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November 5, 2024Detailed Summary: The Kites
About the Poet
Daphne Lister, the poet behind this evocative piece, is known for her ability to capture the imagination of readers, particularly through her works that delve into the realm of childhood dreams and fantasies. Her writing often explores themes of escapism, wonder, and the longing for freedom. Lister’s poetic style is characterized by its simplicity, yet profound ability to transport readers into a world of whimsy and nostalgia.
Key Points of the Poem
The poem consists of five stanzas.
It follows the musings of a child who imagines flying on a kite and experiencing the world from above.
The child fantasizes about the freedom and perspective that flying on a kite would offer.
The poem explores themes of escapism, childhood wonder, and the desire for a different vantage point.
Detailed Summary
Stanza 1
Up in the air
See the kites fly,
Like coloured birds
In the wind-whipped sky.
Explanation: In this stanza, the poet describes a scene where kites are flying high in the sky. The speaker is looking up and observing the kites soaring like colored birds in the sky that is being whipped by the wind. The image created is one of freedom and movement, as the kites dance and glide in the air, resembling vibrant birds.
Stanza 2
I wish I were small
And light as air,
I would climb on a kite
And sail up there.
Explanation: The poet expresses a desire to be small and weightless like air. If they were tiny and weightless, they would love to climb onto one of the kites and soar up into the sky with it. This stanza conveys a sense of longing for freedom and flight, imagining the exhilarating experience of riding a kite high above the ground.
Stanza 3
Then I would drift upon
The paper wings,
And hear the songs
That the wild wind sings.
Explanation: If the poet were to ride the kite, they imagine themselves gently drifting along on the kite’s paper wings. They would listen to the melodies carried by the wind as it blows fiercely around them. This stanza captures a sense of harmony with nature and the joy of being carried by the wind, experiencing its music and power.
Stanza 4
What fun it would be
To look right down,
Over the park
And the rooftops of town.
Explanation: The poet envisions the excitement of looking down from high above while riding the kite. They imagine gazing over the park and the rooftops of the town, enjoying a bird’s eye view of the surroundings. This stanza conveys a sense of adventure and the thrill of seeing the world from a different perspective.
Stanza 5
The people below
Would stand and stare,
And wish they were me
High, high in the air.
Explanation: The poet imagines how people on the ground would look up in awe at the sight of the poet flying high on the kite. They would gaze with envy, wishing they could trade places and experience the freedom and exhilaration of being up in the air. This stanza captures the sense of admiration and longing from those who witness the poet’s elevated position.
Theme/Message
Themes:
- Childhood Imagination: The poem delves into the realm of a child’s vivid imagination, where ordinary objects like kites take on magical qualities.
- Freedom and Escape: There is a recurring theme of freedom and escapism, as the child yearns to soar above the constraints of everyday life.
- Perspective and Desire: The desire for a different perspective on life and the world is evident as the child imagines looking down on the park and rooftops from high above.
Message:
- Embracing Imagination: The poem encourages readers to embrace their imagination and see the world through a lens of wonder and possibility.
- Appreciation of Freedom: It underscores the importance of freedom, both literal and metaphorical, in shaping one’s perspective and fostering a sense of adventure.
- Longing for Perspective: The poem highlights the human desire to gain new perspectives and experiences, even if only in the realm of dreams and fantasies.
Difficult Words
- whipped: beaten or made frothy by beating.
- drift: to be carried slowly by a current of air or water.
- rooftops: the outer covering of a building’s roof.
- musings: contemplations or reflections.
- vantage: a place or position affording a good view.
- recurring: occurring again or repeatedly.
- constraints: limitations or restrictions.
- underscore: to emphasize or highlight.
- fostering: promoting the development or growth of something.
- longing: a strong, persistent desire or craving.