Question

Why does the thin grey strand
Floating up from the forgotten
Cigarette between my fingers,
Why does it trouble me?
Ah, you will understand;
When I carried my mother downstairs,
A few times only, at the beginning
Of her soft-foot malady,
I should find, for a reprimand
To my gaiety, a few long grey hairs
On the breast of my coat; and one by one
I watched them float up the dark chimney.
Which of the following can be considered as correct about the above poem?

• A. It is written in the process of grieving for the poet’s mother.
• B. It is an autobiographical poem.
• C. It is a symbolic poem.
• D. It is a poem of youthful celebration.

Hint:

A symbolic poem often uses physical objects or actions (like grey hairs floating up the chimney) to represent abstract concepts such as aging, loss, or death.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A, B, C

Step 1: Analyzing the content of the poem.
The poem reflects the poet’s personal emotions of grieving and memory, especially about his mother, seen in the reference to "long grey hairs" and the description of her "soft-foot malady," which shows a transition to a sadder phase.

Step 2: Evaluating the options.
- (A) Correct: The poem depicts the poet’s feelings of loss, making it about grieving for his mother.
- (B) Correct: The poem is autobiographical, as it is directly tied to personal experiences of the poet.
- (C) Correct: The "long grey hairs" and "floating up the chimney" are symbolic of aging and the poet’s reflections on mortality and grief.
- (D) Incorrect: The poem does not convey a sense of youthful celebration; rather, it evokes feelings of sorrow and loss.