11th class Poem "Sunshine After Rain"
BY
Brenda Winder
One day when I was young, I heard a knock at my door.
It sounded familiar, like I had heard it before.
I opened the door, and to my surprise,
There stood a young lady with blond hair and brown eyes.
She said, "I have the answers; are you ready to play?"
So I grabbed my money and I said okay.
There were the answers that I had always sought.
Liquids, pills, and powders, and I bought and bought.
Then one day, my friend suddenly changed.
Her face became ugly, calloused, and deranged.
She grabbed my hand and we tore through the town.
My loved ones and friends could only watch and frown.
She kept whispering something I could only guess.
It sounded like she was repeating, "Yes, Yes, Yes."
I thought of my family, oh what a mess,
But all I heard was screaming, "Yes, Yes, Yes."
I had to find help; I was at my wits end.
I had lost my child, my family, and my friends.
I said, "God are you there? Can you help me, please?"
A sudden peace came over me and I fell to my knees.
I said, "God, I'm not worth it; I feel like a jerk."
He said, "Suit up and show up; it's time to go to work."
So I am here to tell you in this little rhyme.
Life keeps getting better one day at a time.
So when you think you are going insane.
There's always sunshine after the rain
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Stanza-1
One day when I was young, I heard a knock at my door.
It sounded familiar, like I had heard it before.
I opened the door, and to my surprise,
There stood a young lady with blond hair and brown eyes.
She said, "I have the answers; are you ready to play?"
So I grabbed my money and I said okay.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 1Line-by-Line:
1. "One day when I was young, I heard a knock at my door."
The poet remembers a time from her youth when someone knocked on her door.
2. "It sounded familiar, like I had heard it before."
The sound felt familiar, as if she had heard it before — creating a sense of curiosity and mystery.
3. "I opened the door, and to my surprise,"
The poet opened the door, feeling curious and surprised to see who was there.
4. "There stood a young lady with blond hair and brown eyes."
She saw a young lady, looked attractive with blonde hair and brown eyes, and seemed friendly or inviting.
5. "She said, 'I have the answers; are you ready to play?'"
The lady told her that she had the solutions to her problems and asked if she was ready to play.
6. "So I grabbed my money and I said okay."
Tempted and curious, the poet agreed and gave her money, not realizing the danger ahead.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-1:
in the first stanza the poet recalls a time from her youth when she heard a familiar knock on her door, as if she had heard it before. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see a young lady with blonde hair and brown eyes standing there. The lady told her that she had the answers to her problems and asked if she was ready to play. Tempted and curious, the poet took her money and agreed, unaware that this decision would lead her toward a dangerous path.
Stanza-2
There were the answers that I had always sought.
Liquids, pills, and powders, and I bought and bought.
Then one day, my friend suddenly changed.
Her face became ugly, calloused, and deranged.
She grabbed my hand and we tore through the town.
My loved ones and friends could only watch and frown.
7. “There were the answers that I had always sought.”
She believed that what the woman offered would solve her life’s problems.
8. “Liquids, pills, and powders, and I bought and bought.”
Those “answers” turned out to be drugs — liquids, pills, and powders — and the poet kept buying more and more without thinking.
9. “Then one day, my friend suddenly changed.”
Over time, the so-called “friend” (a symbol of drugs) changed completely.
10. “Her face became ugly, calloused, and deranged.”
Her beautiful appearance became horrible and frightening, showing how addiction had turned destructive.
11. “She grabbed my hand and we tore through the town.”
She took hold of the poet hand, and together they went wildly around the town.
12. “My loved ones and friends could only watch and frown.”
My family and friends sadly watched me, disappointed and helpless.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-2:
The poet thought she had finally found the answers she had been searching for in life. However, those answers came in the form of liquids, pills, and powders — symbols of drug addiction. She kept buying and using them, believing they would help her. But soon, her so-called “friend” changed completely; her once pleasant face turned ugly, hardened, and crazy. This represents how addiction transformed into something frightening. The poet and her “friend” ran wildly through the town, losing control, while her family and friends could only watch helplessly and sadly as she ruined her life.
Stanza-3
She kept whispering something I could only guess.
It sounded like she was repeating, "Yes, Yes, Yes."
I thought of my family, oh what a mess,
But all I heard was screaming, "Yes, Yes, Yes."
13. "She kept whispering something I could only guess."
Poet's “friend” kept whispering something repeatedly that he couldn’t clearly understand.
14. "It sounded like she was repeating, 'Yes, Yes, Yes.'"
It seemed like she was saying “Yes, yes, yes” again and again — symbolized the endless temptation and urge to keep using drugs.
15. "I thought of my family, oh what a mess,"
The poet realized how much trouble and pain she had caused her family.
16. "But all I heard was screaming, 'Yes, Yes, Yes.'"
Yet the voice of addiction kept overpowering the poet, repeating “Yes, yes, yes.”
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-3:
The poet’s “friend” kept whispering something she couldn’t understand clearly, but it sounded like the repeated words “Yes, Yes, Yes.” These words symbolized the constant temptation and pressure to keep using drugs. The poet thought about her family and the mess she had caused in their lives, but the voice of addiction was stronger, drowning out all other thoughts with its endless cries of “Yes, Yes, Yes.”
Stanza-4
I had to find help; I was at my wits end.
I had lost my child, my family, and my friends.
I said, "God are you there? Can you help me, please?"
A sudden peace came over me and I fell to my knees.
I said, "God, I'm not worth it; I feel like a jerk."
He said, "Suit up and show up; it's time to go to work."
17. “I had to find help; I was at my wits end.”
The poet finally realized that she couldn’t continue like this.
18. “I had lost my child, my family, and my friends.”
Addiction had taken everything from her — her child, family, and friends — leaving her completely broken and alone.
19. “I said, ‘God are you there? Can you help me, please?’”In desperation, the poet turned to God, asking sincerely for help.
20. “A sudden peace came over me and I fell to my knees.”
She felt a wave of peace and comfort and knelt down in gratitude and surrender.
21. “I said, ‘God, I'm not worth it; I feel like a jerk.’”
The poet confesses to God that she feels unworthy of forgiveness and ashamed of what she had done.
22. “He said, ‘Suit up and show up; it's time to go to work.’”
But God told her to get up, be strong, and start rebuilding her life — to take action instead of giving up.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-4:
Eventually, the poet reached a breaking point and knew she needed help. She was emotionally and mentally exhausted, having lost her child, her family, and her friends to addiction. In desperation, she prayed to God and asked for His help. As she did, a sudden feeling of peace and comfort came over her, and she fell to her knees in surrender. She confessed to God that she felt unworthy of forgiveness and ashamed of her mistakes. But God gently encouraged her, telling her to stand up, have courage, and start rebuilding her life — reminding her that it was time to take responsibility and move forward.
Stanza-5
So I am here to tell you in this little rhyme.
Life keeps getting better one day at a time.
23. “So I am here to tell you in this little rhyme.”
Now the poet is sharing her story through this poem.
24. “Life keeps getting better one day at a time.”
The poet encouraging others by saying that life improves gradually — one day at a time — if one keeps faith and effort.
25. “So when you think you are going insane,”
The poet advises others that when life feels unbearable or hopeless.
26. “There's always sunshine after the rain.”
The poet ends with a hopeful message: no matter how hard life feels, tough times don’t last forever. After every storm, there comes sunshine — a symbol of hope and recovery.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-5:
At the end, the poet shares her experience through this simple rhyme to encourage others by saying that life continues to improve gradually, one day at a time — if one keeps faith and effort. The poet ends with a hopeful message: no matter how dark and painful life becomes, there's always a brighter side that comes after tough times, just like sunshine after the rain.
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The central idea of the Poem "Sunshine After Rain" by Brenda Winder
1. The central idea of the poem “Sunshine After Rain” by Brenda Winder is the message of hope, recovery, and faith. It illustrates how addiction can break and destroy a person’s life, taking away everything they love, but also shows that sincere faith in God and strong self-determination can lead to healing, strength, and a new beginning. Through her personal experience, the poet reminds us that no matter how dark or difficult life may seem, there is always a chance to start over — because, just like sunshine follows the rain, peace and happiness return after times of pain and struggle.
The central idea of "Sunshine After Rain" by Brenda Winder is about the journey from struggle to recovery. The speaker tells the story of being led down a destructive path, losing everything important, and feeling hopeless. However, after calling out to God for help, they experience peace and are encouraged to take action and rebuild their life. The poem delivers a message of resilience and hope, reminding us that no matter how tough things get, there’s always a brighter future after the hardships, just like sunshine after rain.
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The Summary of "Sunshine After Rain" by Brenda Winder
1. The poem "Sunshine After Rain" by Brenda Winder is a poem about personal struggle, addiction, and eventual recovery. The speaker recalls a time when they were young and were introduced to harmful substances, thinking they were the answers they had been looking for. Over time, their life spirals out of control, losing family, friends, and stability. Desperate for help, they turn to God, who offers guidance and peace. The poem ends with a hopeful message, reminding readers that life gets better one day at a time, and even after hard times, there is always hope, like sunshine after rain.
2. The poem “Sunshine After Rain” by Brenda Winder tells the story of the poet’s journey from addiction to recovery and hope. When she was young, she was tempted by a woman who offered her “answers” in the form of drugs. At first, she believed they would make her happy, but soon her life was ruined — she lost her child, her family, and her friends. Broken and hopeless, she prayed to God for help, and a feeling of peace came over her. God encouraged her to get up, stay strong, and rebuild her life. The poet then realized that life can improve slowly, one day at a time. Through this poem, she shares a message of hope and faith — that even after the darkest times, there is always light and happiness again, just like sunshine after the rain.
Short Questions and Answers:
Q1. Who is the poet of the poem “Sunshine After Rain”?
Ans. The poem “Sunshine After Rain” is written by Brenda Winder.
Q2. What does the poet hear at the beginning of the poem?
Ans. The poet hears a knock at her door that sounds familiar, as if she had heard it before.
Q3. Who was standing at the door and what did she offer?
Ans. A young lady with blonde hair and brown eyes was standing at the door. She offered “answers,” which were actually drugs.
Q4. What happened to the poet after meeting the young lady?
Ans. The poet became addicted to drugs, lost control of her life, and lost her child, family, and friends.
Q5. What did the poet do when she reached her lowest point?
Ans. When the poet was completely broken and hopeless, she prayed to God for help.
Q6. How did God respond to the poet’s prayer?
Ans. God gave her peace and told her to get up, be strong, and start rebuilding her life.
Q7. What is the message of the poem?
Ans. The poem teaches that no matter how hard life becomes, there is always hope, faith, and a chance for a new beginning — just like sunshine after rain.
Long Answer Question:
Q. Describe the main theme of the poem “Sunshine After Rain” by Brenda Winder.
Ans.
The poem “Sunshine After Rain” by Brenda Winder expresses a strong message of hope, recovery, and faith. It tells the story of a person who falls into the trap of addiction and loses everything — her family, friends, and peace of mind. At her lowest point, she prays to God for help and feels a sudden sense of peace and comfort. God encourages her to stand up and rebuild her life, reminding her that it is never too late to change. The poem beautifully conveys that even after pain and darkness, light and happiness always return, just like sunshine after the rain. It inspires readers to keep faith and believe in new beginnings.
☀️ Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who wrote the poem “Sunshine After Rain”?
a) Robert Frost
b) Brenda Winder
c) Emily Dickinson
d) Lord Tennyson
✅ Answer: b) Brenda Winder
2. What did the young lady offer to the poet?
a) Books and wisdom
b) Love and friendship
c) Liquids, pills, and powders
d) Flowers and gifts
✅ Answer: c) Liquids, pills, and powders
3. What does the “young lady” in the poem symbolize?
a) Friendship
b) Beauty
c) Addiction and temptation
d) Freedom
✅ Answer: c) Addiction and temptation
4. What did the poet lose because of addiction?
a) Her home
b) Her child, family, and friends
c) Her job only
d) Her health only
✅ Answer: b) Her child, family, and friends
5. What message does the poem give?
a) Life never changes
b) Faith and patience bring new hope
c) Success comes easily
d) People never make mistakes
✅ Answer: b) Faith and patience bring new hope
6. What does “Sunshine After Rain” symbolize in the poem?
a) Sorrow after happiness
b) Hope after hardship
c) Anger after peace
d) Struggle after success
✅ Answer: b) Hope after hardship
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