1. What does the term “begrudge” mean?

- Begrudge means to envy (someone) the possession or enjoyment of (something) or

give reluctantly or resentfully.

2. Why did the author begrudge the years? Explain your answer well.
- Manalang-Gloria was a poet and pianist who used her works to express her feelings
and wishes. I guess the author begrudges the years for she was reshaped by the reality
of life, she had discovered that life is not all love, and that love is not the sole path to
one's goal. Love is like an investment and investment is like love. She thinks that
everything needs to be defined and measured because undefined goals can badly
influence the outcome. In this poetry, the persona avoids revealing his or her love for
fear of being rejected and the unbearable pain it may bring as a result. She/he is
deprived of the feelings of delight and despair by keeping the relationship a secret.
From beyond the walls of fear, this poetry converses about love. Because of the
uncertainty, the priceless feeling remains unspoken. The author implied in her poem
that both love and investment need to be managed, matured, and evaluated.