Summary
Summary:
A. The text begins with a series of questions regarding personal experiences and thoughts about gipsies, including:
- Whether the reader has seen a gipsy and where.
- If gipsies live in the reader's country.
- How gipsies differ from the general population.
B. It includes a poem by Ralph Hodgson titled "Time, You Old Gipsy Man," which personifies time as an old gipsy. The speaker invites time to stay for a day, offering various gifts such as:
- Bells for a jennet.
- A golden ring.
- Tributes from peacocks and songs from children.
Additionally, the poem reflects on time's fleeting nature, as it rushes from place to place. The following questions about the poem include:
- The reason for calling time an 'old gipsy man.'
- A list of offerings the poet proposes to keep time for a day.
- Suggestions for other offerings if time could stay.
A. Read and answer the following questions.
1. Have you ever seen a gipsy? If yes, where?
2. Do gipsies live in our country?
3. In what ways are they different from the general people?
B. Now read the poem and answer the questions that follow. Time, You Old Gipsy Man
Time, you old gipsy man,
Time, you old gipsy man,
Will you not stay,
Put up your caravan
Just for a day?
All things I'll give you,
Will you be my guest?
Bells for your jennet
Of silver the best,
Goldsmiths shall beat you
A great golden ring,
Peacocks shall bow to you,
Little boys sing,
Oh, and sweet girls will
Festoon you with may.
Time, you old gipsy,
Why hasten away?
Last week in Babylon,
Last night in Rome,
Under Paul's dome;
Under Paul's dial
You tighten your rein-
only a moment
And off once again;
Off to some city
Now blind in the womb,
Off to another
Ere that's in the tomb.
Time, you old gipsy man,
Will you not stay,
Put up your caravan
Just for a day?
- Ralph Hodgson
Questions
1. Why does the poet call time an 'old gipsy man'?
2. Make a list of things the poet will offer time if it stays just for a day.
3. What else can you offer time if it stays for a day?
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