CHSE Odisha Class 12 English Solutions Poem 3 A Psalm of Life

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 12 Invitation to English 1 Solutions Poem 3 A Psalm of Life Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 12th Class English Solutions Poem 3 A Psalm of Life

CHSE Odisha Class 12 English A Psalm of Life Text Book Questions and Answers

Think it out

Question 1.
Does the title suggest what the poem is about?
Answer:
Yes, the title suggests what the poem is about. This poem is called ‘psalm’ because it lays stress on certain basic values of life.

Question 2.
What does the poet say about ‘life’ in the first stanza?
Answer:
In the first stanza, the poet says that life is not a meaningless dream. Inactivity is as good as death. The life of an idle man is of no use. He also says that people with a gloomy view of life do not understand the language of reality.

Question 3.
What does the poet mean by ‘Life is real! Life is earnest!’?
Answer:
By ‘Life is real !’ Life is earnest!’, the poet means life is purposeful as well as serious. It should not be treated lightly. These two sentences constitute the positive assertion of the poet.

Question 4.
What is the poet’s observation on the ‘soul’?
Answer:
The poet’s observation on the ‘soul’ is that one who sleeps and dreams in one’s sleep is really a dead man.

Question 5.
Quote the line which means – ‘death is not the goal of life’.
Answer:
The line ‘And the grave is not its goal’ means – ‘death is not the goal of life.’

Question 6.
What attitude does the poet challenge in the first two stanzas? Is the attitude of the poet positive or negative?
Answer:
The poet challenges the negative attitude in the first two stanzas. The poet’s attitude is positive out and out.

Question 7.
‘Dust thou art, to dust thou returnest’ – This expression alludes to the Bible. What are the other lines in the poem that make an allusion to the Bible?
Answer:
The lines, Life is real! Life is earnest! Be not like dumb, driven cattle! make an allusion to the Bible.

Question 8.
What does the poet say about the goal of life in Stanza 3?
Answer:
The poet says that the goal of life is neither enjoyment nor despair. Instead, it is action that constitutes the hall-mark of life. A man must steadily advance along the road to perfection.

Question 9.
What is the poet’s observation on ‘Art’?
Answer:
In the poet’s view, ‘Art’ – the creation of the beautiful is not short-lived. It stands the ravaging force of time. In other words, ‘Art’ is timless.

Question 10.
‘Be a hero in the strife !’ – is it an inspiring call of the poet? What other things does the poet urge us to do?
Answer:
Yes, it is, undoubtedly, an inspiring call of the poet. The poet urges us to prefer the ‘present’ to ‘past’ and ‘future’, to act, to be confident, learn to work hard and wait for rewards.

Question 11.
Why does the poet prefer the ‘present’ to ‘past’ and ‘future’?
Answer:
The poet prefers the ‘present’ to ‘past’ and ‘future’ because the present is the reality, the ‘future’ is uncertain and the ‘past’ brings us sorrow.

Question 12.
What do the lives of great men remind us of?
Answer:
The lives of great men remind us to make our life noble.

Question 13.
How do the examples of great men help a person in distress?
Answer:
The examples of great men serve as a source of inspiration to a person in distress. Besides, they give him great confidence to overcome hardships in life.

Question 14.
How can we make our life sublime? (last stanza)
Answer:
We can make our life sublime by drawing inspiration from the glorious deeds left by great men ‘on the sand of time’.

Question 15.
Do you find each stanza has four lines rhyming alternately at the end and each .stanza has a recurrent rhythm pattern : 8 syllables, 7 syllables, 8 syllables, 7 syllables? What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Answer:
Yes, every stanza has four lines rhyming alternately at the end and each stanza has a recurrent rhyme pattern. The rhyme scheme of the poem is abab.

Question 16.
The poet uses some depressing words as ‘mournful’, ‘empty’, ‘dead’, ‘grave’. What other such words does he use in the poem?
Answer:
The poet uses other depressing words such as ‘muffled drums’, ‘funeral’, ‘bury’, ‘departing’, and ‘forlorn’.

Question 17.
What is the tone of the poem – inspring or despairing?
Answer:
The tone of the poem is inspiring.

Question 18.
‘Simile’ is a figure of speech making comparison between two unlike things based on a similarity in one aspect. Ex: ‘Still, like muffled drums…’ (Stanza 4, line 3). What other similes do you find in the poem?
Answer:
The other similes we find in the poem are ‘be not like dumb, driven cattle ’ (stanza 5, line 3), ‘Be a hero in the strife.’ (Stanza 5, line 4).

Question 19.
“Life is but an empty dream !” – what figure of speech is used here? Quote another line of the same stanza in which this figure of speech is used.
Answer:
The figure of speech used here is a ‘metaphor’. Another line of the same stanza

CHSE Odisha Class 12 English A Psalm of Life Important Questions and Answers

l. Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers

Question 1.
The first stanza here indicates the poet’s -?
(A) calm acceptance of fife
(B) blunt rejection of a pessimistic attitude to life.
(C) dream of life
(D) all of these
Answer:
(B) blunt rejection of a pessimistic attitude to life .

Question 2.
The line ‘For the soul is dead that slumbers’ has a reference to the -?
(A) Bible
(B) philosophy of life
(C) the poet’s spiritualism
(D) none of these
Answer:
(A) Bible

Question 3.
The word ‘grave’ means -?
(A) serious
(B) arrogant
(C) death
(D) disease
Answer:
(C) death

Question 4.
Which one of the following statements is false?
(A) The essence of life is action.
(B) Life lies in meditation.
(C) There is no room for enjoyment in life.
(D) none of these
Answer:
(B) Life lies in meditation.

Question 5.
Time ______________?
(A) moves slowly
(B) temporal
(C) flees fast
(D) all of these
Answer:
(C) flees fast

Question 6.
The expression ‘like muffled drums’ signifies a tone of -?
(A) disbelief
(B) seriousness
(C) music
(D) exuberance
Answer:
(B) seriousness

Question 7.
The word‘strife’means -?
(A) the rough and tumble of life
(B) challenge
(C) wrangle
(D) noise
Answer:
(A) the rough and tumble of life

Question 8.
The line ‘Heart within, and God o’erhead’ bears the stamp of the poet’s?
(A) unflinching sincerity
(B) infinite patience
(C) belief in God
(D) both (A) and (C)
Answer:
(D) both (A) and (C)

Question 9.
The word ‘foot-prints’ means?
(A) signs of foot
(B) glorious deeds
(C) symbols
(D) none of these
Answer:
(B) glorious deeds

Question 10.
Let us then be up and doing. Does this mean?
(A) elevated
(B) exalted
(C) active
(D) accelerate
Answer:
(C) active

Question 11.
What year the poem ‘A Psalm of Life’ was written?
(A) 1810
(B) 1870
(C) 1880
(D) 1838
Answer:
(D) 1838

Question 12.
What is a‘Psalm’?
(A) a story
(B) an instruction
(C) a way of life
(D) a hymn
Answer:
(D) a hymn

Question 13.
Who does the poet address in the opening lines of the poem ‘A Psalm of Life’?
(A) the readers
(B) his friends
(C) those who say life is unreal
(D) those who mourn
Answer:
(C) those who say life is unreal

Question 14.
Who say in mournful numbers that life is but an empty dream?
(A) pessimist
(B) poets
(C) churches
(D) some people
Answer:
(A) pessimist

Question 15.
The poem was included in the collection?
(A) Poem on slavery
(B) Voices of the right
(C) The courtship of miles standish
(D) Tales from a wayside inn
Answer:
(B) Voices of the right

Question 16.
Who is the speaker?
(A) a narrator
(B) a psalmist
(C) God
(D) a young man
Answer:
(D) a young man

Question 17.
The main thing the young man advises is to ___________________?
(A) think
(B) act
(C) question
(D) pray
Answer:
(B) act

Question 18.
The young man does not want to hear that life is ___________________?
(A) an empty clream
(B) completed
(C) hard
(D) soft
Answer:
(A) an empty clream

Question 19.
Heartbeats are compared to _____________________?
(A) waves
(B) footsteps
(C) lightning
(D) drums
Answer:
(D) drums

Question 20.
Life is compared to a ________________?
(A) book
(B) garden
(C) battlefield
(D) sky
Answer:
(C) battlefield

Question 21.
What animal does the young man not want?
(A) cattle
(B) donkey
(C) pigs
(D) sheep
Answer:
(A) cattle

Question 22.
Life is also compared to an _________________?
(A) ocean
(B) sky
(C) forest
(D) mountain
Answer:
(A) ocean

Question 23.
We must learn to labour and to _________________?
(A) ask
(B) win
(C) die
(D) wait
Answer:
(D) wait

Question 24.
The tone is _________________________?
(A) angry
(B) optimistic
(C) bleak
(D) confused
Answer:
(B) optimistic

Question 25.
The young man advocated living _______________?
(A) heroically
(B) passively
(C) dominantly
(D) vacantly
Answer:
(A) heroically

Question 26.
How is a soul that is inactive?
(A) sluggish
(B) slow
(C) dead
(D) useless
Answer:
(A) sluggish

Question 27.
According to the poet, things are not ___________________?
(A) what they look
(B) what they seem
(C) how they feel
(D) how they act
Answer:
(B) what they seem

Question 28.
What is not the aim of life?
(A) earning money
(B) living like a dead man
(C) death
(D) working like donkey
Answer:
(C) death

Question 29.
What is not life’s goal?
(A) riches
(B) power
(C) religion
(D) grave
Answer:
(D) grave

Question 30.
The poet advises us not to dwell in the?
(A) day dreams
(B) past
(C) future
(D) present
Answer:
(B) past

Question 31.
What should we do?
(A) Live in the present
(B) Believe in God
(C) Trust no future
(D) All of the above
Answer:
(D) All of the above

Question 32.
Why should we live in the present?
(A) Because this is what is correct
(B) Because it will make the God happy
(C) Because we have control over our past .
(D) Because we cannot change our future
Answer:
(A) Because this is what is correct

Question 33.
What do lives of great men remind us of?
(A) How we can live in present
(B) How not to dwell in the past
(C) We can make our lives noble
(D) We can be heroes of the battle
Answer:
(C) We can make our lives noble

Question 34.
What do we leave behind when we die?
(A) Our good deeds
(B) Out past
(C) Our mark
(D) Our riches
Answer:
(A) Our good deeds

Question 35.
Where do we leave our footprints?
(A) On the sands
(B) On time
(C) In the history
(D) Quicksand
Answer:
(C) In the history

Question 36.
Whom will our sublime lives inspire?
(A) Those who progress on the path of sublimity
(B) those who live in present
(C) Those who make their future good
(D) Those who strive to success
Answer:
(A) Those who progress on the path of sublimity

Question 37.
Lives of great men also inspire those who have failed in life and feel?
(A) hopeless
(B) lost in the ocean of life
(C) motivated
(D) wrecked
Answer:
(B) lost in the ocean of life

Question 38.
How would the lives of noble men help those in distress?
(A) By calming them
(B) By showing them good future
(C) By inspiring and making them optimistic
(D) By telling them motivating tales
Answer:
(C) By inspiring and making them optimistic

Question 39.
What does “With a heart for any fate” mean?
(A) Ready to face any situation
(B) Ready whole heartedly
(C) Ready to lead a hearty life
(D) Ready for future
Answer:
(A) Ready to face any situation

Question 40.
What does the poet advice the readers?
(A) To work and progress
(B) To labour and have patience
(C) To learn and prosper
(D) Have a fearless heart
Answer:
(B) To labour and have patience

Question 41.
What is fleeting?
(A) Life
(B) Time
(C) Noble deeds
(D) Death
Answer:
(B) Time

Question 42.
What does ‘Still achieving, still pursuing” mean?
(A) Continuously making progress and seeking improvement
(B) Leading a successful and inspiring life
(C) Never submit and fighting continuously
(D) Always achieving and pursuing
Answer:
(A) Continuously making progress and seeking improvement

Question 43.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a/an _______________ poet?
(A) English
(B) American
(C) Irish
(D) Scottish
Answer:
(B) American

II. Short Type Questions with Answers

Question 1.
What does the poet say about ‘life’?
Answer:
The poet says that life is not a meaningless dream. Inactivity is as good as death. The life of an idle man is of no use. He also says that people with a gloomy view of life do not understand the language of reality.

Question 2.
What does the poet mean by ‘Life is real! Life is earnest!’?
Answer:
By ‘Life is real!’ Life is earnest!’, the poet means life is purposeful as well as serious. It should not be treated lightly. These two sentences constitute the positive assertion of the poet.

Question 3.
What is the poet’s observation on the ‘soul’?
Answer:
The poet’s observation on ‘soul’ is that one who sleeps and dreams in one’s sleep is really a dead man.

Question 4.
What does the poet say about the goal of life?
Answer:
The poet says that the goal of life is neither enjoyment nor despair. Instead, it is action that constitutes the hall-mark of life. A man must steadily advance along the road to perfection.

Question 5.
What is the poet’s observation on ‘Art’?
Answer:
In the poet’s view, ‘Art’ – the creation of the beauty is not short-lived. It stands the ravaging force of time. In other words, ‘Art’ is timless.

Question 6.
‘Be a hero in the strife !’ – is it an inspiring call of the poet? What other things does the poet urge us to do?
Answer:
Yes, it is, undoubtedly, an inspiring call of the poet. The poet urges us to prefer the ‘present’ to ‘past’ and ‘future’, to act, to be confident, learn to work hard and wait for rewards.

Question 7.
Why does the poet prefer the ‘present’ to ‘past’ and ‘future’?
Answer:
The poet prefers the ‘present’ to ‘past’ and ‘future’ because the present is the reality, the ‘future’ is uncertain and the ‘past’ brings us sorrow.

Question 8.
How do the examples of great men help a person in distress?
Answer:
The examples of great men serve as a source of inspiration to a person in distress. Besides, they give him great confidence to overcome hardships in life.

Question 9.
How can we make our life sublime? (last stanza)
Answer:
We can make our life sublime by drawing inspiration from the glorious deeds left by great men ‘on the sand of time’.

Question 10.
What does the poet tell us about the future and the past?
Answer:
The poet says that we should forget the past, because it’s dead. He states that we should not trust future, however rosy it may be, because it is uncertain.

Question 11.
What does the expression ‘muffled drums’ signify?
Answer:
The ‘muffled drums’ signify the sound of drums made dull by covering them with cloth. At funerals drums are thus muffled to match the solemn occasion.

Question 12.
Explain the significance of ‘in the world’s broad field of battle’?
Answer:
The line ‘In the world’s broad field of battle’ implies life is a temporary camp. The world we live in is a vast battle field where we are all soldiers, when we feel tired, we take rest in that camp.

Detailed Summaries and Glossary

Stanza – (1-3)
Tell me ……………………………………………………………………………………… than today.
The poet urges us not to think that life is sad. Life, he says, is not a meaningless dream. Inactivity is as good as death. The life of an idle man is useless. People with a gloomy view of life do not take a realistic view of things in the world. Life is serious. It should not be treated lightly. Death is not the end of life. The poet says that life is not meant for enjoyment. There is no room for sorrow as long as we live. It is action that constitutes the essence of life. A man must steadily advance along the road to perfection.

ସାରମର୍ମ :
କବି ଜୀବନକୁ ଦୁଃଖପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବୋଲି ନ ଭାବିବାକୁ ପ୍ରବର୍ତ୍ତାଇଛନ୍ତି । ସେ କୁହନ୍ତି ଜୀବନ ଏକ ନିରର୍ଥକ ସ୍ଵପ୍ନ ନୁହେଁ । ଆଳସ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଭିତରେ କିଛି ପାର୍ଥକ୍ୟ ନାହିଁ । ଅଳସୁଆର ଜୀବନ ବ୍ୟର୍ଥ ଅଟେ । ନୈରାଶ୍ୟବାଦୀମାନେ ଜୀବନର ବାସ୍ତବିକତାକୁ ବୁଝିପାରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ । ଜୀବନ ହେଉଛି ଭାବଗମ୍ଭୀର । ଏହାକୁ ହାଲୁକା ଭାବରେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ । ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଜୀବନର ଅନ୍ତ ନୁହେଁ । କବି କୁହନ୍ତି ଜୀବନ ଉପଭୋଗ ପାଇଁ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ହୋଇନାହିଁ । ଯେଉଁ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ବଞ୍ଚୁଛୁ, ସେପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଆମ୍ଭେମାନେ ଦୁଃଖକୁ ପ୍ରଶ୍ରୟ ଦେବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ । ଜୀବନର ମହତ୍ତ୍ବ ହେଉଛି କର୍ମ । ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ସବୁବେଳେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣତା ଦିଗରେ ଅଗ୍ରସର ହେବା ଉଚିତ ।

Glossary
psalm : sacred song. The title suggests the solemnity of the theme. (ସଂହିତା ଗୀତ)
tell me not : Here the negative begining emphasizes the poet’s positive point of view.
mournful numbers : sad verses (ଦୁଃଖପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରିବା )
empty dream : a meaninglèss dream giving no satisfaction, unreal thing (ଅର୍ଥହୀନ ସ୍ବପ୍ନ)
soul : the soul …. slumbers : the life of an idle man is useless
slumbers : sleeps (here remains idle) (ଅଳସୁଆ)
And …. seem : It is reminiscent of Clough’s ‘Say Not the struggle Naught Avai leth.’ if hopes were dupes, years may be liars; It may be, in you smoke concealed, Your comrades chase e ‘en now the fliers, And, but for you, possess the field.
earnest : full of seriousness not an empty dream to be treated . This positive assertion of the poet strikes lightly the key note of the poem : Death is not life’s end.
And goal : a quotation from the Bible (ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଜୀବନର ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ ନୁହେଁ)
Dust returnest : a quotation from the Bible regarding the mortality of the human body (ଜୀବନ ମରଣଶୀଳ)
Was soul : It was spoken of the body only
destined : decided in advance
But … than today: It is action that constitutes the hall-mark of life. The poet inspires us to conduct ourselves each day in such a way that we may find ourselves everyday better than before.

Stanza – (4-6)
Art is …………………………………………………………………… God o ‘erhead!
The creation of the beautiful is deathless, but life is short-lived. So a man should not waste time. In other words, there is much to be achieved in a short span of life. With the march of time, we are moving closer to death. The expression ‘muffled dreams’ splendidly exemplifies this fact. The poet presents a war imagery as the march to the grave has been transferred to march to battle. By comparing life with a ‘bivouac’, a temporary camp site during a battle, the poet reminds again of the shortness of human existence. The poet inspires us not to accept our fate like dumb cattle. Instead, we should fight in this world which is like a battle-field. We should face our strife-torn life with great courage. Everyone should play the role of a hero. We should neither trust the future nor reflect the past. We should live in the present. Faith, courage, sincerity of purpose and faith in God are essential for facing the battle of life.

ସାରମର୍ମ :
ସୌନ୍ଦର୍ଯ୍ୟମୟ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ଅମର, କିନ୍ତୁ ଜୀବନ କ୍ଷଣସ୍ଥାୟୀ । ତେଣୁ ମଣିଷ ଅଯଥାରେ ସମୟ ନଷ୍ଟ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ । ଅଳ୍ପ ସମୟ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବହୁତ କିଛି କରିବାର ଅଛି । ସମୟ ସ୍ରୋତରେ ଆମ୍ଭେମାନେ ମୃତ୍ୟୁର ନିକଟତର ହୋଇଯାଉଛୁ । ‘ଅନ୍ତେଷ୍ଟି କ୍ରିୟା ସମୟରେ ବାଜୁଥିବା ଢୋଲର ଭୟଉଦ୍ରେକକାରୀ ଅଥଚ ପବିତ୍ର କ୍ଷୀଣସ୍ଵର’ ଏହାକୁ ସୂଚିତ କରୁଛି । ଏଠାରେ କବି ଯୁଦ୍ଧଭୂମିରୁ ଉପମା ଦେଇ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଅଭିଯାନ ସହିତ ମଣିଷର ଶ୍ମଶାନ ଯାତ୍ରାକୁ ତୁଳନା କରିଛନ୍ତି । ଜୀବନକୁ ରଣଭୂମିର ଅସ୍ଥାୟୀ ଶିବିର ସହ ତୁଳନା କରି ମାନବ ଜୀବନର କ୍ଷୀଣଭଙ୍ଗୁରତା ବିଷୟରେ ମନେପକାଇ ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି । ମୂକ ଗୋମହିଷାଦି ପଶୁ ଭଳି ଆମର ଭାଗ୍ୟକୁ ଗ୍ରହଣ ନ କରିବା ପାଇଁ କବି ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରେରଣା ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି । ତା’ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତେ ଆମେ ରଣକ୍ଷେତ୍ର ସଦୃଶ ପୃଥ‌ିବୀରେ ସଂଗ୍ରାମ ଜାରି ରଖୁବା ଉଚିତ । ଦୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶାଗ୍ରସ୍ତ ଜୀବନକୁ ଆମ୍ଭେମାନେ ସାହସର ସହିତ ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେବା ଉଚିତ । ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ମଣିଷ ଏକ ବୀରର ଭୂମିକା ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଜରୁରୀ । ଆମ୍ଭେମାନେ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତକୁ ବିଶ୍ଵାସ କରିବା ନାହିଁ କିମ୍ବା ଅତୀତକୁ ନେଇ ଅନୁଶୋଚନା କରିବା ନାହିଁ । ଆମ୍ଭେମାନେ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନକୁ ନେଇ ବଞ୍ଚିବା ଶ୍ରେୟସ୍କର । ଜୀବନ ଯୁଦ୍ଧର ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେବାପାଇଁ ଦରକାର ବିଶ୍ଵାସ, ସାହସ, କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟନିଷ୍ଠା ଏବଂ ଈଶ୍ଵରପ୍ରେମ ।

Glossary
Art : the creation or the expression of the beautiful
stout : strong
muffled drums : the sound of drums made dull by wrapping them in cloth. At funerals, drums are thus muffled to suit the solemn occasion.
marches : music for marching to.The poet has in mind a march for the dead
bivouac : temporary camp for troops without tents or other cover
dumb : unable to speak. Here the word also means stupid and dull. The images of the ‘dumb, driven cattle’ suggests meek submissiveness.
Be a hero … strife!: The poet is overtly didactic
strife : fight (ସଂଘର୍ଷ)
trust : rely (ବିଶ୍ଵାସ କରିବା )
pleasant : fine (ସୁନ୍ଦର)
bury : here forget (ଭୁଲିଯିବା)
Let dead ! : put away what is past and forget the same (ଅତୀତକୁ ଭୁଲିଯାଅ)
Act Present !: Here the poet lays emphäsis on action. The word ‘living’ sounds signifies it. (ବର୍ଷ ମାନ ସମୟକୁ ନଷ୍ଟ ନ କରି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିଯାଅ ।)
Heart within and God o’erhead! : with courage in your heart and faith in God (ଓ ଭଗବାନଙ୍କଠାରେ ବିଶ୍ଵାସ ରଖ)

Stanza – (7-9)
Lives of …………………………………………………………… to wait
Lives of great men serve as an inspirational force to us. They have left this world not in vain. They have left glorious deeds behind them ‘on the sand of time’. We can make our lives beautiful by following their examples. Brimmed with confidence and courage, we should face every situation in life. Action should be our motto. We should learn to work hard and wait for the results.

ସାରମର୍ମ :
ମହାପୁରୁଷମାନଙ୍କର ଜୀବନୀ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରେରଣାର ଉତ୍ସ ସଦୃଶ । ଏହି ପୃଥ‌ିବୀକୁ ସେମାନେ ବୃଥାରେ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟବସିତ ହେବାକୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ଯାଇନାହାନ୍ତି । ଏହି ମହାପୁରୁଷମାନେ ସମୟର ବାଲୁକା ଉପରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଗୌରବମୟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟସବୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ଦେଇ ଯାଇଛନ୍ତି । ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଆଦର୍ଶକୁ ଅନୁସରଣ କରି ଆମେ ଆମର ଜୀବନକୁ ସୁନ୍ଦର କରିପାରିବା । ଆତ୍ମ-ବିଶ୍ଵାସ ଓ ସାହସର ସହିତ ଜୀବନର ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ପରିସ୍ଥିତିକୁ ଆମେମାନେ ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେବା ଉଚିତ । କର୍ମ ଆମର ଆଦର୍ଶ ହେବା ଉଚିତ । ଆମ୍ଭେମାନେ କଠିନ ପରିଶ୍ରମ କରିବା ଏବଂ ଫଳ ପାଇଁ ଅପେକ୍ଷା କରିବାକୁ ଶିଖୁବା ଉଚିତ ।

Glossary
sublime : noble
departing : on leaving this world: dying
footprints : our noble works that will show the way to others
solemn : impressive in its awe inspiring vastness and depth
main : ocean
forlorn : unhappy and deserted
forlorn … brother: one who has failed in life and is distressed at one’s own moral and material ruin (ଅସଫଳତା ପାଇଁ ଭାଙ୍ଗିପଡ଼ିବା)
shipwrecked : utterly ruined by misfortune (ଦୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶାଗ୍ରସ୍ତ)
take heart : be confident
heart for any fate: confidence to face any situation in life, favourable or unfavourable (କରିବାପାଇଁ ଦୃଢ଼ ମନୋବଳ)
still : always (ସର୍ବଦା)
wait : ଅପେକ୍ଷା କରିବା

Introducing the Poet
While still a student, H.W. Longfellow (1807-1882) wrote to his father, ‘Whatever I do study ought to be engaged in with all my soul’. Years later, he resigned his coveted position as the Professor of Modern Languages at Harvard University, which he had filled for a long time with honour, feeling that he was not able to do justice to his work as a poet on account of the demands made on his time -and energy by his duties as an academic. His conscientiousness revealed itself even when he was a boy; he was studious and had little interest in sports. The same seriousness of purpose is found in his poetry. He was a moralist, and had he been less of a puritan, perhaps his poetry would have been more enjoyable. But as it has been pointed out, it was a source of his strength as well as his weakness. Fortunately, his didactism is relieved by his sunny spirit which permeates his poems like ‘A Psalm of life’.

About the Poem
In A Psalm of Life the poet gives young readers some valuable precepts which they should follow in their life so that their life may not be in vain. A ‘psalm’ is a sacred song or hymn. This poem is called a psalm because it lays stress on certain basic values of life. To the poet life is not an ‘empty dream’ – it is ‘real’ and ‘earnest’, and one is to make the best use of it by striving hard. Man should neither brood over the past which is dead nor waste his time in idle dreams of a rosy future. He should deal with the present. Emulating the ideals left by great men, he should be a source to inspiration to posterity. This poem belongs to the genre of poetry called ‘Carpe Diem’ poems. ‘Carpe Diem’, popularly translated as ‘seize the day’, is a phrase from a Latin poem by Horace. The sentiments expressed in the poem may appear commonplace, and the presentation facile. But the universality of the theme, the conviction with which it is presented, and the simplicity of its diction make its optimism irresistible. Longfellow, a great American himself, gives eloquent expression to the young nation’s energetic approach to life and adds a meaningful dimension to it by bringing in ‘God o’erhead’ to reinforce the ‘heart within’.

Summary
The poem begins with Longfellow’s blunt rejection of the psalmist’s view : life is a meaningless dream. Inactivity is as good as death. The life of an idle man is useless. People with a gloomy view of life do not take a realistic view of things in the world. Life is serious. It should not be treated lightly. Death is not the end of life. The poet says that life is not meant for enjoyment. There is no room for sorrow as long as we live. It is action that constitutes the essence of life. A man must steadily advance along the road to perfection. Longfellow brings out a contrast between art and life. The creation of the beautiful is deathless, but life is transient. So we should not fritter away our time. In a short span of life, there is much to be achieved. Therefore, we should live as productive a life as possible. Then the poet compares our hearts to ‘muffled drums’. Each beat of our heart carries us closer to death. The poet inspires us not to accept our fate like dumb cattle. Instead, we should fight in this world which is like a battle-field. We should face our strife-torn life with great courage. Everyone should play the role of a hero. We should neither trust the future nor cling to the past. We should live in the present. Faith, courage, sincerity of purpose and faith in God are essential for facing the battle of life. – Lives of greatmen always inspire us. We can beautify our lives by following the foot-steps they have left behind ‘on the sand of time’. As a result, the future generations will be inspired in a great measure. It is action that lends worth to life and so we should learn to work hard ceaselessly and wait for the results.

ସାରାଂଶ:
ସ୍ତୋତ୍ର ରଚୟିତାଙ୍କର ମତରେ ଜୀବନ ହେଉଛି ଏକ ନିରର୍ଥକ ସ୍ଵପ୍ନ । କବିତାର ଆରମ୍ଭରେ Longfellow ଏହାକୁ ରୋକ୍‌ଠୋକ୍‌ ଭାବରେ ଅଗ୍ରାହ୍ୟ କରିଛନ୍ତି । କାର୍ଯ୍ୟହୀନତା ଏବଂ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଭିତରେ କିଛି ପାର୍ଥକ୍ୟ ନାହିଁ । ଅଳସୁଆର ଜୀବନ ଅନୁପାଦେୟ । ନୈରାଶ୍ୟବାଦୀମାନେ ଜୀବନର କୌଣସି କଥାକୁ ବାସ୍ତବତାର ସହିତ ବିଶ୍ଳେଷଣ କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ । ଜୀବନ ହେଉଛି ତାତ୍ପର୍ଯ୍ୟପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ । ଏହାକୁ ହାଲୁକାଭାବେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ । ଜୀବନର ଶେଷ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ନୁହେଁ । କବିଙ୍କ ମତରେ ଜୀବନଟା ଉପଭୋଗର ବସ୍ତୁ ନୁହେଁ । ବଞ୍ଚୁଥ‌ିବା ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଜୀବନରେ ଦୁଃଖ ପାଇଁ କୌଣସି ସ୍ଥାନ ନାହିଁ । କର୍ମରେ ହିଁ ଜୀବନର ମହତ୍ତ୍ବ ନିହିତ । ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ଅବିଶ୍ରାନ୍ତ ଭାବରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣତା ଦିଗରେ ଧାବମାନ ହେବା ଉଚିତ । କବି Longfellow କଳା ଏବଂ ଜୀବନ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ବୈଷମ୍ୟକୁ ଉପସ୍ଥାପନା କରିଛନ୍ତି । ସୌନ୍ଦର୍ଯ୍ୟମୟ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ଚିରନ୍ତନ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଜୀବନ କ୍ଷଣସ୍ଥାୟୀ । ତେଣୁ ଆମେ ଅଯଥାରେ ସମୟ ନଷ୍ଟ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ । ଜୀବନର ସ୍ଵଳ୍ପ ସମୟ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବହୁତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସମ୍ପାଦନ କରିବାକୁ ହେବ । କବି ଆମ ହୃଦୟକୁ ‘ଅନ୍ତେଷ୍ଟି କ୍ରିୟା ସମୟରେ ଭୟଉଦ୍ରେକକାରୀ ଢୋଲର ପବିତ୍ର କ୍ଷଣସ୍ଥାୟୀ ଶବ୍ଦ’ ସହିତ ତୁଳନା କରିଛନ୍ତି । ହୃଦୟର ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ସ୍ପନ୍ଦନ ଆମକୁ ମୃତ୍ୟୁର ନିକଟତର କରାଇ ଦେଉଛି । ମୂକ ଗାଇଗୋରୁ ଭଳି ନିଜ ଭାଗ୍ୟକୁ ଗ୍ରହଣ ନ କରିବାକୁ କବି ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରେରଣା ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି । ତା’ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତେ ଆମେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧଭୂମି ସଦୃଶ ପୃଥ‌ିବୀରେ ସଂଗ୍ରାମ କରିବା ଉଚିତ । ଦୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶାଗ୍ରସ୍ତ ଜୀବନକୁ ଆମେ ସାହସର ସହିତ ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେବା ଦରକାର । ଆମ୍ଭେ ସମସ୍ତେ ବୀରର ଭୂମିକା ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଶ୍ରେୟସ୍କର । ଆମେ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତକୁ ବିଶ୍ଵାସ କରିବାନାହିଁ, ଅତୀତକୁ ମଧ୍ଯ ରୋମନ୍ଥନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ । ଆମେ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନକ ନେଇ ବଞ୍ଚିବା ଉଚିତ । ଜୀବନ ସଂଗ୍ରାମକୁ ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେବାପାଇଁ ଦରକାର ବିଶ୍ଵାସ, ସାହାସ, କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟନିଷ୍ଠା ଏବଂ ଈଶ୍ଵରପ୍ରେମ । ମହାପୁରୁଷମାନଙ୍କର ଜୀବନ ସବୁବେଳେ ଆମକୁ ଅନୁପ୍ରାଣିତ କରେ । ସମୟର ବାଲୁକା ଉପରେ ସେମାନେ ଛାଡ଼ିଯାଇଥବା ସେମାନଙ୍କର ପଦାଙ୍କକୁ ଅନୁସରଣ କରି ଆମେ ଜୀବନକୁ ମହାନ୍ କରିପାରିବା । ଯାହାଫଳରେ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ବଂଶଧରମାନେ ବହୁଳଭାବେ ପ୍ରେରଣା ପାଇପାରିବେ । କର୍ମ ହିଁ ଜୀବନର ମାନ ବୃଦ୍ଧି କରେ । ତେଣୁ ଆମେ ନିରବଚ୍ଛିନ୍ନ ଭାବରେ କଠିନ ପରିଶ୍ରମ କରିବାପାଇଁ ଶିକ୍ଷା କରିବା ଏବଂ ଫଳାଫଳ ପାଇଁ ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସହକାରେ ଅପେକ୍ଷା କରିବା ।