10th class English (FBISE)
National Book Foundation
Poem "Blue"
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Original Readings:
She had my eyes and her mothers nose
She cried for a moment and then settled down
The angel of my life with hair of brown
Something was wrong and we had to know
The doctor called with concern on his mind
And told me my angel had been born blind
This was not my idea of being a dad
So from that day forward I started a plight
To be her eyes in life and her heart of sight
Into a beautiful child with a need to know
Each day was spent teaching all that I knew
Until one day when she asked about blue
Only sighted descriptions were the way to explain
She had no way of knowing what I was trying to say
And for the very first time I failed her that day
She formed her thoughts on what is blue
Wanting to know just what others could see
Inside her mind it became reality
Paraphrasing of the poem “Blue” by Brian A. Haycock Line by line:
Stanza 1
She was born pink and soft with all of her toes
→ The poet describes the birth of his babby girl. She was born sheen healthy, soft, and complete.
She had my eyes and her mothers nose
→ She looked like her parents, with her father's eyes and mother’s nose.
→ After a short cry, she then became calm.,
The angel of my life with hair of brown
→ The poet lovingly called her an angel, with brown hair.
Stanza 2
Months went by and we watched her grow
→ As time passed, the parents happily watched their daughter grow.
Something was wrong and we had to know
→ Parents noticed something unusual about her health and wanted answers.
The doctor called with concern on his mind
→ The doctor examined and informed them seriously about the problem.
And told me my angel had been born blind
→ The doctor explained that the poet's beloved daughter could not see since birth.
Stanza 3
I cried for a while and then I got mad
→ The poet (father) cried at first, but then he became angry about the situation.
This was not my idea of being a dad
→ The poet felt this wasn’t what he imagined fatherhood would be.
So from that day forward I started a plight
→ From then on, he made a firm decision to be strong.
To be her eyes in life and her heart of sight
→ The poet decided to act as his daughter's eyes, guiding her through life with love and care.
Stanza 4
As the years passed by she started to grow
→ The poet says that his daughter grew older with time.
Into a beautiful child with a need to know
→ She became a lovely, curious child, eager to learn.
Each day was spent teaching all that I knew
→ Her father taught her many things he could, every day
Until one day when she asked about blue
→ Until one day, she asked him what the colour "blue" was.
Stanza 5
I tried to define it but my efforts were in vain
→ The father tried to explain what blue meant, but he failed.
Only sighted descriptions were the way to explain
→ Father realized “blue” could only be described by sight, which she didn’t have.
She had no way of knowing what I was trying to say
→ Since she couldn’t see, she couldn’t understand his description.
And for the very first time I failed her that day
→ For the first time as her father, he felt helpless as a parent.
Stanza 6
Life went on and as she grew
→ The poet says that life continued, and his daughter kept growing,
She formed her thoughts on what is blue
→ She created her own idea of what 'blue' might be.
Wanting to know just what others could see
→ She still wished to understand what sighted people saw.
Inside her mind it became reality
→ Through her strong imagination, her own version of blue became real.
Stanza-wise paraphrasing of the poem “Blue” by Brian A. Haycock in a paragraph:
Stanza 1
She had my eyes and her mothers nose
She cried for a moment and then settled down
The angel of my life with hair of brown
In this stanza the poet describes the birth of his daughter. She was born healthy, soft, and complete with all her toes. She had her father's eyes and mother's nose. After a short cry, she calmed down, and the father lovingly called her his angel with brown hair.
Stanza 2
Something was wrong and we had to know
The doctor called with concern on his mind
And told me my angel had been born blind
In this stanza, the poet tells that as months went by, the parents joyfully watched their baby grow, but soon they noticed something unusual and took her to a doctor. After examination, the doctor informed them that their daughter had been born blind. This heartbreaking news left the father deeply saddened.
Stanza 3
This was not my idea of being a dad
So from that day forward I started a plight
To be her eyes in life and her heart of sight
In this stanza, the father (poet) feels both heartbroken and angry when he learns that his daughter is blind. Though it is not what he imagined for himself as a father, he chooses not to lose hope. Instead, he takes on the challenge with love and determination, promising to be her eyes and guide her through life with care and devotion.
Stanza 4
Into a beautiful child with a need to know
Each day was spent teaching all that I knew
Until one day when she asked about blue
In this stanza, the poet explains that as time passed, his daughter grew into a beautiful and curious child eager to learn about the world. Her father taught her everything he could, until one day she asked about the colour blue — a question that left him deeply challenged.
Stanza 5
Only sighted descriptions were the way to explain
She had no way of knowing what I was trying to say
And for the very first time I failed her that day
In this stanza, the poet (father) tries very hard to explain what “blue” means, but he fails because his daughter has never seen colours. He realizes that sighted people’s descriptions cannot help her understand, and for the first time, he feels helpless as a parent.
Stanza 6
She formed her thoughts on what is blue
Wanting to know just what others could see
Inside her mind it became reality
In this stanza, the poet says that life went on, and the daughter continued to grow. Even though she could not see, she imagined her own version of “blue.” In her mind, it became something real and meaningful, reflecting her powerful imagination and deep inner world.
Central Idea of the poem “Blue” by Brian A. Haycock in a board exam-style way:
Central Idea:
The Central Idea of the poem “Blue” by Brian A. Haycock, highlights the deep and unconditional love of a father for his blind daughter and his constant efforts to guide her through life. It shows how he accepts the challenge of being her “eyes” and teaching her everything he can. However, when she asks about the colour blue, he realizes that some experiences, like seeing colours, cannot be explained to someone without sight. Despite this, the daughter forms her own idea of “blue” in her imagination, proving that the human mind can create its own reality. The poem conveys themes of love, hope, acceptance, and the strength of imagination in overcoming limitations.
Summary of the poem “Blue” by Brian A. Haycock in a board exam-style way:
Summary:
The poem “Blue” by Brian A. Haycock tells the emotional story of a father’s love and devotion to his blind daughter. When she was born, she was healthy and beautiful, and the father lovingly called her his angel. Later, he was heartbroken to learn that his daughter had been blind since birth. Instead of losing hope, he accepted the challenge and promised to be her eyes and guide her through life with care and devotion. As she grew, he taught her everything he could, until one day she asked him to explain the colour blue. The father tried, but he realized that sighted experiences cannot be described to someone who has never seen. For the first time, he feels helpless as a parent. However, the daughter used her imagination to create her own idea of blue, showing the power of the human mind to overcome limitations.
Short-Answer Questions
Q1: What is the poem “Blue” about?
A: The poem is about a father’s love and devotion to his blind daughter. It shows his efforts to guide her and how imagination helps her understand the world she cannot see.
Q2: How did the father feel when he learned his daughter was blind?
A: He felt heartbroken and angry at first but later accepted the challenge of being her guide and support in life.
Q3: What did the father decide to do after knowing about his daughter’s blindness?
A: He decided to be her eyes, teach her everything he could, and guide her through life with love and care.
Q4: Why did the father feel helpless when his daughter asked about the colour blue?
A: He felt helpless because he realized that sighted experiences like colours cannot be described to someone who has never seen.
Q5: How did the daughter finally understand the colour blue?
A: She used her imagination to form her own idea of what “blue” might be, creating her own version in her mind.
Q6: What message does the poem convey?
A: The poem conveys the power of love, hope, and imagination in overcoming life’s challenges and limitations.
Long-Answer Questions of the poem - Blue written by Brian A. Haycock,
Q1: Describe the main theme of the poem “Blue.”
A: The poem “Blue” by Brian A. Haycock expresses the deep love and emotional bond between a father and his blind daughter. It shows the father’s journey from sadness to acceptance and his determination to guide her through life. Even when he fails to explain the colour blue, the daughter’s imagination helps her create her own understanding. The poem beautifully conveys how love, patience, and imagination can overcome life’s greatest challenges.
Q2: How does the poet show a father’s love and devotion towards his daughter in the poem?
A: The poet presents a touching portrayal of a father’s unconditional love and devotion. When he learns that his daughter is blind, he feels heartbroken but decides to dedicate his life to helping her. He becomes her eyes, teaches her everything he knows, and never gives up on her. His efforts show a selfless, patient love that helps his daughter grow strong and confident despite her blindness.
Q3: What role does imagination play in the poem “Blue”?
A: Imagination plays a central role in the poem. When the blind daughter asks her father about the colour blue, he struggles to explain it, as it’s something only seen through sight. However, the daughter uses her imagination to create her own version of blue in her mind. This shows the power of imagination in overcoming physical limitations and finding beauty beyond what can be seen.
Q4: Why does the father feel helpless for the first time in the poem?
A: The father feels helpless when his daughter asks him to explain the colour blue. Despite his love and effort, he realizes that no words can help her truly understand a colour she has never seen. It is a painful moment for him because he wants to give her everything, but this is something beyond his ability. This scene symbolizes the limits of human experience and the emotional struggles of a loving parent.
Q5: What lesson does the poem “Blue” teach us about life and love?
A: The poem teaches that love gives strength to face life’s hardships. The father’s care and the daughter’s imagination show that limitations can be overcome through emotional strength and creativity. It reminds us that love is not about perfection, but about understanding, patience, and faith in one another. The poem celebrates the beauty of inner vision and the bond between a parent and child.
MCQs of the poem - Blue written by Brian A. Haycock,
What is the narrator’s relationship to the “angel of my life” in the poem?
A) A friend
B) Her father
C) Her brother
D) Her teacher
Answer: B) Her father-
What condition is the daughter born with?
A) Deafness
B) Blindness
C) Heart condition
D) Speech difficulty
Answer: B) Blindness -
What is the daughter curious about in the poem?
A) The meaning of love
B) The colour “blue”
C) The sound of the sea
D) The shape of the moon
Answer: B) The colour “blue” -
Why does the father feel he fails the daughter at one point?
A) He cannot teach her to walk
B) He cannot explain “blue” because she cannot see
C) He cannot protect her from bullying
D) He forgets her birthday
Answer: B) He cannot explain “blue” because she cannot see -
On the daughter’s sixteenth birthday what happens?
A) She runs a race
B) She receives the gift of sight (the doctor says it might be possible)
C) She moves to a new school
D) She travels abroad
Answer: B) She receives the gift of sight (the doctor says it might be possible) -
When the daughter first opens her eyes, what does she ask to see?
A) The sky
B) Her father’s eyes
C) The colour blue
D) Her mother’s face
Answer: C) The colour blue -
How does the father finally show the colour “blue”?
A) By showing her a picture of the sky
B) By painting a blue canvas
C) By telling her his own eyes are blue
D) By asking her to imagine the sea
Answer: C) By telling her his own eyes are blue -
What does “blue” come to symbolize for the daughter?
A) Sadness
B) Hope
C) Love
D) Freedom
Answer: C) Love -
Which of the following best describes the poem’s genre?
A) A humorous poem
B) A narrative poem (a story)
C) A sonnet about nature
D) A descriptive poem about seasons
Answer: B) A narrative poem (a story) -
Which of the following lines best reflects the father’s enduring commitment?
A) “She cried for a moment and then settled down”
B) “I will never forget what she asked to see”
C) “Look at my eyes, for they are blue / The day you were born they watched over you”
D) “Until one day when she asked about blue”
Answer: C) “Look at my eyes, for they are blue / The day you were born they watched over you”
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