Question

Summarise the poem in short, in your own words.

Consider these points to summarise the poem.

• Identify who the speaker is and who the poem is addressed to.
• Identify the ‘main points in every stanza.
• Express them in short simple sentences in your own words.
• Explain implied meaning.
• Retain the order of points.
• Write down the points making short paragraph for each stanza.
• Conclude the summary with the over all theme and meaning of the poem.

Answer 1

Summary of the Poem "Truth" by Barrie Wade Barrie Wade's poem Truth highlights the long-term impact of words on a person's feelings and mental health. It shows how verbal abuse can be more harmful than physical harm. The poet combines the emotional harm inflicted by harsh words with the physical harm inflicted by sticks and stones in the opening line. Words continue to haunt and influence the mind even after physical wounds have healed. Strong imagery is used in the second verse, which compares words to deeply piercing, sharp swords that cause mental pain. The poet expresses that words can cause greater suffering than physical discomfort and have a lasting impact. The poet claims in the final line that although wounds and bruises heal with time, the scars caused by words stay in the mind. One should be careful how they use words because they have the power to either harm or heal.

Theme: The poem's central message is that words have the capacity to either comfort or hurt, and that mental suffering last far longer than any physical injury.