I RAN INTO A STRANGER

I ran into a stranger as he passed by, "Oh, excuse me Please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too; Wasn't even watching for you."


We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said good-bye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,

My daughter stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked her down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
She walked away, her little heart was broken. I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,
But the children you love, you seem to abuse.

Look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers she brought for you.
She picked them herself: pink, yellow and blue.
She stood quietly not to spoil the surprise, and you never saw the tears in her eyes."

By this time, I felt very small, and now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by her bed;
"Wake up, little girl, wake up," I said.
"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"

She smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
I said, "Daughter, I'm sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
She said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway."
I said, "Daughter, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

questions on THE PERSON I AM LOOKING FOR by Hazara Singh

Answer the following:


1. What should you be cautious of when raising yourself in the eyes of others?


Ans. When we raise ourself in the eyes of others we should be cautious of not to be lowered in our own eyes.

 2. What should be your reaction towards gossips and lies?


Ans. One should not give in when he/she is targeted by gossips and lies.


3. How should your behave when you are the winner and when you are the loser?


Ans. One should not crave for praise when he/she is a winner. One should not look for sympathy when he/she is a loser.

 4. How does the poet expect you to react to "cheers" or a "set back"?


Ans. During "cheers" one should not let his/her head toss or spin and during "set back" one need to offer an excuse.


5. What advice does the poet give you about accepting counsel?


Ans. Without getting sore we should accept the counsel is the advice given by the poet to us.


6. How, according to the poet, should you interact with others?


Ans. Without any frown or scoff one should interact with other while meeting others.


7. What do you mean by the line – 'you are a beacon – light for people far and wide'?


Ans. By the given expression the means that one should be a role – model for other by being so courageous even ready to accept death when need arises, but has the utmost desire to live because of love towards life.


Poetic Devices


(1) Examples of Alliteration


(i) “If you do not give in to gossips and lies”


The letter ‘g’ is repeated for poetic effect.


(ii) “If you crave not for praise when you win”


The letter ‘w’ is repeated for poetic effect.


(2) Examples of Antithesis


(i) “If you do not get lowered in your own eyes /While you raise yourself in those of others”


Here, two opposite ideas of lowering and raising are placed side by side for poetic effect.


(ii) “If you have the will to live and courage to die”


Here, two opposite words ‘to live’ and ‘to die’ are placed close to each other to highlight the contrast for poetic effect.


(3) Examples of Metaphor


“You  are a beacon - light for people far and wide”


The person “You” is indirectly compared with a “beacon - light” sharing a common quality of serving as a signal or guide to others.


(4) Example of Inversion


“And after a set - back you offer no excuse”


The word order in the sentence is changed. The proper order is
“And you offer no excuse after a set - back”.


(5) Pick up the pairs of rhyming words from the poem.


Ans. The pairs of rhyming words in the poem are:


Stanza 1 - eyes - lies, others - brothers.
Stanza 2 - win - spin, lose - excuse


Stanza 3 - sore - more , thereof - scoff


Stanza 4 - die - lie, wide - side


(6) Note down the rhyme - scheme used in the poem.

The rhyme - scheme used in the poem is ababc.

THE PERSON I AM LOOKING FOR - Hazara Singh

If you do not get lowered in your own eyes


While you raise yourself in those of others


If you do not give in to gossips and lies


Rather heed them not, saying ‘Who bothers’.


You may be the person I am looking for.




If you crave not for praise when you win


And look not for sympathy while you lose


If cheers let not your head toss or spin


And after a set-back you offer no excuse.


You may be the person I am looking for.




If you accept counsel without getting sore


And re-assess yourself in the light thereof


If you pledge not to be obstinate any more


And meet others without any frown or scoff.


You may be the person I am looking for.




If you have the will to live and courage to die


You are a beacon-light for people far and wide


If you ignore the jeers and, thus, expose the lie


‘That virtue and success do not go side by side’.

You are the person I am looking for.