POEM 2

THE BLIND BOY

- Colley Cibber
 224 GRADE 10 ENGLISH

Pre-reading

1. Have you ever seen or met anyone who is blind? If so, when and where?
2. How do you feel when you see such blind people?
3. What do you think blind people would like to see most in their lives if
they could see?
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The Blind Boy

O say, what is that thing call’d Light,

Which I must ne’er enjoy;
What are the blessings of the sight?
O, tell your poor blind boy.
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You talk of wondrous things you see,

You say the sun shines bright;
I feel him warm, but how can he
Or make it day and night?
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My day and night myself I make,

Whene’er I sleep, or play;
And could I ever keep awake
With me ’twere always day.
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With heavy sighs I often hear

You mourn my hapless woe;
But sure with patience I can bear
A loss I ne’er can know.
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Then let not what I cannot have

My cheer of mind destroy;
Whilst thus I sing, I am a king,
Although a poor blind boy.

Colley Cibber
 230 GRADE 10 ENGLISH

The Blind Boy

O say, what is that thing call’d Light, With heavy sighs I often hear
Which I must ne’er enjoy; You mourn my hapless woe;
What are the blessings of the sight? But sure with patience I can bear
O, tell your poor blind boy. A loss I ne’er can know.

You talk of wondrous things you see, Then let not what I cannot have
You say the sun shines bright; My cheer of mind destroy;
I feel him warm, but how can he Whilst thus I sing, I am a king,
Or make it day and night? Although a poor blind boy.

My day and night myself I make, Colley Cibber

Whene’er I sleep, or play;
And could I ever keep awake
With me ’twere always day.
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Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. What is the thing that the blind boy will never enjoy?
The thing that the blind boy will never enjoy is light.

2. Why can’t he enjoy it?

He can’t enjoy it because he is blind.

3. What are the wondrous things you see in the daytime?

Sample answer: The wondrous things I see in the daytime are flowers, trees,
beautiful scenes, etc.

4. When is it day for him?

It is day for him when he is awake or when he is playing.
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5. When is it night for him?

It is night for him when he is asleep/ when he is sleeping.

6. Which lines tell us that people who can see feel sorry for him?
The lines, ‘With heavy sighs I often hear’ and ‘You mourn my hapless woe:’
tell us that people who can see feel sorry for him.

7. Does the blind boy feel sorry for himself? Why?

No, the blind boy does not feel sorry for himself because he does not miss
what he has never had.
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8. How does the blind boy regard himself in spite of his blindness?
The blind boy regards himself as a king in spite of his blindness.

9. If there were a blind person in your class, how would you help him/ her?
Sample answer: If there were a blind person in my class, I would read for
him/ her and take him/ her wherever he/ she wants to go.
 243 GRADE 10 ENGLISH

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