Grade 12 IEB
poetry 2025
, Contents
Will it be so again? – Cecil Day Lewis
The Sun Rising - John Donne
Nobody loses all the time - Cummings
Namaqualand after Rain - Plomer
Moving through the silent crowd - Stephen Spender
The Discardment - Alan Paton
Touch - Hugh Lewis
To the Public – Louis Macneice
Strangers Forever - Amin Kassam
Mirror - Sylvia Plath
For Oom Piet – Dinuala Dowling
Remember – Christina Rossetti
To me, fair friend, you can never be old -
Shakespeare
The Tenant - Na Ncube
Ozymandias of Egypt - Percy Bysshe Shelley
Cockroaches - Yambo
,Will it be so again? – Cecil Day Lewis
Will it be so again That the brave, the gifted are
lost from view, And the empty, scheming men Are
left in peace their lunatic age to renew? Will it be
so again?
Must it be always so
That the best are chosen to fall and sleep
Like seeds, and we too slow
In claiming the earth they quicken, and the
usurpers recap
What they could not sow?
Will it be so again
The jungle code and the hypocrite gesture?
A poppy wreath for the slain
And a cut-throat world for the living? that stale
imposture
Played on us once again?
Will it be as before
Peace, with no heart or mind to ensure it,
Guttering down to war
Like a libertine to his grave?
We should not be surprised: we knew it
Happen before.
, The opening line sets a reflective, almost rhetorical tone. The
phrase "Will it be so again?" evokes a sense of cyclical
history, suggesting a recurring pattern of events.
The repetition of the question serves to emphasize the
Will it be so again uncertainty and disillusionment with past outcomes. It
implies that history might repeat itself, with no real
progress.
The line hints at a frustration with the status quo,
symbolizing a questioning of fate and destiny, and is left
open-ended, demanding the reader to reflect on the
possibility of future repetition.
This line mourns the disappearance or obscurity of
individuals who possess courage and talent.
That the brave, the gifted The phrase "lost from view" suggests these individuals
are overlooked or ignored in society.
are lost from view, The "brave" and "gifted" are metaphors for those who
could potentially lead or inspire, but instead are
marginalized or forgotten.
The line uses personification through "lost" to portray
how these qualities are disregarded or erased,
highlighting societal neglect of potential leaders.
The tone is lamenting, revealing the disparity between
potential and reality in society.
Here, "empty" functions as a metaphor for men who
lack substance, integrity, or purpose.
And the empty, scheming "Scheming" suggests cunning or deceptive behavior,
men implying that these individuals manipulate situations
for personal gain.
The phrase conveys a stark contrast between those who
possess genuine qualities and those who operate with
selfish intentions.
The line uses anaphora with the conjunction "and" to
connect it to the previous line, amplifying the portrayal
of these men as the opposite of the "brave" and "gifted."
This line questions whether these deceitful men are
allowed to continue their actions unchallenged.
Are left in peace their "Left in peace" suggests that they are allowed to
lunatic age to renew? prosper without opposition.
The phrase "lunatic age" metaphorically describes an
irrational or chaotic time that these men contribute to,
where their actions are seen as both misguided and
dangerous.
The use of the question mark invites the reader to
ponder whether society passively permits these
individuals to perpetuate harm.
, This repeated line reiterates the cyclical nature of history,
strengthening the theme of repetition. The speaker
emphasizes uncertainty, as if resigned to the idea that
society may once again fall into the same patterns of
injustice. The question invites reflection on whether any
meaningful change will occur or if history will repeat
Will it be so itself. The use of a question without an answer leaves the
again?
reader to contemplate the possibility of failure to evolve or
learn from past mistakes, reinforcing the sense of pessimism
that pervades the poem. This rhetorical question challenges
the inevitability of the status quo, asking whether it is
necessary for things to always unfold in the same way.
The word "always" implies a sense of resignation to
unchanging circumstances.
The question forces the reader to confront the
possibility that this pattern of events might be
Must it be permanent.
always so The line, like the others, emphasizes frustration and
dissatisfaction with how society has repeatedly failed
to make progress, provoking the reader to question
whether there is truly no alternative to the current
state of affairs.
The phrase "chosen to fall and sleep" uses metaphor to
describe the best individuals being sacrificed or
silenced.
“Fall" symbolizes their defeat or destruction, while
That the best are chosen "sleep" suggests a passive state, where they are no
to longer active or impactful.
fall and sleep The line critiques a society that allows or even
encourages the downfall of its most capable members.
"Chosen" implies that this fate is not random but is a
result of societal forces.
The metaphor conveys a sense of tragic inevitability,
highlighting how those with potential often face
destruction.
The comparison of the best individuals to "seeds" is a
metaphor for potential that has not been realized.
Seeds can grow into something significant if nurtured,
yet they remain dormant.
"Too slow" critiques the inertia or delay in recognizing
Like seeds, and we too
slow and acting on this potential.
The line conveys a sense of missed opportunity—society
is failing to act quickly enough to harness the potential
of its best individuals.
This metaphor critiques a system that allows greatness
to go unnoticed or underdeveloped, and society’s slow
response to this failure is a central theme.
, This line continues the metaphor of seeds, with "claiming the
earth" referring to taking ownership of the opportunities
that the gifted individuals have nurtured. "Quicken" implies
that these individuals bring life or vitality to the world, yet
In claiming the earth they
the "old usurpers", those who
quicken, and the old
have taken power through dishonest means, are the ones
usurpers reap who benefit from their work. The phrase "reap what they
could not sow" emphasizes the injustice of the situation,
where the wrong people profit from the efforts of others.
The line critiques the inequality in society, where power
remains with those who do not deserve it.
This rhetorical question highlights the disparity
between the actions of the gifted individuals and those
who exploit their work.
"Sow" refers to the act of planting or creating, while
"reap" refers to harvesting the benefits.
The line emphasizes how the usurpers take advantage
What they could not sow? of the work done by others, reaping rewards they did
not earn.
The question implies that this injustice is not only
unfair but unnatural, as those who have contributed
little or nothing are benefiting from the work of those
who have put in effort and sacrifice.
Once more, the repetition of the phrase "Will it be so
again" reinforces the cyclical nature of history and the
ongoing struggle for justice.
It invites the reader to ponder whether this situation,
where the wrong individuals thrive while the worthy
Will it be so again suffer, will persist.
The lack of an answer highlights the uncertainty and
despair the speaker feels about the future.
The repetition throughout the poem mirrors the feeling
of helplessness, emphasizing the sense that history may
continue to repeat itself without resolution.
This line contrasts two elements: the "jungle code," a
metaphor for survivalist behavior and anarchy, and the
"hypocrite gesture," which implies false or insincere
actions.
The jungle code and the The "jungle code" suggests a lawless world where only
hypocrite gesture? the strong survive, while the "hypocrite gesture"
critiques superficial acts of kindness or peace that
mask the true intentions beneath.
The juxtaposition of these elements critiques a society
where ethical behavior is undermined by those in power.
The phrase "jungle code" invokes imagery of primitive
and ruthless survivalism, highlighting the hypocrisy of
modern society's actions.
, The "poppy wreath" is a symbol of remembrance, typically
honoring the fallen in war. This image is used ironically,
suggesting that while society may offer symbolic tributes to
those who have been sacrificed, it does little to address the
causes of their suffering.
A poppy wreath for the
The poppy, often associated with peace and sacrifice,
slain here serves as a hollow gesture, illustrating the gap between
action and reality. The line critiques how society
commemorates the fallen but fails to correct the systems
that perpetuate violence and injustice, reducing such tributes
to empty formalities.
In contrast to the "poppy wreath," this line describes
the brutal, "cut-throat" reality that the living face.
The "cut-throat world" metaphor conveys the ruthless,
competitive nature of society, where survival is a
And a cut-throat world for
constant struggle.
the living? that stale The phrase "that stale imposture" critiques the faç ade
imposture of peace and justice offered by society, suggesting it is
insincere and worn out.
The term "stale" emphasizes how this false image has
been repeated to the point of becoming meaningless.
The line highlights the hypocrisy in honoring the fallen
while perpetuating harsh conditions for the living.
The "played on us" suggests that society's manipulation
and deceit have been ongoing, with no real change.
The word "again" emphasizes the repeated nature of
this cycle, implying that the same patterns of deception
and exploitation continue to occur.
Played on us once again? The question is meant to evoke a sense of betrayal, as
the speaker feels that society is deceiving the people
repeatedly without any meaningful transformation,
maintaining a facade that ultimately benefits the few
at the cost of the many.
Once more, the recurring question, "Will it be as before?"
suggests the inevitability of history repeating itself.
The speaker is questioning whether peace, progress, or
any form of change can truly occur, or if the status quo
will persist.
Will it be as before The use of this question reinforces the feeling of
disillusionment and frustration, as the speaker doubts
the possibility of any positive transformation.
It reflects a sense of resignation, asking if the same
failures and injustices will continue without resolution
or reform, echoing the earlier sentiments of cyclical
history.
, This line critiques the concept of "peace" that lacks genuine
substance. "No heart or mind" suggests that this peace is
superficial, devoid of the emotional or intellectual
Peace, with no heart or mind commitment necessary to make it real. The phrase implies
that peace is being maintained only
to ensure it,
on the surface, without any true effort to foster
understanding or resolve underlying issues. It paints peace
as an empty concept, symbolizing the failure of those in
power to secure meaningful harmony. This line deepens the
critique of a world where appearances mask the lack of
real progress.
The image of peace "guttering down" is a metaphor for
peace slowly fading or deteriorating, like a candle's
flame flickering out.
The word "guttering" conveys a sense of inevitable
collapse, suggesting that peace is unsustainable
Guttering down to war
without true commitment.
This decline leads "down to war," symbolizing a return
to violence and conflict.
The line suggests that peace, when not properly
nurtured, will eventually collapse into chaos, leading to
destructive outcomes.
It critiques the fragility of peace in a world where
superficial efforts cannot protect against deeper
societal issues.
The comparison of the decline of peace to a "libertine to
his grave" is a metaphor for a self-destructive journey.
A libertine is someone who indulges in excess without
regard for consequences, and here, it suggests that
peace is behaving in the same way—unrestrained and
Like a libertine to his grave?
heading towards inevitable destruction.
The comparison to the libertine's grave emphasizes the
fatalistic nature of this trajectory, indicating that
without genuine commitment, peace is doomed.
The line critiques a hedonistic or careless approach to
peace, where short-term satisfaction leads to long-term
destruction.
This line expresses resignation to the inevitability of
the outcome, as the speaker acknowledges that they
were aware of the eventual collapse.
We should not be surprised: The phrase "we knew it" suggests a sense of fatalism,
we knew it where the speaker recognizes that the decline of peace
and the return to conflict was always a likely outcome.
The line implies that society has failed to change or act
in time to prevent this cycle from repeating.
The tone is one of weary acceptance, underscoring the
disappointment of realizing that the same mistakes
have been made yet again.
, The closing phrase, "Happen before," reinforces the cyclical
nature of the poem's themes. The speaker points out that this
collapse is not new; it has occurred previously, emphasizing
Happen before. the failure of society to learn from its past. The line
underscores the inevitability of this outcome
due to past inaction and mistakes.
By leaving it so brief, it conveys a sense of hopelessness, as
though the speaker believes this pattern of history is
unchangeable. It serves as a final lament for the lack of
progress and the repetitive nature of human mistakes.
, The Sun Rising - John Donne
Busy old fool, unruly Sun,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows and through curtains call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers' seasons run? Saucy
pedantic wretch, go chide
Late school-boys, and sour 'prentices,
Go tell court-huntsmen that the King will ride, Call
country ants to harvest offices; Love, all alike, no
season knows, nor clime,
Nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of
time.
Thy beams, so reverend and strong
Why shouldst thou think?
I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink, But that
I would not lose her sight so long:
If her eyes have not blinded thine,
Look, and tomorrow late tell me,
Whether both the Indias of spice and mine
Be where thou left'st them, or lie here with me.
Ask for those kings whom thou saw'st yesterday,
And thou shalt hear, 'All here in one bed lay."
She's all States, and all Princes I;
Nothing else is.
Princes do but play us; compared to this,
All honour's mimic; all wealth alchemy.
Thou, Sun, art half as happy as we,
In that the world's contracted thus;
Thine age asks ease, and since thy duties be
To warm the world, that's done in warming us.
Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere;
This bed thy centre is, these walls thy sphere.
poetry 2025
, Contents
Will it be so again? – Cecil Day Lewis
The Sun Rising - John Donne
Nobody loses all the time - Cummings
Namaqualand after Rain - Plomer
Moving through the silent crowd - Stephen Spender
The Discardment - Alan Paton
Touch - Hugh Lewis
To the Public – Louis Macneice
Strangers Forever - Amin Kassam
Mirror - Sylvia Plath
For Oom Piet – Dinuala Dowling
Remember – Christina Rossetti
To me, fair friend, you can never be old -
Shakespeare
The Tenant - Na Ncube
Ozymandias of Egypt - Percy Bysshe Shelley
Cockroaches - Yambo
,Will it be so again? – Cecil Day Lewis
Will it be so again That the brave, the gifted are
lost from view, And the empty, scheming men Are
left in peace their lunatic age to renew? Will it be
so again?
Must it be always so
That the best are chosen to fall and sleep
Like seeds, and we too slow
In claiming the earth they quicken, and the
usurpers recap
What they could not sow?
Will it be so again
The jungle code and the hypocrite gesture?
A poppy wreath for the slain
And a cut-throat world for the living? that stale
imposture
Played on us once again?
Will it be as before
Peace, with no heart or mind to ensure it,
Guttering down to war
Like a libertine to his grave?
We should not be surprised: we knew it
Happen before.
, The opening line sets a reflective, almost rhetorical tone. The
phrase "Will it be so again?" evokes a sense of cyclical
history, suggesting a recurring pattern of events.
The repetition of the question serves to emphasize the
Will it be so again uncertainty and disillusionment with past outcomes. It
implies that history might repeat itself, with no real
progress.
The line hints at a frustration with the status quo,
symbolizing a questioning of fate and destiny, and is left
open-ended, demanding the reader to reflect on the
possibility of future repetition.
This line mourns the disappearance or obscurity of
individuals who possess courage and talent.
That the brave, the gifted The phrase "lost from view" suggests these individuals
are overlooked or ignored in society.
are lost from view, The "brave" and "gifted" are metaphors for those who
could potentially lead or inspire, but instead are
marginalized or forgotten.
The line uses personification through "lost" to portray
how these qualities are disregarded or erased,
highlighting societal neglect of potential leaders.
The tone is lamenting, revealing the disparity between
potential and reality in society.
Here, "empty" functions as a metaphor for men who
lack substance, integrity, or purpose.
And the empty, scheming "Scheming" suggests cunning or deceptive behavior,
men implying that these individuals manipulate situations
for personal gain.
The phrase conveys a stark contrast between those who
possess genuine qualities and those who operate with
selfish intentions.
The line uses anaphora with the conjunction "and" to
connect it to the previous line, amplifying the portrayal
of these men as the opposite of the "brave" and "gifted."
This line questions whether these deceitful men are
allowed to continue their actions unchallenged.
Are left in peace their "Left in peace" suggests that they are allowed to
lunatic age to renew? prosper without opposition.
The phrase "lunatic age" metaphorically describes an
irrational or chaotic time that these men contribute to,
where their actions are seen as both misguided and
dangerous.
The use of the question mark invites the reader to
ponder whether society passively permits these
individuals to perpetuate harm.
, This repeated line reiterates the cyclical nature of history,
strengthening the theme of repetition. The speaker
emphasizes uncertainty, as if resigned to the idea that
society may once again fall into the same patterns of
injustice. The question invites reflection on whether any
meaningful change will occur or if history will repeat
Will it be so itself. The use of a question without an answer leaves the
again?
reader to contemplate the possibility of failure to evolve or
learn from past mistakes, reinforcing the sense of pessimism
that pervades the poem. This rhetorical question challenges
the inevitability of the status quo, asking whether it is
necessary for things to always unfold in the same way.
The word "always" implies a sense of resignation to
unchanging circumstances.
The question forces the reader to confront the
possibility that this pattern of events might be
Must it be permanent.
always so The line, like the others, emphasizes frustration and
dissatisfaction with how society has repeatedly failed
to make progress, provoking the reader to question
whether there is truly no alternative to the current
state of affairs.
The phrase "chosen to fall and sleep" uses metaphor to
describe the best individuals being sacrificed or
silenced.
“Fall" symbolizes their defeat or destruction, while
That the best are chosen "sleep" suggests a passive state, where they are no
to longer active or impactful.
fall and sleep The line critiques a society that allows or even
encourages the downfall of its most capable members.
"Chosen" implies that this fate is not random but is a
result of societal forces.
The metaphor conveys a sense of tragic inevitability,
highlighting how those with potential often face
destruction.
The comparison of the best individuals to "seeds" is a
metaphor for potential that has not been realized.
Seeds can grow into something significant if nurtured,
yet they remain dormant.
"Too slow" critiques the inertia or delay in recognizing
Like seeds, and we too
slow and acting on this potential.
The line conveys a sense of missed opportunity—society
is failing to act quickly enough to harness the potential
of its best individuals.
This metaphor critiques a system that allows greatness
to go unnoticed or underdeveloped, and society’s slow
response to this failure is a central theme.
, This line continues the metaphor of seeds, with "claiming the
earth" referring to taking ownership of the opportunities
that the gifted individuals have nurtured. "Quicken" implies
that these individuals bring life or vitality to the world, yet
In claiming the earth they
the "old usurpers", those who
quicken, and the old
have taken power through dishonest means, are the ones
usurpers reap who benefit from their work. The phrase "reap what they
could not sow" emphasizes the injustice of the situation,
where the wrong people profit from the efforts of others.
The line critiques the inequality in society, where power
remains with those who do not deserve it.
This rhetorical question highlights the disparity
between the actions of the gifted individuals and those
who exploit their work.
"Sow" refers to the act of planting or creating, while
"reap" refers to harvesting the benefits.
The line emphasizes how the usurpers take advantage
What they could not sow? of the work done by others, reaping rewards they did
not earn.
The question implies that this injustice is not only
unfair but unnatural, as those who have contributed
little or nothing are benefiting from the work of those
who have put in effort and sacrifice.
Once more, the repetition of the phrase "Will it be so
again" reinforces the cyclical nature of history and the
ongoing struggle for justice.
It invites the reader to ponder whether this situation,
where the wrong individuals thrive while the worthy
Will it be so again suffer, will persist.
The lack of an answer highlights the uncertainty and
despair the speaker feels about the future.
The repetition throughout the poem mirrors the feeling
of helplessness, emphasizing the sense that history may
continue to repeat itself without resolution.
This line contrasts two elements: the "jungle code," a
metaphor for survivalist behavior and anarchy, and the
"hypocrite gesture," which implies false or insincere
actions.
The jungle code and the The "jungle code" suggests a lawless world where only
hypocrite gesture? the strong survive, while the "hypocrite gesture"
critiques superficial acts of kindness or peace that
mask the true intentions beneath.
The juxtaposition of these elements critiques a society
where ethical behavior is undermined by those in power.
The phrase "jungle code" invokes imagery of primitive
and ruthless survivalism, highlighting the hypocrisy of
modern society's actions.
, The "poppy wreath" is a symbol of remembrance, typically
honoring the fallen in war. This image is used ironically,
suggesting that while society may offer symbolic tributes to
those who have been sacrificed, it does little to address the
causes of their suffering.
A poppy wreath for the
The poppy, often associated with peace and sacrifice,
slain here serves as a hollow gesture, illustrating the gap between
action and reality. The line critiques how society
commemorates the fallen but fails to correct the systems
that perpetuate violence and injustice, reducing such tributes
to empty formalities.
In contrast to the "poppy wreath," this line describes
the brutal, "cut-throat" reality that the living face.
The "cut-throat world" metaphor conveys the ruthless,
competitive nature of society, where survival is a
And a cut-throat world for
constant struggle.
the living? that stale The phrase "that stale imposture" critiques the faç ade
imposture of peace and justice offered by society, suggesting it is
insincere and worn out.
The term "stale" emphasizes how this false image has
been repeated to the point of becoming meaningless.
The line highlights the hypocrisy in honoring the fallen
while perpetuating harsh conditions for the living.
The "played on us" suggests that society's manipulation
and deceit have been ongoing, with no real change.
The word "again" emphasizes the repeated nature of
this cycle, implying that the same patterns of deception
and exploitation continue to occur.
Played on us once again? The question is meant to evoke a sense of betrayal, as
the speaker feels that society is deceiving the people
repeatedly without any meaningful transformation,
maintaining a facade that ultimately benefits the few
at the cost of the many.
Once more, the recurring question, "Will it be as before?"
suggests the inevitability of history repeating itself.
The speaker is questioning whether peace, progress, or
any form of change can truly occur, or if the status quo
will persist.
Will it be as before The use of this question reinforces the feeling of
disillusionment and frustration, as the speaker doubts
the possibility of any positive transformation.
It reflects a sense of resignation, asking if the same
failures and injustices will continue without resolution
or reform, echoing the earlier sentiments of cyclical
history.
, This line critiques the concept of "peace" that lacks genuine
substance. "No heart or mind" suggests that this peace is
superficial, devoid of the emotional or intellectual
Peace, with no heart or mind commitment necessary to make it real. The phrase implies
that peace is being maintained only
to ensure it,
on the surface, without any true effort to foster
understanding or resolve underlying issues. It paints peace
as an empty concept, symbolizing the failure of those in
power to secure meaningful harmony. This line deepens the
critique of a world where appearances mask the lack of
real progress.
The image of peace "guttering down" is a metaphor for
peace slowly fading or deteriorating, like a candle's
flame flickering out.
The word "guttering" conveys a sense of inevitable
collapse, suggesting that peace is unsustainable
Guttering down to war
without true commitment.
This decline leads "down to war," symbolizing a return
to violence and conflict.
The line suggests that peace, when not properly
nurtured, will eventually collapse into chaos, leading to
destructive outcomes.
It critiques the fragility of peace in a world where
superficial efforts cannot protect against deeper
societal issues.
The comparison of the decline of peace to a "libertine to
his grave" is a metaphor for a self-destructive journey.
A libertine is someone who indulges in excess without
regard for consequences, and here, it suggests that
peace is behaving in the same way—unrestrained and
Like a libertine to his grave?
heading towards inevitable destruction.
The comparison to the libertine's grave emphasizes the
fatalistic nature of this trajectory, indicating that
without genuine commitment, peace is doomed.
The line critiques a hedonistic or careless approach to
peace, where short-term satisfaction leads to long-term
destruction.
This line expresses resignation to the inevitability of
the outcome, as the speaker acknowledges that they
were aware of the eventual collapse.
We should not be surprised: The phrase "we knew it" suggests a sense of fatalism,
we knew it where the speaker recognizes that the decline of peace
and the return to conflict was always a likely outcome.
The line implies that society has failed to change or act
in time to prevent this cycle from repeating.
The tone is one of weary acceptance, underscoring the
disappointment of realizing that the same mistakes
have been made yet again.
, The closing phrase, "Happen before," reinforces the cyclical
nature of the poem's themes. The speaker points out that this
collapse is not new; it has occurred previously, emphasizing
Happen before. the failure of society to learn from its past. The line
underscores the inevitability of this outcome
due to past inaction and mistakes.
By leaving it so brief, it conveys a sense of hopelessness, as
though the speaker believes this pattern of history is
unchangeable. It serves as a final lament for the lack of
progress and the repetitive nature of human mistakes.
, The Sun Rising - John Donne
Busy old fool, unruly Sun,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows and through curtains call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers' seasons run? Saucy
pedantic wretch, go chide
Late school-boys, and sour 'prentices,
Go tell court-huntsmen that the King will ride, Call
country ants to harvest offices; Love, all alike, no
season knows, nor clime,
Nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of
time.
Thy beams, so reverend and strong
Why shouldst thou think?
I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink, But that
I would not lose her sight so long:
If her eyes have not blinded thine,
Look, and tomorrow late tell me,
Whether both the Indias of spice and mine
Be where thou left'st them, or lie here with me.
Ask for those kings whom thou saw'st yesterday,
And thou shalt hear, 'All here in one bed lay."
She's all States, and all Princes I;
Nothing else is.
Princes do but play us; compared to this,
All honour's mimic; all wealth alchemy.
Thou, Sun, art half as happy as we,
In that the world's contracted thus;
Thine age asks ease, and since thy duties be
To warm the world, that's done in warming us.
Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere;
This bed thy centre is, these walls thy sphere.
