‘The Kite’ Poem Stanza Wise Explanation Class 6

‘The Kite’ Poem Stanza Wise Explanation Class 6: “The Kite” Poem captures the excitement and joy of flying a new kite, highlighting its vibrant appearance and graceful movements. However, it also reminds us of the potential risks and challenges that can come with kite-flying, such as the possibility of getting caught in a tree.

Poem “The Kite”

How bright on the blue
Is a kite when it’s new!

With a dive and a dip
It snaps its tail

Then soars like a ship
With only a sail

As over tides
Of wind it rides,

Climbs to the crest
Of a gust and pulls,

Then seems to rest
As wind falls.

When string goes slack
You wind it back

And run until
A new breeze blows

And its wings fill
And up it goes!

How bright on the blue
Is a kite when it’s new!

But a raggeder thing
You never will see

When it flaps on a string
In the top of a tree.

Harry Behn

Stanza Wise Explanation of “The Kite” Poem

Stanza 1

How bright on the blue
Is a kite when it’s new!

Word Meanings:

• Bright: Shining or vivid in colour or appearance.
• Blue: The colour associated with the sky on a clear day.
• New: Recently made or acquired.

Explanation: The first two lines introduce the subject of the poem, which is a kite. It describes the brightness of a new kite against the blue sky. This line suggests the excitement and vibrancy associated with a fresh kite.

Stanza 1

With a dive and a dip
It snaps its tail
Then soars like a ship
With only a sail
As over tides
Of wind it rides,
Climbs to the crest
Of a gust and pulls,
Then seems to rest
As wind falls.

Word meanings:

• Dive: To plunge downward rapidly.
• Dip: To lower and then raise something quickly.
• Snap: To make a sudden, sharp cracking sound.
• Tail: The elongated, trailing part of a kite.
• Soar: To fly or glide high in the air without effort.
• Ship: A large watercraft used for transportation on the sea.
• Sail: A piece of fabric attached to a boat or ship that catches the wind and propels it forward.
• Tide: The alternate rising and falling of the sea due to the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun.
• Wind: Moving air, especially a natural and perceptible movement of air.
• Crest: The highest point or peak.
• Gust: A brief, strong blast of wind.
• Pull: To exert force in order to move something toward oneself.
• Rest: To be motionless or at ease.
• Falls: Refers to the wind decreasing in strength or subsiding.

Explanation: These lines elaborate on the kite’s movements and the experience of flying it. The kite dives and dips in the air, snapping its tail, and then it soars like a ship with only a sail. The imagery compares the kite’s flight to that of a ship gliding over waves. The kite rides the currents of wind, climbing higher and higher until it reaches the crest of a gust. Then, it appears to rest as the wind calms down.

Stanza 3

When string goes slack
You wind it back
And run until
A new breeze blows
And its wings fill
And up it goes!
How bright on the blue
Is a kite when it’s new!

Word meanings:

• String: A thin cord or thread used to attach and control a kite.
• Slack: Lacking tension or firmness; loose.
• Wind back: To rewind or retrieve the string by turning a handle or reel.
• Run: To move swiftly on foot.
• Breeze: A gentle or light wind.
• Wings: The paired forelimbs or extensions used for flying in birds, bats, and insects.
• Fill: To become inflated or expanded, usually by air.

Explanation: Here the focus shifts to the process of handling the kite. When the string of the kite goes slack, meaning it becomes loose, the kite is reeled in by winding the string back. The person flying the kite runs until a new breeze blows, causing the kite’s wings to fill with wind, and it ascends into the sky again. The stanza concludes with a repetition of the first stanza, emphasizing the brightness of the kite when it is new.

Stanza 4

But a raggeder thing
You never will see
When it flaps on a string
In the top of a tree.

Word meanings:

• Ragged: Torn or frayed, in a state of disrepair.
• Flap: To move up and down or back and forth rapidly, usually with a noise.
• Top: The highest part or point.

Explanation: These last four lines present a contrast to the earlier positive descriptions. It states that the kite can become a “raggeder thing” (torn and poor-looking) when it gets stuck or entangled in a tree. The image of a flapping kite trapped at the top of a tree portrays a sad and damaged state for the once vibrant and lively kite.

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Theme & Message of “The Kite” Poem

This poem explores the journey of a kite, from its initial brightness and excitement to its potential downfall. It reflects on the joy and freedom associated with new beginnings, the importance of perseverance and adaptation in the face of challenges, and the eventual loss and decline that can occur. Through the imagery and metaphors, the poem invites readers to reflect on the deeper meanings of life’s cycles and the fleeting nature of beauty and success.

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