Sunday, May 17, 2009

Ode to solitude by Alexander Pope

As I said, I'll be off Civil Services guidance and try to build a place my own. Starting with one of my favourite poems by Alexander Pope (written when he was 12 years old):

Happy the man, whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air,
In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire,
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter fire.

Blest! who can unconcern'dly find
Hours, days, and years slide soft away,
In health of body, peace of mind,
Quiet by day,

Sound sleep by night; study and ease
Together mix'd; sweet recreation,
And innocence, which most does please,
With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
Thus unlamented let me die;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Supreet Singh Gulati said...

Hi Sudhir,

Unfortunate that you deleted your comment. Answer to your question is a definite No. Probably best answer is in the poem 'if':


....
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
.....

Regards
Supreet Singh

Puneet said...

Dear Supreet Sir

Lovely poem indeed! I too read this poem some time ago and had felt the same peace that I felt once again now after reading it.
Sir, really impressed with your blog and all the invaluable guidance and encouragement you have offered to aspirants.
Sir, I am hoping to write the exam with Economics and Public Administration as optionals. I am following Ms. Shubhra Saxena's blog for Pub Ad. That is most helpful. However, there is very little guidance available for economics. Could you recommend someone for that? Or if you have batchmates who cleared Civil Services with Economics option, please encourage them to start their own blog as well. It'll be very helpful as there is very little guidance available on the subject.
Thanks so much!
Best Regards
Puneet

Unknown said...

hello sir..
i have cleared d CSE this year and secured 43 rank.. at the time i was preparing for prelims your results were out.Of all d interviews i had read.. yours sir was d most exhaustive and informative and was useful in my preparation.I want to thank you for d same because i now understand how difficult it can be to make time and answer a lot of queries...Also sir the IF by Kipling is a favourite and i have d fortune of refreshing my memory through you...
though unknown individuals.
my regards and best wishes to you sir.