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Small Towns and the River by Mamang Dai

December 19, 2025

Small Towns and the River by Mamang Dai Line-by-line Paraphrase (Please keep a copy of the poem from your textbook before you to read line by line paraphrase. Poem cannot be published due to copyright reasons) 1. Small towns make the poet think constantly of death. 2. Her hometown is quiet and peaceful, surrounded by trees. 3. The town never changes. 4. The sameness continues in every season. 5. Dust is always present, filling the air. 6. Strong winds blow noisily through the deep valley. 7. Recently, a person passed away in the town. 8. People cried quietly in a heavy, fearful silence. 9. They gazed at funeral flowers symbolizing grief and death. 10. Life and death keep occurring repeatedly. 11. Only traditional customs continue unchanged, even as people die. 12. The river is alive and spiritual. 13. During summer, the river forcefully flows through the land cutting it. 14. Its movement resembles overwhelming sorrow like flood. At certain moments, 15. Occasionally, the poet...

The Girl Who Can by Ama Ata Aidoo

December 12, 2025

Detailed Summary of “The Girl Who Can” by Ama Ata Aidoo The story is narrated by Adjoa, a perceptive and intelligent seven-year-old girl from a Ghanaian village, Hasodzi. Although young, Adjoa is observant and thoughtful, often reflecting on the expectations placed on women in her community. From the beginning, she explains that she was born with exceptionally thin legs, a physical trait that sparks constant discussion among the adults around her—especially among the two powerful women in her life: her grandmother, Nana, and her mother, Maami. The conflict over Adjoa’s legs In their Akan culture, a woman is valued for her ability to bear children and work efficiently on the farm. Nana believes that strong, thick legs are essential for a woman to perform these responsibilities. She therefore criticizes Adjoa’s legs as “too thin to carry a pot” or to bear children in the future. Maami, though less vocal, is caught between her mother’s traditional expectations and her desire to suppo...

The Power of Music by Sukumar Ray

December 09, 2025

The Power of Music by Sukumar Ray Line by Line Paraphrase (Please keep a copy of the poem from your book before reading the poem) 1.In summer, we begin to hear the humming sound of Bhisma Lochan Sharma’s singing. 2. His singing can be heard everywhere—on hills, plains, from Delhi all the way to Burma. 3. He sings with extreme intensity, as if his life depends on it, as if he's determined to sing no matter what. 4. People get confused and shocked by his singing, and move away—even though they know he means no harm. 5. People run away in panic, some getting hurt, or they become pale and weak. 6.They beg him, saying, “Please stop singing! We cannot take it anymore—we may die!” 7. His terrible singing causes bullock-carts to topple over and horses to collapse on the road. 8. But Bhisma Lochan does not care—he continues to sing loudly and powerfully. 9. Animals hate the loud noise as soon as they hear it. 10. They cry, fall over with their feet up, or look around in utter confusion. 11...

When Great Trees Fall by Maya Angelou

December 07, 2025

When Great Trees Fall by Maya Angelou Line by Line Paraphrase (Please keep a copy of poem in front of you before reading the paraphrase) When great trees fall,………safety When magnificent and towering trees collapse, Even rocks far away tremble, Lions crouch low in the tall grass, And elephants move slowly towards a place of safety. When great trees fall ……. fear When these massive trees collapse, In the midst of forests, Small creatures retreat and become silent, Their awareness dulled, feeling something beyond just fear. When great souls die…….hurtful clarity When extraordinary people pass away, The atmosphere around us turns Thin, uncommon, and pure. We take short breaths. For a moment, our eyes See everything with painful clarity. Our memory……….taken Our memory, suddenly keen, Reviews, Dwells on kind words, That were left unspoken, On walks we promised to take, But never did. Great souls die ……..wizened When great souls leave this world, Our sense of reality, tied to them, Also ...

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