Poetry Analysis

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मैं अकेला;

Original Poetry

Translation

मैं अकेला;

I am alone;

देखता हूँ, आ रही

I see, the evening of my life is approaching.

मेरे दिवस की सांध्य वेला।

Half of my hair has turned white,

पके आधे बाल मेरे,

My cheeks have become dull,

हुए निष्प्रभ गाल मेरे,

My pace is slowing down,

चाल मेरी मंद होती आ रही,

The crowd is dispersing.

हट रहा मेला।

I know, the rivers and streams,

जानता हूँ, नदी-झरने,

That I had to cross,

जो मुझे थे पार करने,

I have crossed them

कर चुका हूँ, हँस रहा यह देख,

smiling at this,

कोई नहीं भेला।1

No one is left with me.

Explanation

This poem by Suryakant Tripathi Nirala reflects on the themes of solitude and the passage of time. The poet describes himself as alone, observing the evening of his life approaching. He uses vivid imagery to convey the signs of aging, such as graying hair and a slowing pace. The metaphor of the 'fair dispersing' suggests the end of vibrant life activities. The poet acknowledges that he has crossed the metaphorical rivers and streams of life's challenges, and now finds himself laughing at the realization that no one remains with him. This introspective piece captures a sense of acceptance and reflection on life's journey.

Word Dictionary39

Word	In Hindi	In English	Pron.
मैं	मुझ	I	main
अकेला	एकान्त	alone	akelaa
देखता	निहारता	see	dekhtaa
हूँ	रहता हूँ	am	hoon
आ	आ रही	coming	aa
रही	हो रही	is happening	rahee
मेरे	मेरा	my	mere
दिवस	दिन	day	divas
की	का	of	kee
सांध्य	शाम	evening	saandhya
वेला	समय	time	velaa
पके	सफेद	gray	pake
आधे	अर्ध	half	aadhe
बाल	केश	hair	baal
हुए	बन गए	became	hue
निष्प्रभ	फीके	dull	nishprabh
गाल	गाल	cheeks	gaal
चाल	गति	pace	chaal
मंद	धीमी	slow	mand
होती	बनती	becoming	hotee
हट	चला	moving	hat
रहा	गया	has gone	rahaa
मेला	भीड़	fair	melaa
जानता	समझता	know	jaantaa
नदी	जलधारा	river	nadee
झरने	जलप्रपात	streams	jharne
जो	वह	that	jo
मुझे	मुझको	me	mujhe
थे	थे	were	the
पार	उलांघना	cross	paar
करने	करना	to do	karne
कर	किया	done	kar
चुका	पूरा	completed	chuka
हँस	मुस्कुरा	laughing	hans
यह	इसे	this	yah
देख	देखना	look	dekh
कोई	कोई भी	no one	koi
नहीं	न	not	nahin
भेला	साथी	companion	bhelaa

Poet & Context

PoetSuryakant Tripathi Nirala

Era20th century

Suryakant Tripathi Nirala was a prominent Hindi poet, novelist, essayist, and story-writer. He was a key figure in the Chhayavaad literary movement, which marked a romanticism in Hindi literature. His works often reflect a deep sense of social awareness and personal introspection.

View on Wikipedia

When20th century

WhyThis poem reflects the themes of solitude and introspection, common in Nirala's works. It captures the poet's contemplation of aging and the passage of time, symbolized by the evening of his life.

FormPoetry

Themes & More

Themes

SolitudeAgingIntrospectionLife's Journey

Literary devices

Imagery: Vivid descriptions of aging and solitude.Metaphor: The evening of the day symbolizes the later years of life.Personification: Rivers and streams are given human-like challenges to cross.Symbolism: Graying hair and slowing pace symbolize aging.