The Sands of Dee

– Charles Kingsley

“O Mary, go and call the cattle home.

And call the cattle home,

And call the cattle home Across the sands of Dee!”

The western wind was wild and dank with foam,

And all alone went she.

The western tide crept up along the sand,

And o’er and o’er the sand.

And round and round the sand, As far as eye could see.

The rolling mist came down and hid the land

And never home came she.

“Oh! Is it weed, or fish, or floating hair,

 A tress of golden hair,

A drowned maiden’s hair

Above the nets at sea?

Was never salmon yet that shone so fair

Among the stakes of Dee.”

They rowed her in across the rolling foam.

The cruel crawling foam,

The cruel hungry foam,

To her grave beside the sea:

But still the boatman hear her call the cattle home

Across the sands of Dee.

দি স্যান্ডস অব ডি

চার্লস কিংসলি
(বাংলা অনুবাদ)

“ও মেরি, যাও গরুগুলোকে বাড়ি নিয়ে এসো,
গরুগুলোকে বাড়ি নিয়ে এসো,
গরুগুলোকে বাড়ি নিয়ে এসো —
ডি নদীর বালুচরের ওপার থেকে!”
পশ্চিমের হাওয়া ছিলো উন্মত্ত, আর ফেনায় ভেজা,
আর একা একাই চলেছিল সে।

পশ্চিমের জোয়ার বালুর উপর এগিয়ে এলো,
আর বারে বারে বালুতে,
আর ঘুরে ঘুরে বালুতে,
যতদূর চোখ যায় দেখা —
ঘূর্ণায়মান কুয়াশা নেমে এলো, আর ঢেকে দিলো স্থলভাগ,
আর সে আর কখনো বাড়ি ফিরলো না।

“ওহ! এটা কি জলজ ঘাস, না মাছ, না ভেসে থাকা চুল,
এক গুচ্ছ সোনালি চুল,
এক ডুবে যাওয়া কুমারীর চুল —
জালের ওপরে, সাগরের মাঝে?
ডি নদীর বাঁধে কখনো এমন উজ্জ্বল স্যামন দেখা যায়নি!”

তারা তাঁকে ফিরিয়ে আনলো ফেনার মধ্য দিয়ে —
নির্মম, হামাগুড়ি দিয়ে এগোনো ফেনা,
নির্দয় ক্ষুধার্ত ফেনা —
সাগরের ধারে তাঁর কবরের দিকে।
তবুও নৌকার মাঝিরা এখনো শুনতে পায় তাঁর ডাক —
ডি নদীর বালুচরের ওপার থেকে, গরুদের বাড়ি ডাকছেন তিনি।

:

Theme (মূলভাব) in English:

The poem shows the sadness of a girl named Mary who went to bring the cattle home but never returned. It talks about the dangers of nature, like the sea and the mist. It also shows how love, duty, and tragedy are part of life. Even after her death, people feel her presence and hear her voice.

বাংলায় মূলভাব:

এই কবিতায় মেরি নামের একটি মেয়ের দুঃখের কাহিনি বলা হয়েছে। সে গরু আনতে গিয়ে আর বাড়ি ফিরে আসেনি। সমুদ্রের ঢেউ ও কুয়াশা তার পথ বন্ধ করে দেয়। কবিতাটি প্রকৃতির ভয়ংকর রূপ ও এক মায়াবী আবেগের কথা প্রকাশ করে। মৃত্যুর পরেও, মানুষের মনে তার ডাকে সাড়া পড়ে।

Summary (সারাংশ) in English:

The poem tells the sad story of Mary. One day, she goes out alone to bring the cattle home across the sands near the River Dee. The wind is strong and the sea is wild. The mist comes down and covers everything. Mary gets lost in the mist and never returns. Later, people wonder if the golden hair floating in the sea is hers. They find her drowned body and bury her near the sea. Even after her death, people imagine hearing her voice calling the cattle home across the sands.

বাংলায় সারাংশ:

এই কবিতায় মেরির একটি করুণ কাহিনি বলা হয়েছে। একদিন সে একা গরু আনতে যায় ডি নদীর পাড়ে বালির চরে। তখন বাতাস ছিল জোরে, আর সমুদ্র ছিল উত্তাল। হঠাৎ ঘন কুয়াশায় চারদিক ঢেকে যায়। মেরি পথ হারিয়ে ফেলে এবং আর ফিরে আসে না। পরে মানুষ দেখে সমুদ্রে ভাসছে সোনালী চুলের মতো কিছু। তারা ভাবে হয়তো ওটা মেরির চুল। পরে তারা মেরির মৃতদেহ খুঁজে পায় এবং তাকে সমুদ্রের পাশে কবর দেয়। মৃত্যুর পরেও মানুষ কল্পনায় তার গরু ডাকার আওয়াজ শুনতে পায়।

1. Who is Mary in the poem?
   Mary is a young girl sent to call the cattle home. She is the central figure of the poem who tragically never returns.
2. What task was Mary given?
   She was told to call the cattle home across the sands of Dee. It was a simple, everyday task that led to tragedy.
3. Who asked Mary to call the cattle?
   Her family or elders gave her the task, likely her mother or someone from home. This is implied in the repeated command in the first stanza.
4. Where did Mary go?
   She went across the sands of Dee to find and call the cattle. These sands were near the sea and treacherous during tides.
5. What is the Sands of Dee?
   It is a stretch of sand near the River Dee, known for its dangerous tides. The setting is crucial to the poem’s tragic ending.
6. What was the weather like when Mary went out?
   The wind was wild and the air was filled with sea foam. This created dangerous conditions for Mary.
7. What time of day is implied in the poem?
   It seems to be late in the day or early evening as the mist rolls in. The dark and dangerous setting suggests twilight or dusk.
8. Why was Mary alone?
   She went out by herself to call the cattle home. Being alone added to her vulnerability in the dangerous weather.
9. What natural element is described as “wild and dank with foam”?
   The western wind is described this way. It emphasizes the rough, stormy sea conditions.
10. What crept up along the sand?
    The western tide crept up. This is what ultimately engulfed Mary.
11. How is the tide described in the poem?
    It moves “o’er and o’er” and “round and round” the sand. The repetition shows the overwhelming and inescapable nature of the tide.
12. What does the mist do?
    The rolling mist comes down and hides the land. It adds to the mysterious and fatal atmosphere.
13. What happens to Mary in the end?
    She never returns home and is found drowned. The sea claims her life.
14. What do the people see floating in the water?
    They see something that looks like a tress of golden hair. This is likely Mary’s hair, floating above the nets.
15. What question is asked about the floating object?
    They ask if it’s weed, fish, or floating hair. The question highlights the eerie and tragic discovery.
16. Why do they mention salmon?
    They compare the floating hair to the beauty of salmon.
    It emphasizes how fair and golden her hair appeared.
17. What did the boatmen do?
    They rowed her body back across the foam. They retrieved her from the sea to bury her.
18. Where was Mary buried?
    She was buried beside the sea. This keeps her close to where she died.
19. What sound do the boatmen still hear?
    They hear Mary calling the cattle home. Her voice seems to echo across the sands of Dee.
20. What literary device is used in “cruel crawling foam”?
    It’s an example of alliteration and personification. The foam is described as if it has malicious intent.
21. Why is the foam called “hungry”?
    It symbolizes the sea’s power to consume life. Mary is metaphorically “eaten” by the sea.
22. What emotion dominates the poem?
    The poem is filled with sorrow and eeriness. It expresses the loss and mystery of Mary’s death.
23. What does the repetition in the poem emphasize?
    It emphasizes the relentlessness of nature. It also creates a haunting and rhythmic tone.
24. Who are “they” in “they rowed her in”?
    They are likely fishermen or boatmen. They find and retrieve Mary’s body.
25. Why is Mary’s hair mentioned so vividly?
    It serves as a symbol of her youth and beauty. It also makes her tragic fate more poignant.
26. How does the poet describe the landscape?
    He describes it as misty, sandy, and vast. It creates a desolate and haunting environment.
27. Why is the sea described as “cruel”?
    Because it takes Mary’s life. The sea is personified as a dangerous force.
28. What is the tone of the final stanza?
    It is haunting and sorrowful. Even in death, Mary’s voice seems to linger.
29. What theme does the poem convey?
    It explores nature’s power, human vulnerability, and tragic loss. It also deals with memory and haunting echoes.
30. Why might Mary’s voice still be heard?
    It symbolizes memory or guilt. Or it may represent a ghostly presence.
31. What role does the sea play in the poem?
    The sea is both setting and antagonist. It drives the tragic events of the poem.
32. How is time conveyed in the poem?
    Through the rising tide and rolling mist. These indicate the passage from day to dusk or night.
33. Why is the poem still relevant today?
    It reflects timeless human emotions like grief and fear. It also cautions about the power of nature.
34. What poetic form is used?
    The poem is written in ballad form. This form suits its narrative and tragic content.
35. Why is the refrain “call the cattle home” important?
    It anchors the poem in Mary’s innocent task. Its repetition also deepens the sorrow of her death.
36. What kind of imagery does Kingsley use?
    He uses visual and tactile imagery. We can almost see the mist and feel the cold foam.
37. What does the word “dank” suggest about the air?
    It suggests dampness and discomfort. It enhances the bleak mood.
38. How does the poet use contrast?
    He contrasts Mary’s innocence with the sea’s danger. This sharpens the sense of tragedy.
39. Who might the speaker be?
    An omniscient narrator or a local recalling the tale. The voice is reflective and mournful.
40. Why does the poet repeat lines?
    To create rhythm and reinforce key ideas. It also adds a lyrical, haunting effect.
41. What could “the rolling foam” symbolize?
    It may symbolize death or the unknown. The foam hides and reveals Mary’s fate.
42. What kind of death does Mary suffer?
    A quiet, lonely, and natural death. She disappears into the mist and sea.
43. How is Mary’s disappearance described?
    She vanishes into the mist and tide. She “never home came” again.
44. How might readers feel about Mary’s fate?
    They likely feel sorrow and empathy. Her fate seems undeserved and tragic.
45. What does the line “was never salmon yet that shone so fair” imply?
    It compares her beauty to that of nature’s finest. It also suggests admiration for her lost youth.
46. What does “a tress of golden hair” suggest?
    It symbolizes innocence and youth. It’s a clue to her identity in the water.
47. What is the effect of ending with her voice?
    It gives the poem a ghostly and lasting impression. Her presence seems eternal in the landscape.
48. What lesson might this poem teach?
    It teaches about the unpredictability of nature. It also reminds us of how easily tragedy can strike.
49. How does the poet make the reader feel the sea’s danger?
    Through repetition and vivid imagery. Words like “cruel,” “hungry,” and “crawling” evoke menace.
50. What poetic devices does Kingsley use?
    He uses repetition, imagery, and personification. These enhance the emotional and rhythmic quality of the poem.
51. Who is the central character in the poem?

Mary, a young maiden tasked with calling cattle home. Her tragic fate drives the poem’s narrative.

52. What task is Mary given at the start?

She is told to “call the cattle home” across the Dee’s sands. This simple chore leads to her drowning.

53. Where does the poem take place?

Along the sands of the River Dee, a coastal area with dangerous tides. The setting symbolizes nature’s peril.

54. How is the western wind described?

It is “wild and dank with foam,” creating a hostile atmosphere. The wind foreshadows impending danger.

55. Why does Mary go alone?

The poem implies she was sent alone despite the risks. Her isolation heightens the tragedy of her fate.

56. What happens to the tide as Mary ventures out?

The tide “crept up” and envelops the sand repeatedly. Its relentless advance traps Mary.

57. How does the mist affect the landscape?

A “rolling mist” hides the land, disorienting Mary. This obscurity contributes to her demise.

58. What ultimately happens to Mary?

She drowns in the rising tide and is found dead. Her body is buried beside the sea.

59. What do fishermen mistake her hair for?

They initially think it’s “weed, or fish, or floating hair.” Her golden tress stands out unnaturally.

60. How is Mary’s hair portrayed?

As a “tress of golden hair,” symbolizing youth and innocence. Its vivid description contrasts with her grim fate.

61. What comparison is made to emphasize her hair’s beauty?

It shines “so fair” that no salmon in the Dee matches it. This highlights her unnatural presence in death.

62. How is the foam personified?

As “cruel, crawling, hungry,” depicting nature as a malevolent force. The foam embodies danger and inevitability.

63. Where is Mary buried?

Beside the sea, near the sands that claimed her. Her grave ties her eternally to the treacherous landscape.

64. What haunting sound persists after her death?

Boatmen hear her ghostly voice calling the cattle home. This echo underscores her unresolved fate.

65. What literary device dominates the repeated lines?

Anaphora, as in “call the cattle home” and “cruel foam.” Repetition amplifies urgency and dread.

66. Why is the foam called “cruel” and “hungry”?

To personify nature as a devouring entity. It reflects the poem’s theme of humanity’s vulnerability.

67. What does Mary’s golden hair symbolize?

Youth, beauty, and innocence lost to tragedy. It also serves as a spectral reminder of her death.

68. How does the setting influence the poem’s mood?

The desolate, stormy sands evoke foreboding and sorrow. Nature’s menace permeates every stanza.

69. What role does nature play in the poem?

It acts as both antagonist and inevitable force. The Dee’s tides and mist symbolize uncontrollable fate.

70. Why mention salmon in the stakes of Dee?

To contrast Mary’s hair with natural beauty. Even the prized salmon pale compared to her tragic image.

71. How does the poem create inevitability?

Through relentless imagery of encroaching tide and mist. Mary’s fate feels unavoidable from the start.

72. What emotions does the poem evoke?

Grief, dread, and melancholy over Mary’s loss. The eerie ending lingers with haunting unease.

73. How is time depicted in the poem?

Through the tide’s gradual, insidious advance. Time becomes a silent, destructive force.

74. What does repeating “sand” and “foam” emphasize?

The landscape’s omnipresence and danger. These elements dominate both setting and action.

75. How does the structure reflect the poem’s themes?

Rhythmic, repetitive lines mimic tides and futility. The cyclical structure mirrors nature’s indifference.

76. What message does the poem convey about humanity and nature?

Humans are powerless against nature’s might. Mary’s death underscores this existential vulnerability.

77. How does alliteration enhance the poem?

Phrases like “cruel crawling foam” create a visceral rhythm. It mimics the tide’s menacing movement.

78. What effect does the rhyme scheme have?

The ABCB pattern creates a ballad-like cadence. It contrasts lyrical rhythm with dark content.

79. How does the ending reinforce the poem’s themes?

Mary’s eternal call emphasizes nature’s enduring threat. Memory and tragedy remain unresolved.

80. What does the mist symbolize?

Obscurity, confusion, and impending doom. It shrouds Mary’s path, sealing her fate.

81. Why describe the wind as “dank”?

To evoke damp, oppressive cold, intensifying the bleak mood. The word adds sensory grimness.

82. How is death portrayed in the poem?

As sudden, inevitable, and natural. Mary’s drowning is both violent and eerily peaceful.

83. What contrast exists between Mary’s task and outcome?

A simple chore ends in profound tragedy. The mundane versus the catastrophic highlights fate’s cruelty.

84. How does imagery depict danger?

Words like “wild,” “cruel,” and “rolling mist” build tension. The Dee becomes a character of menace.

85. Why emphasize Mary’s aloneness?

To underscore vulnerability and isolation in nature’s vastness. Her solitude amplifies the tragedy.

86. How does the title relate to the poem?

The sands represent both setting and antagonist. They are central to Mary’s fate and the poem’s mood.

87. What does Mary’s enduring voice suggest?

Her spirit remains trapped in the landscape. It symbolizes unresolved grief and nature’s haunting power.

88. How does the tone shift in the poem?

Begins with urgency, shifts to despair, then eerie resignation. The progression mirrors Mary’s disappearance.

89. What does burial “beside the sea” signify?

A permanent bond between Mary and the Dee. It suggests nature’s ultimate ownership of her.

90. How is a haunting atmosphere created?

Through ghostly imagery and Mary’s persistent voice. The poem blurs lines between life and death.

91. What role does fate play in the poem?

Mary’s death feels predestined by natural forces. The poem frames humans as subject to nature’s whims.

92. How does the tide’s description heighten tragedy?

Its “creeping” motion feels stealthy and inescapable. The tide becomes a silent, unstoppable killer.

93. What does the poem say about nature’s power?

Nature is indifferent, destructive, and dominant. Humanity’s efforts are futile against its might.

94. How is loss portrayed in the poem?

As sudden, irreversible, and communal. Mary’s death leaves a haunting void for those who find her.

95. What does the opening dialogue add?

It immerses readers in the action immediately. The command to Mary sets the tragic plot in motion.

96. How does the poem explore duty?

Mary’s task reflects rural responsibilities. Her compliance underscores the risks of such obligations.

97. What impact does the refrain have?

“Call the cattle home” becomes a mournful echo. It reinforces Mary’s unresolved purpose and memory.

98. Why use “golden” to describe her hair?

Gold symbolizes value, purity, and light. It contrasts with the dark, grim context of her death.

99. What does the poem imply about rural life?

It is intertwined with nature’s dangers. Daily survival requires confronting unpredictable forces.

100. How does the poem reflect Victorian views on nature?

It aligns with Romantic-era awe and fear of nature’s power. The Dee embodies the sublime’s terrifying beauty.