survival. The poet starts by describing the old rickshaw puller, who is standing by the harbour spitting into the water. The poet compares the old man's physical appearance to the country of China, as both are old. In the second stanza, the poet describes the rickshaw puller's weak and thin appearance, comparing his wrinkled face to a sandbar at low tide. The poet highlights the old man's hard labour and lack of happiness despite earning a dollar. In the third stanza, the poet observes the old man's muscles and veins while he pulls the rickshaw up a hill. The poet expresses concern for the old man's health and well-being. In the last stanza, the poet reflects on the experience of the rickshaw ride, which he found to be terrible due to the old man's condition. Despite being asked about the ride by others, the poet only focused on the old man's suffering.