Understanding

1. What do “here” (1.1) and “there” (1.19) refer to?

Ans: Here refers to present in which he is alone due to his believed death. There means
past in which he was with his beloved.

2. Why does the speaker look at the ships sailing away?

Ans: The speaker looks at the ships sailing away because he thinks that he might see
her, talk to her, and send his kisses that to his hidden beloved in the horizon.

3. What does the “black cross” (1.8) symbolize?

Ans- Black cross is the symbol of death because it echoes the Crispification of Jesus
Christ.

4. What’s the meaning of “even my soul is wet”?

Ans: “Even my soul is wet” may mean that his soul is also weeping in his separation with
his beloved. The poet may think that human beings’ soul also bursts it tears in the time
of melancholic and painful situation. In the poem, seeing the speaker's condition at his
present, we also can not control of weeping.

5. Why is he happy at night?

Ans: He is happy at night because he talks to his beloved in his dream and feels as if pine
is singing about his beloved and also thinks that biggest stars are his beloved eyes that
are looking at him.

Rhetoric/Language/Writing

1. How is the poem structured? Why are the stanza lengths different?
Ans: The poem is structured in different lengths. The first stanza has irregular line
that suggests his frustration and sadness in the separation of his beloved. Third
stanza is so irregular because it talks about death. The fifth stanza is little bit regular
because he can heal his tense mind hearing pine’s singing. The final stanza’s
wording and line are parallel in comparison with others because he finds
consolation with biggest stars.

2. What are the images in the poem? Classify them according to natural and man-
made Images.
 Ans: The images in the poem are: sea, pine, snow, black cross of a shy horizon, old
anchors, piers, star and so on. Sea, pine, snow, horizon, star are natural images. Old
anchors, piers, cross of a ship are man made.

3. What is the connotation of the word “dark” in “dark pines?

Ans: “Dark” in “dark pines” is a natural image that highlight the theme of
separation.

4. Explain the simile “moon glows like phosphorous”?

Ans: Phosphorous is a kind of chemical that shines in the dark Similarly, moon also
shines at night. So, the poet compares moon with phosphorous.

5. How does the poet try to send his message to his departed lover?
Ans: He tries to send his message and kiss on the sailing heavy vessels.

6. Is the poem pessimistic from top to bottom? Ans: The poem is pessimistic in the
beginning (top) but it ends (bottom) with a little bit of consolation as he thinks
biggest stars outlook and song of pine trees.

Discussion

1. What different subject might the poet discuss if he/she were here"?
Ans: The poet discusses if she were here in this way: He might say he was the
luckiest lover to have a lovely and beautiful beloved. He would say that they
have the habit of going on a date in pine trees and sea shore. He would say they
exchange their kiss late night in the sea shore. In twilight, they would walk on
the pine trees and would hear the song of pine. The poem would be like this:
Here you and I are
By Sharma Milan
I am I how lucky dear
No fear of separation
No thought of detach
Two souls are same
being one two hearts together
ever be new anchor
gaze by big star
knowing us true lover
Am I How lucky?
2. Discuss "Here I Love You" as a love poem.
Ans: It is a purely a love poem in which the speaker has become preacher of
true lover. Even in separation, his love, feeling and emotion toward her same.
Though she is no more in mortal world, she remains forever in his heart. He
showing her purity and softness goes to compare with natural imagery. Nature
is same and spring ever comes but only human being goes but never returns.
However, his beloved never fades away but remains blooms in his heart.

The poem is purely love because in most of the love poems, poets talk about
pine trees and stars. They compare their beloved voice with pine song and eyes
with star, and facial complexion with snow. All the world is shiny