Swallows Travel To and Fro by Robert Louis Stevenson-Poem Explanation and Analysis given here is easy but comprehensive. Click here for more on poetry.
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Stanza Wise Explanation & Analysis
Stanza 1
Swallows travel to and fro,
And the great winds come and go,
And the steady breezes blow,
Bearing perfume, bearing love.
Breezes hasten, swallows fly,
Towered clouds forever ply,
And at noonday, you and I
See the same sunshine above.
Vocabulary Notes
To and fro – Moving back and forth (इधर-उधर जाना) Steady – Constant or regular (स्थिर, लगातार) Breeze – A gentle, light wind (हल्की ठंडी हवा, समीर) Bearing – Carrying or bringing something (लेकर आना) Hasten – Move quickly (तेजी से जाना, शीघ्रता करना) Towered – Tall and impressive (ऊँचा, विशाल) Ply – To move regularly (नियमित रूप से आना-जाना)
Explanation
The poet observes how swallows, a type of bird, travel back and forth. Strong winds change directions (come and go), and gentle breezes continue to blow. These breezes carry pleasant smells and a sense of love with them. breezes move quickly, and swallows continue to fly. The tall clouds are always in the sky. At noon, both the poet and the reader can see the same sunlight above them.
Analysis
This stanza shows the movement of nature. Swallows symbolize freedom and joy, flying freely in the sky. The mention of winds and breezes suggests that nature is always changing but also carries beautiful things, like pleasant scents and love. It highlights how nature connects us to wonderful experiences.
This stanza emphasizes a sense of closeness and unity. No matter where we are, we experience the same natural elements as seeing the same sun or feeling the same breeze. It reminds us that even if we are far apart, we share the same sky and sunlight, which can make us feel connected to one another.
Stanza 2:
Dew and rain fall everywhere,
Harvests ripen, flowers are fair,
And the whole round earth is bare
To the moonshine and the sun;
And the live air, fanned with wings,
Bright with breeze and sunshine, brings
Into contact distant things,
And makes all the countries one.
Vocabulary Notes
Dew – Tiny drops of water on cool surfaces (ओस की बूंदें) Harvest ripen – Crops becoming ready to be gathered (फसल पकना, कटाई के लिए तैयार होना) Flowers are fair – The flowers look beautiful (फूल सुन्दर हैं) Bare – Open or exposed (खुला, नंगा) Distant – Far away (दूर का, दूरस्थ)
Explanation
Rain and dew fall all over the world, helping crops grow and making flowers beautiful. The entire Earth is open (exposed) to both sunlight and moonlight. The fresh air, with birds flying (fanned wings) through it, brings together things that are far apart, making the world feel like one big community.
Analysis
This stanza shows how nature is abundant and provides for all living things. The earth is filled with life, and everything is connected through the sun and moon. The mention of moonshine and sunlight reflects how nature nourishes and brightens our world, symbolizing hope and growth.
Here, the poet shows that nature has the power to bring people and places together. Despite distances, the Earth and its elements — sun, moon, wind, and rain — connect us all. The breezes and sunshine can reach faraway lands, showing that no matter where we are, we are all part of the same world. It highlights the idea of global unity through nature.
Stanza 3:
Let us wander where we will,
Something kindred greets us still;
Something seen on vale or hill
Falls familiar on the heart;
So, at scent or sound or sight,
Severed souls by day and night
Tremble with the same delight –
Tremble, half the world apart.
Vocabulary Notes
Wander – To walk or travel without a specific destination (भटकना, बिना किसी विशेष दिशा में घूमना) Kindred – Similar in nature or feeling (मिलता-जुलता, समान स्वभाव का) Greets – Welcomes (अभिवादन करना, स्वागत करना) Vale – A valley (घाटी, वादी) Familiar – Something known or recognized (परिचित, जाना-पहचाना) Severed – Cut off or separated (कटे हुए, अलग) Severed souls – People who feel separated or distant (अलग हुए लोग, जिनके बीच दूरी है) Apart – Separated by distance (अलग, दूरी में बँटा हुआ) World apart – Very far from each other (एक-दूसरे से दुनिया भर दूर)
Explanation
The poet suggests that wherever we go (wander), we find something familiar. Whether it’s a sight in a valley or on a hill, something will feel known to us. The poet explains that through smells, sounds, or sights, even if we are far apart, we feel the same happiness. People, even when separated, can share feelings of joy and thus feel connected.
Analysis
This final stanza explores emotional connectivity as how feelings and experiences can connect people across distances. The poet suggests that memories and emotions can be shared, even when people are “half the world apart.” A familiar sight or scent can remind us of someone, creating a strong, comforting connection that feels real even across miles.
Despite physical distances, we share feelings of happiness and delight that unite us. It emphasizes that our experiences of joy and love are universal and can reach across the globe.
