I lay in want, and grief, and pain; A poor man passed my way; He bound my head, he gave me bread,

Question

Read the following stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:

I lay in want, and grief, and pain;

A poor man passed my way;

He bound my head, he gave me bread,

He watched me night and day.

How shall I pay him back again

For all he did to me?

Oh, gold is great, but greater far

Is heavenly sympathy.

(i) Name the poem from which the above stanza has been taken. Who is the poet of the poem?

(ii) Who passed by the poet?

(iii) How did the poor man help the poet?

(iv) The poor man’* help is greater than gold. Why?

Answer 1

(i) The name of the poem is Sympathy’ and the poet is Charles Mackay.

(ii) A poor man passed by the poet.

(iii) The poor man pressed his head. He gave him bread and looked after him day and night.

(iv) The poor man’* help is greater than gold because gold can be repaid but words of sympathy can not be paid back.