Neem is a common tree in Asia. It grows in tropical and semi – tropical regions. It is a fast- growing tree and can reach up to 65 to 131 feet. It is evergreen. Its fruit is bitter and is used in medicines. Neem tree’s every part is used from root to bark to fruit to leaves thus it is impossible to state this tree’s benefits, it is a blessing to mankind.
Mrs.Elsa Kazi
Elsa Kazi (1884- 1967) was a German lady who married to Allah I I Kazi and stayed at Sind. She’s known in Sind as Mother Elsa. She has a myriad facets of her life as she wrote one act plays, wrote history, novels and short stories side by side did poetry and was a painter, composer and a musician too. She spent a big life in Sind so she was highly inspired by its traditions and culture . She translated shah Abdul Latif Poetry in English by the help of her husband. Her poem “The Neem Tree” gives the message of sacrifice and instructs to be as helping as the Neem tree is.
Synopsis :
The poet addresses the Neem tree in a very endearing tone ” My lovely Neem”. She talks about its work that is to intercept the hot sun rays without showers complaining. It removes the traveller’s grief by casting a spell upon him with its soothing shade.
In the second stanza, the poet praises the Neem tree calling him unafraid and saying that it has green leaves in spite of the hot weather. The green leaves indicate that the tree is happy and is not taking his duty as a burden. Furthermore, it is standing under the sun without any shade as the hot rays are directly hitting upon its head.
Lastly, the poet wishes that man could be as bold as the Neem tree is and rise above the earth with its sheltering arms to save the suffering humanity from sorrows, poverty and vice through sacrifice facing every fate and questions “Would it not be the life’s loftiest dream!
theme:
The poem gives the message of sacrifice as the Neem tree gives standing under the sun. It provides shelter to everyone without any discrimination so should be the human beings sacrificing for the sake of others remaining consistent and making others happy.
Q/A ( see page 18 )
1.The Neem tree can prevent the burning heat of the sun from troubling us by intercepting its hot rays. It bears the heat all day without any rainfall and makes the traveller happy removing his grief by casting a spell of its soothing shade upon him.
2.The poetess says that the Neem tree is unafraid because it bears the mid day heat upon its unprotected head even then its leaves are green that means is happy and sacrificing for the sake of others happily and not as a burden.
3.The Neem tree looks like a very brave and strong man who is standing stretching its arms without any rainfall to be comfortable and shade to be protected from the searing heat but in spite of all this , is happily protecting those who come under its shade.
4. The poet compares the Neem tree to man in this way that man should be as bold as the Neem tree is and rise above the earth spreading its arms to save the suffering ones from their miseries being steadfast.
5.The highest aim of life is to sacrifice for the suffering ones protecting them from harm, poverty and vice and being consistent no matter what comes in this way and then it would be the life’s loftiest dream to be achieved.
End of the poem
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