To Youth by Sarojini Naidu – Line by Line Explanation

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Explanations of the poem "To Youth"
English | Class 8 | SEBA Board

Poem: To Youth | Sarojini Naidu

Edunes Online Education

Board: SEBA
Class: 8, School: DBS Lumding
Subject: English

Poem: To Youth

line 1: O YOUTH, sweet comrade Youth, wouldst thou be gone?
line 2: Long have we dwelt together, thou and I;
line 3: Together drunk on many alien dawn,
line 4: And plucked the fruit of many an alien sky.
line 5: Ah. fickle friend. must I, who yesterday
line 6: Dreamed forwards to long, undimmed ecstasy,
line 7: Backward to transient pleasure and to thee?
line 8: I give thee back thy false, ephemeral vow;
line 9: But, O beloved comrade, ere we part,
line 10: Upon my mournful eyelids and my brow
line 11: Kiss me who hold thine image in my heart.

🌸 Poem: “To Youth” – Sarojini Naidu

📌 Setting
The poet is growing old and realizing that youth is leaving her.
🎯 Theme
The poem explores:

1. Acceptance of old age
2. Nostalgia (sweet remembrance of the past)
3. Realisation that youth is temporary

🎭 Tone
The tone is nostalgic and emotional — like saying goodbye to a dear friend.

1️⃣ Line-by-Line Meaning (Simple Explanation)

Line 1:
“O YOUTH, sweet comrade Youth, wouldst thou be gone?”
The poet talks to Youth as if it is her close friend.
She asks sadly, “Are you leaving me?”
👉 She feels that her young days are ending.

Line 2:
“Long have we dwelt together, thou and I;”
She says she and Youth have lived together for a long time.
👉 She has enjoyed being young for many years

Line 3:
“Together drunk on many alien dawn,”
They have enjoyed many new mornings together.
👉 “Drunk” means deeply enjoying life.
👉 “Alien dawn” means unfamiliar or new beginnings.

Line 5:
“Ah, fickle friend, must I, who yesterday”
She calls Youth a “fickle friend” (someone who does not stay).
👉 “Fickle friend” means someone who changes quickly and does not remain faithful.
👉 She feels Youth is unfaithful because it is leaving her.

Line 6:
“Dreamed forwards to long, undimmed ecstasy,”
Earlier, she dreamed of a long, happy future.
👉 “Dreamed forwards” means she once looked ahead with hope.
👉 “Undimmed ecstasy” means happiness that never fades.

Line 7:
“Backward to transient pleasure and to thee?”
Now she must only look back at short-lived happiness.
👉 “Backward” means looking into the past.
👉 “Transient pleasure” means temporary joy that does not last long.

Line 8:
“I give thee back thy false, ephemeral vow;”
She returns Youth’s promise because it did not last.
👉 “Ephemeral vow” means a promise that lasted only for a short time.
👉 She realizes Youth’s promise of lasting happiness was not true.

Line 9:
“But, O beloved comrade, ere we part,”
Before they separate, she speaks lovingly to Youth.
👉 “Beloved comrade” means dear and close friend.
👉 “Ere” means before.

Line 10:
“Upon my mournful eyelids and my brow”
She feels sad and tired as Youth is leaving.
👉 “Mournful eyelids” show sadness and emotional pain.
👉 “Brow” means forehead.

Line 11:
“Kiss me who hold thine image in my heart.”
She asks Youth for one last goodbye kiss.
👉 “Thine image” means the memory of Youth.
👉 Even though Youth is leaving, she will always keep its memory in her heart.

2️⃣ Difficult Words and Meanings

Word	Meaning
Comrade	Close friend or companion
Wouldst thou	Old English for “Would you”
Dwelt	Lived
Alien	Foreign, unfamiliar
Dawn	Morning / beginning
Plucked	Picked
Fickle	Changing quickly, not faithful
Undimmed	Not faded
Ecstasy	Great happiness
Backward	Looking back
Transient	Temporary
Ephemeral	Lasting for a short time
Vow	Promise
Ere	Before
Mournful	Sad
Brow	Forehead
Thine	Yours

phase of life

3️⃣ How to Think & Visualise (Feynman Technique Method)

The Feynman Technique means:

1. Understand simply
2. Explain in your own words
3. Imagine clearly
4. Connect emotionally

Let’s apply it.

🎬 Step 2: Create a Movie in Your Mind

Visualise:

🌅 Early morning sunlight
🌈 Young girl running freely
🍎 Plucking fruits from trees
🌍 Exploring new places
😊 Laughing without worry

Now imagine:

🍂 Autumn leaves falling
🌆 Evening sky
😔 Slow walking
💭 Remembering old days

👉 This contrast between morning and evening shows the journey from youth to old age.
👉 The changing scenes help you feel the emotion of the poem deeply.

❤️ Step 3: Ask Yourself Simple Questions

Ask yourself:

❓ Is youth permanent? ❌
❓ Does everyone grow old? ✅
❓ Can memories stay forever? ✅

👉 The poem teaches a powerful truth:

“Youth leaves the body,
But it stays in the heart.”

👉 Life changes, but memories remain.

🧠 Step 4: Explain in Simple Words (Practice)

Try saying this in your own words:

“This poem is about a woman who is becoming old. She talks to her youth like a close friend. She feels sad because youth is leaving her. But she accepts it and keeps its memories in her heart.”

👉 If you can explain it simply, you truly understand the poem.
👉 Simple explanation means clear thinking.

🌟 Core Message for Students

✨ Youth is beautiful but temporary.
⏳ Time never stops.
🌸 We must enjoy the present.
💖 Memories are our treasure.

👉 The poem teaches us to accept change with maturity and grace.

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