The Sands of Dee

The Sands of Dee

Charles Kingsley

“O Mary, go and call the cattle home.

And call the cattle home,

And call the cattle home Across the sands of Dee!”

The western wind was wild and dank with foam,

And all alone went she.

The western tide crept up along the sand,

And o’er and o’er the sand.

And round and round the sand, As far as eye could see.

The rolling mist came down and hid the land

And never home came she.

“Oh! Is it weed, or fish, or floating hair,

 A tress of golden hair,

A drowned maiden’s hair

Above the nets at sea?

Was never salmon yet that shone so fair

Among the stakes of Dee.”

They rowed her in across the rolling foam.

The cruel crawling foam,

The cruel hungry foam,

To her grave beside the sea:

But still the boatman hear her call the cattle home

Across the sands of Dee.

দি স্যান্ডস অব ডি

চার্লস কিংসলি

“ও মেরি, যাও গরুগুলোকে বাড়ি নিয়ে এসো,
গরুগুলোকে বাড়ি নিয়ে এসো,
গরুগুলোকে বাড়ি নিয়ে এসো —
ডি নদীর বালুচরের ওপার থেকে!”
পশ্চিমের হাওয়া ছিলো উন্মত্ত, আর ফেনায় ভেজা,
আর একা একাই চলেছিল সে।

পশ্চিমের জোয়ার বালুর উপর এগিয়ে এলো,
আর বারে বারে বালুতে,
আর ঘুরে ঘুরে বালুতে,
যতদূর চোখ যায় দেখা —
ঘূর্ণায়মান কুয়াশা নেমে এলো, আর ঢেকে দিলো স্থলভাগ,
আর সে আর কখনো বাড়ি ফিরলো না।

“ওহ! এটা কি জলজ ঘাস, না মাছ, না ভেসে থাকা চুল,
এক গুচ্ছ সোনালি চুল,
এক ডুবে যাওয়া কুমারীর চুল —
জালের ওপরে, সাগরের মাঝে?
ডি নদীর বাঁধে কখনো এমন উজ্জ্বল স্যামন দেখা যায়নি!”

তারা তাঁকে ফিরিয়ে আনলো ফেনার মধ্য দিয়ে —
নির্মম, হামাগুড়ি দিয়ে এগোনো ফেনা,
নির্দয় ক্ষুধার্ত ফেনা —
সাগরের ধারে তাঁর কবরের দিকে।
তবুও নৌকার মাঝিরা এখনো শুনতে পায় তাঁর ডাক —
ডি নদীর বালুচরের ওপার থেকে, গরুদের বাড়ি ডাকছেন তিনি।

Theme (মূলভাব) in English:

The poem shows the sadness of a girl named Mary who went to bring the cattle home but never returned. It talks about the dangers of nature, like the sea and the mist. It also shows how love, duty, and tragedy are part of life. Even after her death, people feel her presence and hear her voice.

বাংলায় মূলভাব:

এই কবিতায় মেরি নামের একটি মেয়ের দুঃখের কাহিনি বলা হয়েছে। সে গরু আনতে গিয়ে আর বাড়ি ফিরে আসেনি। সমুদ্রের ঢেউ ও কুয়াশা তার পথ বন্ধ করে দেয়। কবিতাটি প্রকৃতির ভয়ংকর রূপ ও এক মায়াবী আবেগের কথা প্রকাশ করে। মৃত্যুর পরেও, মানুষের মনে তার ডাকে সাড়া পড়ে।

Summary (সারাংশ) in English:

The poem tells the sad story of Mary. One day, she goes out alone to bring the cattle home across the sands near the River Dee. The wind is strong and the sea is wild. The mist comes down and covers everything. Mary gets lost in the mist and never returns. Later, people wonder if the golden hair floating in the sea is hers. They find her drowned body and bury her near the sea. Even after her death, people imagine hearing her voice calling the cattle home across the sands.

বাংলায় সারাংশ:

এই কবিতায় মেরির একটি করুণ কাহিনি বলা হয়েছে। একদিন সে একা গরু আনতে যায় ডি নদীর পাড়ে বালির চরে। তখন বাতাস ছিল জোরে, আর সমুদ্র ছিল উত্তাল। হঠাৎ ঘন কুয়াশায় চারদিক ঢেকে যায়। মেরি পথ হারিয়ে ফেলে এবং আর ফিরে আসে না। পরে মানুষ দেখে সমুদ্রে ভাসছে সোনালী চুলের মতো কিছু। তারা ভাবে হয়তো ওটা মেরির চুল। পরে তারা মেরির মৃতদেহ খুঁজে পায় এবং তাকে সমুদ্রের পাশে কবর দেয়। মৃত্যুর পরেও মানুষ কল্পনায় তার গরু ডাকার আওয়াজ শুনতে পায়।

Answer the following questions.

(a) What tragic discovery is described in the poem ‘The Sands of Dee’?

(b) What is the significance of the ‘rolling mist’?

(c) Describe the use of imagery in the poem “The Sands of Dee”.

(d) What was the weather like when Mary went to bring the cattle home?

(e) How has the poet described the sea?

(f) Narrate the story of Mary in your own words.

(g) Who is being asked to call the cattle home in the poem “The Sands of Dee”?

(h) What does western wind bring in “The Sands of Dee”?

(i) How is the tide described in “The Sands of Dee”?

(j) Who is the main character in the poem?

(k) How does the poet use “imagery” to describe Mary’s hair?

(l) Look at some words, phrases and sentences that have been repeated several times. Explain why the poet has done that.

(m) Suppose you were walking on the shore with a couple of your friends while Mary was drowning. Describe what you would have done.

(n) Identify and explain a figure of speech used in the poem.

(o) What does the poet mean by “the cruel crawling foam”?

(p) What role does nature play in Mary’s fate?

(q) How does the poet create a sense of tragedy in the poem?

(r) What do the sands of Dee symbolize in the poem?

(s) Why do you think Mary’s voice is described as still being heard calling the cattle home?

(t) How does the poet use repetition to emphasize the mood and theme of the poem?

(u) How would you describe the tone of the poem?

Answer

(a) The poem describes the tragic discovery that the poet’s lover has drowned in the sands of Dee. It portrays the deep sorrow and loss that the poet feels as he watches the sea claim his beloved, leaving him devastated and alone.

(b) The “rolling mist” in the poem symbolizes uncertainty, confusion and the obscurity of life. It reflects the poet’s feeling of being surrounded by mystery and loss, where things are unclear and out of reach, like the mist that clouds vision.

(c) The imagery in “The Sands of Dee” vividly portrays the scene of the sea and the sand. The poet uses the imagery of the waves, the mist and the drowning figure to evoke emotions of sorrow, loss and the uncontrollable forces of nature. The imagery renders the reader in a haunting, melancholic atmosphere.

(d) The weather was wild and dank with foam from the western wind, and the mist hid the land, making the journey treacherous.

(e) The poet has described the sea as cruel, with rolling foam and hungry waves, which eventually claimed Mary.

(f) Mary went to bring the cattle home, but as she walked across the sands of Dee, she was caught by the tide and lost to the sea. Despite the tragedy, the boatmen continued to hear her calling the cattle home.

(g) In the poem, it is Mary who is asked to call the cattle home. The poem describes her journey through a foggy, windy landscape.

(h) The western wind is described as wild and dank. It carries the salty foam of the sea, setting the scene for the sorrowful events that follow in the poem.

(i) The tide is described as creeping up along the sand, covering it repeatedly. It stretches far out of sight, embodying endless and consuming power.

(j) The main character in many of the poems, such as “O Me! O Life!”, is the speaker themselves. They reflect on their personal struggles, existential doubts and the human condition.

(l) The poet uses vivid sensory descriptions of Mary’s hair, painting a detailed mental image of its texture, color, or appearance. This imagery allows readers to visualize it in an evocative way.

(m) Words like “call the cattle home” and “cruel crawling foam” are repeated to emphasize the haunting and tragic tone of the poem. The repetition creates a rhythmic effect and reflects the continuous, relentless force of nature, as well as the lingering presence of Mary’s voice even after her death.

(n) If I were on the shore with my friends while Mary was drowning, we would have immediately called out to her, trying to guide her back to safety. We would have sought help from nearby fishermen to row out and rescue her from the rising tide. If possible, we would have formed a human chain or used ropes to reach her without putting ourselves in danger. Our priority would be saving her life while ensuring everyone’s safety.

(o) The phrase “cruel crawling foam” is a personification. It describes the waves of the sea as cruel and crawling, suggesting their relentless, dangerous nature that ultimately leads to Mary’s tragic fate.

(p) “The cruel crawling foam” symbolizes the relentless and merciless waves of the sea, which contributed to Mary’s tragic death as they dragged her into the depths of the sea.

(q) Nature plays a dominant role in Mary’s fate, with the wild wind, rising tide, and rolling mist creating a dangerous and unforgiving environment. The sea becomes a powerful force that overpowers her, symbolizing the unpredictability and harshness of nature.

(r) The poet uses repetition, vivid imagery, and phrases like “cruel crawling foam” and “rolling mist” to build a haunting atmosphere. The gradual revelation of Mary’s death, her golden hair floating, and the lingering sound of her voice amplify the tragedy.

(s) The Sands of Dee symbolize both the beauty and danger of nature. They represent the connection between land and sea, where life and death intertwine, and where Mary’s life is tragically lost.

(t) Mary’s voice being heard calling the cattle home symbolizes her lingering presence and the haunting memory of her tragic fate. It suggests that her spirit or memory lives on in the landscape and in the hearts of those who knew her.

(u) Repetition of phrases like “call the cattle home” and “cruel crawling foam” create a rhythmic and haunting effect, reflecting the relentless nature of the sea and the ongoing memory of Mary’s tragedy. It reinforces the feelings of loss, danger, and the passage of time.

(v) The tone of the poem is melancholic and haunting. It evokes a sense of sadness and helplessness as it narrates Mary’s tragic story, emphasizing the power of nature and the fragility of human life.