NO MEN ARE FOREIGN

- JAMES KIRKUP

THEME:
In the poem, the poet tries to advocate the message of Universal brotherhood,
universal love and universal peace. He speaks of how even when divided by
borders, we are all the same. We are united by one major similarity – we are all
humans.
MESSAGE:
James Kirkup gives a definite message of hope to mankind. Inspite of apparent
divisions and differences, all are united together by the common bond of humanity
and mankind. Vested interests gain by dividing lands and people. They conspire to
create hatred and divisions among people. We should frustrate their evil designs.
We should understand and try to recognise that the same soul runs through all the
people. Let us work for the unity and prosperity of all lands and all people.
Let us not pollute and defile the earth which is ours. Hatred and narrow ideas pollute
the minds of the people. Conflicts and wars bring destruction and violence. We
should remember that raising our arms against anyone means fighting against
ourselves. The poet reminds us to remember, recognise and strengthen the
common bond that unites mankind and humanity.
Answer the following:
1. What meaning does the poet imply by “strength that can be won by love”?
ANS: The poet wants to say that we can avoid war and destruction easily with the
motto of universal love and peace. It is a known fact that no human can remain
unaffected by one of the strongest forces of nature, that is love. He says that rather
than taking up arms against each other and waging war, we can instead attain
peace with love and kindness.
2. What similarities does the poet highlight regarding men from foreign land?
ANS: We all are alike. We have same body structure. All of us need air to breathe,
sun to get sunlight and warmth and water for many purposes. Our daily routine is
also almost the same. We get up in the morning take a bath, have breakfast and go
to work or school. All of us long for love. We all sleep at night and wake up in the
morning. The hard work that men do across these lands are the same. All of us are
equally affected by was as well as peace. These are some of the similarities
highlighted.
3. How do we defile the earth and how can we save it?
ANS: Hate breeds hatred. Narrow ideas pollute and defile this earth which belongs
to all mankind. ‘Hells of fire and dust’ are our own creations. They pollute and
outrage the ‘innocence of air that is our own’. We should remember that the mother
earth belongs to all lands and all people. Spreading love instead of hatred and
peace instead of war are some of the solutions that the poet suggests as ways to
save our world.
4. Who is affected by the hells of fire and why?
ANS: The poet refers to war and the ensuing destruction and chaos as ‘hells of fire.
It is mankind and this earth that are affected by the hells of fire. Mankind is affected
in a way that we lose lives, livelihood and strength whereas the earth is polluted,
defiled and destroyed under the pretext of war.