SOLITUDE By: ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

 

SOLITUDE By: ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

SOLITUDE – ELLA WHEELER WILCOX   1          Laugh, and the world laughs with you; 2          Weep, and you weep alone. 3          For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, 4          But has trouble enough of its own. 5          Sing, and the hills will answer;        6          Sigh, it is lost on the air. 7          The echoes bound to a joyful sound, 8          But shrink from voicing care.   9           Rejoice, and men will seek you; 10      Grieve, and they turn and go.                    11      They want full measure of all your pleasure, 12       But they do not need your woe. 13       Be glad, and your friends are many;            14   Be sad, and you lose them all. 15   There are none to decline your nectared wine,     16   But alone you must drink life's gall.   17   Feast, and your halls are crowded; 18    Fast, and the world goes by. 19   Succeed and give, and it helps you live, 20   But no man can help you die.                       21   There is room in the halls of pleasure 22   For a long and lordly train, 23   But one by one we must all file on 24 Through the narrow aisles of pain.

THE TITLE

“Solitude” means a lonely place/being alone or away from other people or in isolation.

 

SUMMARY

It is a universal human condition that: you are friend to everyone while sharing your ‘joy’ and ‘good times’ but that a person is alone/solitary in their tough times/sadness. 

 

STANZA 1

 

·       Laugh, and the world laughs with you; / Weep, and you weep alone.

 

We live in a society, where, when one is happy, laughing and joyous, then the whole world would laugh along with you, and make you more comfortable and liked. 

But in your sadness, people would generally not come to comfort you – so you weep alone – in loneliness.

 

·       For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, / But has trouble enough of its own.

 

The earth (or the society, community we live in) is so much filled with its own social problems and financial problems, and many troubles that is has no time to help you during your difficult times.

 

·       Sing, and the hills will answer; / Sigh, it is lost on the air.

·       The echoes bound to a joyful sound, / But shrink from voicing care.

 

During your good times and good mood, if you were to “sing” then even the “hills” would “answer you by singing with you along”. That means, you will receive a response from the world or society, and happiness would be multiplied – like the echoes. But if you were to “Sigh” with your troubles or hardships, nobody will take notice of it and it would be “lost on the air.”, making it feel lonely. 

The world or the society around you, will not share your problems or your troubles. You need to deal with them all by yourself.

 

STANZA 2

·       Rejoice, and men will seek you; / Grieve, and they turn and go.

 

·       They want full measure of all your pleasure, / But they do not need your woe. 

 

In a similar manner, if you show happiness and rejoice, then your friends will “seek you” and be around you and want to spend time with you.  But if you “Grieve” then the same people find excuses to “turn and go.” 

These people do not want “your woe” or share your troubles, but are more happy to share with “your pleasure.” 

 

·       Be glad, and your friends are many; / Be sad, and you lose them all.

 

·       There are none to decline your nectared wine, / But alone you must drink life's gall. 

 

If you are glad, happy, helpful and generous, then everyone will want to befriend you.

But if you are sad, down and stressed, they will not like to come near you.

 

If you have some nice things to share, nobody will decline it, but you endure, deal and tackle your life’s sadness, poverty, loneliness – all things that make us bitter.

 

STANZA 3

·       Feast, and your halls are crowded; / Fast, and the world goes by.

 

In a similar manner, if you are in good mood and invite for celebrations, nobody will decline and your house is full. But when you are low, and down, and cannot eat food, nobody shown any concern why you not eating and feeling so low.

 

·       Succeed and give, and it helps you live, / But no man can help you die.    

 

By your hard works, if you can make your life successful, then you will live a good life. But in contrary, no body will help you to succeed – or even help you to die, even if you feel so helpless. Death is solitary.

 

·       There is room in the halls of pleasure / For a long and lordly train,

·       But one by one we must all file on / Through the narrow aisles of pain.

 

In your successful life, “the halls of pleasure” will always be full. People will come and congratulate you and praise you for your success. But you yourself must walk through the narrow “aisles of pain” alone if you are not able to gain much success in your life. There is no one to share your pain/ your path to death. 

This is the Solitude you must endure.

 

My First Journey to a Table Tennis Tournament

 

We all like sports. Some of us like to watch and some like to play. Sports makes us active, strong and stable. I also like different sports and of them Table Tennis (T.T.) is one of them.

 

I remember when I was in class 3, I first learned to correctly hold a TT bat and play very simply from my big brother. We practiced for long hours whenever we had free time. I slowly started to like the sport and improved myself also.

 

Last year our School did not participate in the T.T. tournament. But this year five students were selected for the “Joint School Table Tennis Tournament 2023”, where 6 different schools participated, organized by Rosebud School.

 

The selected players did not have many days for practicing. Our sports teacher Gyandev sir coached us. At home, I practiced it with my brother when I had some time. I could feel that I was doing better and my family and sports teacher helped me to build my confidence.

 

Finally the tournament day arrived. Our teachers gave us last-minute instructions. We arrived at the venue – “Nepal Table Tennis Hall at Lainchaur”. I was nervous and excited to see so many students present in the hall. We did some warm-up practice with other school students.

 

Finally the matches were begun. There were different categories. I was in Junior Girl’s Singles Category. Finally my name was called with another girl from KUSH school. I was both nervous and eager to know how she played. She was a good player but I won her in 2 sets. After winning her I felt more confident and less nervous. My team congratulated me.

 

My second match was with a girl from Rosebud school. She was cheered very loudly by lot of her school mates that made me more nervous. I hoped that I would not loose very badly, but surprisingly I won her also.

 

The third match was the semifinals. I had to win this match to go to the finals. My opponent was again a girl from Rosebud School. She was better than the previous girl. My heart was racing when I was playing against her. In the second set it was a very close call. We had so many deuces and I won at 20-18 points (the set was for up to 11 points only). I was much relieved and happy and felt like I have won the finals. But she seemed very upset, so I felt sorry for her.

 

Finally, the Junior Girds Singles Final was announced. I had to play against Suramya Shakya of Class 6 of our school. I knew she was the best player from our school and also played in international tournaments. I knew that I was going to become second, so I was not nervous as before. But I was very glad both first and second places went to our school. 

 

Even though we were a small team from our school, we won two places and at school we were congratulated by our Principal, teachers and friends. I hope we will do better in coming tournaments.

 

This was my first experience in a Joint - School Tournament, and I will treasure my experience for very long.

 

Shuvanjali Manandhar

Class 7 A

St. Mary's School, Jawalakhel

September 2023.

 

 यात्री

–  लक्ष्मी प्रसाद देवकोटा

कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन मन्दिरमा जाने हो ?

कुन सामग्री पुजा गर्ने, साथ कसोरी लाने हो ?

मानिसहरूको काँध चढी, कुन देवपुरीमा जाने हो ?

 

हाडहरूका सुन्दर खम्बा, मांसपिण्डका दिवार !

मस्तिष्कको यो सुनको छाना, इन्द्रियहरूका द्वार !

नसा-नदीका तरल तर, मन्दिर आफू अपार !

कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन मन्दिरको द्वार ?

 

मनको सुन्दर सिंहासनमा, जगदिश्वरको राज !

चेतनाको यो ज्योति हिरण्यमय, उसको शिरको ताज !

शरिरको यो सुन्दर मन्दिर, विश्वक्षेत्रको माझ।

 

भित्र छ ईश्वर बाहिर आँखा, खोजी हिड्छौ कुन पुर ?

ईश्वर बस्तछ गहिराइमा, सतह बहन्छौ कति दुर ?

खोजी गर्छौ हृदय लगाऊ, बत्ति बाली तेज प्रचुर ?

 

साथी यात्री बीच सडकमा, ईश्वर हिड्छ साथ

चुम्दछ ईश्वर काम सुनौला, गरिरहेका हात

छुन्छ तिलस्मी करले उसले, सेवकहरूको साथ ।

 

सडक किनार गाउँछ ईश्वर, चराहरूको तानामा

बोल्दछ ईश्वर मानिसहरूका, पिडा, दु:खको गानामा

दर्शन किन्तु कहिँ दिँदैन, चर्म-चछुले कानामा ।

कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन नव-देश बिरानामा?

 

फर्क फर्क हे ! जाऊ समाऊ, मानिसहरूको पाउ !

मलम लगाऊ आर्तहरूको, चहराइरहेको घाउ

मानिस भइ ईश्वरको त्यो, दिव्य मुहार हँसाऊ

 --------------------------------

In Nepal, most of the population have very deep and strong Hindu belief. They strongly believe that by worshiping and doing puja to the God’s physical sculptures and idol, they will obtain prosperity. However Mahakavi Devkota had a different view on what worshiping is.

         In Nepal, there are many famous Temples and Shrines at the Hill Tops, for example : Manakamana Temple, Pathibara Temple, Muktinath Temple, Palanchowk Bagwati Temple, Gosaikunda etc. Every year many people visit these temples and shrines, even though it is very hard to get to these place. People spend lot of their money and time, because they strongly believe that by visiting those Temples and worshiping the Gods there, they will obtain health, happiness and prosperity.

         One day Devkota was travelling and he met some people who were also travelling to reach to a very famous Temple. Some people were weak and so could not walk themselves, so they hired some porters to carry them on their backs! These porters, hoping to earn some money, they are doing this very difficult job of carrying heavy loads of human being up hills. It was a very pitiful sight for Devkota.

         In his very soft heart, Devkota felt very sorry for that porter, and also wondered why people are going to the Temple for worshipping the Gods, instead of doing humane works for the needy people, which he thinks is better than worshipping the stone idols of the Gods. He then writes this Super famous Poem.

 

To the Travelers he asks :

Hey Pilgrim Traveler : Which Temples do you wish to visit ? What puja items are you taking with you ?

Why are you riding on another human being, to reach to your Temple ?

 Is it not a shameful, cruel deed ?

Devkota then compares the Human Body to that of a Temple, where the Gods reside :

Human skeletons and mussels resembles the Temple’s walls

The Brain resembles the Temple’s roof, and our five sense’s openings resembles the Temple’s doors.

The network of nerves and veins are the pathways to our Temple.

Devkota further says:

Our Lords resides on the beautiful throne inside our hearts

Human mind is the one that can spread message of kindness to all

Thus the human beings are the resemblance of the Gods

Devkota wonders why people are taking such troubles to reach to difficult Temples :

Why you are searching for the God in the outside world ?

Do you not know that God resides in all human being ?

Gods resides deep inside us, but you search only the outside surface.

If you want to search for the Gods, search inside the human souls

Devkota further says:

Dear Travelers, God is travelling with you.

He only kiss those hands which are doing their work

He touches only those hands which is used to serve other people

Devkota also says:

The nature is abound by His presence. Do you not hear the sweet chirping of the birds ?

And listen to the cries for help from those needy people, are they not the voices of the God ?

God does not reveal itself openly, but you need to know how to feel his presence

 At the end Devkota urges everyone :

Oh, travelers, do not take such strenuous journey to the Temple

If you want to meet Him, return and serve your brothers and sisters who are in need

Serve them selflessly – by whatever means it is possible – give them love and affection

And your service to these people will be your worship to the Gods

And the God’s gift will be showered to you for your selfless deeds.

Father's Day

 

Written by Shradheya in 2020 August 19 (on Father's Day)

Tara's Story - by Shuvanjali

 

TARA’S STORY

 

A small baby girl was crying on her mother’s arms. “We can’t keep her with us any more,” the man said in a low voice. “But she is our child, we can’t leave her on the streets, she is just a baby “ the mother replied. “I understand, but we don’t have enough money to raise her,“ he said and added “ Please, I am sure some rich couple will find her, it is for her own good.”

 

After some time the woman was finally ready to give up her child, remembering that she would find a good place to stay. Before they left them they tied a small necklace around her neck to keep her safe.

 

Few hours later, a woman of age about 35 found the little baby crying inside a cardboard box. She waited for sometime to see if the baby’s parents would come to get her or not but nobody came. Feeling sorry she took the baby in.

 

Scene 1                  6 years later…..

 

The lady who took in the little girl was Radha Thapa. She owned a little tea shop where the little girl ‘Kanchi’ stayed and worked. Kanchi was always grateful to Radha didi for adopting her. She always would want to go to school but Radha didi always used to say, “School is just a waste of time and money, you can always learn something new at home.”  That made Kanchi think school was useless and did not wanted to go to school again.

 

Overtime Radha didi started to be strict and sometimes rude. She started to be careless about Kanchi and wanted more business only. But Kanchi did not mind at all, she was always grateful and obedient, she was very shy but smart. The customers did not care much about her either.

 

One cold winter morning, Kanchi was dreaming about going to school, and making new friends, when she suddenly heard a piercing sound, “Wake up !, Wake up !!” She looked outside and thought to herself, “It’s still so dark and cold also, why did didi call me ?” Again the sound came, “Kanchi, Oi Kanchi, wake up fast and go to fetch water. Quick I say.” Kanchi replied, “OK didi, I am going..”

 

The first chore for Kanchi was to fetch water from a nearby stone sprout. After some time Kanchi returned with two buckets of water, balancing in her two thin hands. Even if she returned as soon as possible, Radha didi always scolded her for being late and talking with other servants.

 

After that, Radha didi tells Kanchi to wash the big pots and pans. This was the favorite part of Kanchi’s day, she thinks. She says while dish washing, moving her hands and body rigorously, made her body warm. She also turned on the radio to listen to the some morning ‘Bhajan’. Radha didi gets very annoyed and thinks that Kanchi is not doing her work fast enough, and shouts, “Kanchi, why are you listening to that annoying song? Didn’t I tell you to finish your work fast?” “Yes didi. I am listening to a Bhajan and doing my work. Bhajans are songs for the Gods, and I like them very much.” “I don’t care about those silly song and your God. Just finish your work.”

 

Soon it was 7 o’clock and customers were already coming for their tea and breakfast. Now Kanchi needs to work fast. She doesn’t want to keep the customers waiting.

 

“Hey girl, bring me some bread and tea” first customer says. “And hurry, I don’t have time.”

“Yes, sir” she politely replies.

“An egg and a glass of milk for me,” says another customer.

Kanchi has to remember each customer’s order. If she makes mistake, then she again gets scolding.

 

Every day it is the same. She has to keep working fast, without catching her breath. She always wants to send the customers happily.

 

At 9 o’clock, while standing in front of the Tea Shop, Kanchi sees some children going to their schools. They all have big fancy bags, which makes Kanchi wonder to herself, “What might be in there ? Copies, books, pens, what else do you need to go to school. Radha didi might be right.. schools are a waste of time and money.”

 

As she was watching children go by, she sees a mother with her daughter. The child was very active and running ahead of her mom, but suddenly she trips and falls. She spills the contents of her bag, and books, copies, pens and her lunch all spills. Her mother hurriedly helps her pick her stuff, and says. “It’s okay dear. Don’t pick that lunch. I will get you new lunch. Just let that stray dog have it.”  Kanchi was surprised to see so many books, copies, pens and colour pens in that girl’s bag. She also thought to herself. “If it was me, I would have eaten the clean bread and give the dog the bread that touched the floor.”

 

At lunch time, people again started to gather. Some were rude and treated her rudely, but some were kind and gave her some tips also.

 

That day, a couple had come for lunch and saw Kanchi serving all the customers efficiently. They felt very sorry for her and started to talk with her.

 

“Now come here once,” the male called her. “I am Mr. Nepali and this is my wife. What is your name?”

“Kanchi”

“No, no, I am asking your real name,” he said.

“It is Kanchi.”

“Where are your parents?”

“I have Radha didi only.”

“OK. Do you go to school ?” the lady asks.

“No.”

 

They looked shocked !! How can a little girl not go to school ? They decided to talk to Radha didi about this.

 

“Radha didi, please come here once.”

 

The lady asks her, “ Why aren’t you letting Kanchi go to school ? In this modern time, you have to let her study.”

 

This remark made Radha didi very annoyed.

 

“So what ? Who will pay for her fees, huh ?? Her dead parents !? ”

 

“ We didn’t mean that,” the couple said. “ We meant that children must get a chance to read and write. If you don’t do so, this will affect the child’s rights.”

 

“ I don’t take care of her anymore. If you want her to go to school, then you can send her. In fact you can keep her yourself. I don’t want to feed this good-for-nothing girl, huh .” Radha didi’s face was red with anger.

 

“Okay, then we will take her and also send her to school,” said the wife. Then she asks to Kanchi, “Would you want to go to school ? You can also stay with us.”

 

Kanchi was confused and so she looked up to Radha didi, but she did not look back.

 

Finally she said, “ I do want to go to school and live with you too.” Hearing her answer, the look in the couple’s face priceless. They were extremely happy.

 

“Okay, first we are going to keep your name. We will call you “Tara Nepali”.

 

Kanchi was happy that she got a home, a family and her name, and she was able to go to school, like all kids of her age.

 

Before she left, she hugged Radha didi and thanked her for all she had done for her. With a heavy heart she left Radha Didi’s Tea Shop.

 

 

Scene 2                  9 years later…..

 

Tara is 15 years old and going to school.

 

“Bye mom. Bye dad. I am going to school now,” She was a smart student at school and also ranked first in her class. She is friendly, kind and obedient student.

 

One day, she was walking to her bus stop. As she was walking, she came by the “Radha Didi’s Tea Shop.” The place had not changed much. Seeing the place, the old memories of the hard times she spent there came flying into her mind. Tears started to roll in her eyes. She then prayed to herself, “Oh, God, thank you for letting me go to live with my loving family and a chance to go to my school. I think I will visit Radha didi this Saturday… Oh, my God, I am so late for my school..” She hurries to catch her bus.

 

 

 

Scene 3        10 years later…..

 

Tara is now a teacher at an orphanage school. Every day she goes to her school to play with the children, teach and tell them stories. She enjoys her work.

 

“Tara Miss, let us play story telling today ! We all will tell our own stories today,” one child said.

 

“Let’s do that !” everyone joined him, excitedly.

 

Turn by turn, the children told their own stories, but when it was Tara’s turn, she did not know what to say.

 

“M  i  s  s….. tell us about your childhood days. We really want to know. You have never told us about it,” one girl urged her to tell.

 

Hearing these innocent children’s desire to her own story, she couldn’t lie to them. Holding back her tears she started narrating her true life story. All the events were like flashback scenes in a movie. The children listened to her in awe, some were also crying. Even Gopi, the most restless boy of the class also sat quietly and was listening to her story. They all came to hug her after she ended her story.

 

A few weeks later, the orphan children asked if they can go to Radha Didi’s shop. “Sure, that’s a wonderful idea. I haven’t visited her for quite long now. How about tomorrow ?” The children all agreed. “Remember to give her a gift, Miss,” a girl reminded her.

 

The next day, they all went to a store and bought a shawl for Radha didi, as a gift. When they reached at her shop, an old lady was sitting behind the counter, and drinking tea. At first, the old lady did not recognize Tara. After Tara introduced herself as “Kanchi”, Radha didi instantly recognized her. Tara introduced all the children as her students of her class. Receiving the gift, tears rolled down her cheeks and she hugged Tara tightly and thanked her for remembering her even after so many years.

 

“ I am so sorry to have treated you badly. You never complained and always were grateful, while I was just blinded for earning money. Please… please do forgive me, by Tara dear.”

 

“ Of course, I will forgive you always. Because of the hardships during my childhood I have become a strong woman.”

 

All the children clapped and cheered for the happy reunion of Radha didi and Tara Miss.

 

a   THE END   a

                                                ….. of the beginning

 

Story written by : Shuvanjali Manandhar

Class 6, St. Mary’s High School

February 8, 2023