THE WESTWIND
By- John Masefield
Ref I
“Will ye not come home brother? Ye have been long away:
It‟s April, and blossom time, and white is the May;”
Q1 Who does the poet feel is calling him back home? Where has he been all this while?
A1 The poet John Masefield feels that the West Wind is calling him back home. The poet is
an inhabitant of the West land (Herefordshire in England). He has been away travelling
around. He now feels he should return to his home.
Q2 What does the poet recall of the West Land in the first stanza? What are the poet‟s
feelings when he hears the West Wind?
A2 The poet recalls that the west wind is a warm wind, “ full of birds cries”, he never hears
the west wind without tears coming to his eyes. “It comes from the West land the old brown
hills, and April‟s in the west wind, and Daffodils”.
The poet longs for his homeland. He craves for the peace and serenity of country life.
Whenever, the poet hears the West Wind, he feels nostalgic and homesick and his eyes brim
with tears.
Q3 How is the West Land suited for „tired hearts‟?
A3 The West Land from where the wind originates is a fine place. It is soothing and
comforting for „tired hearts‟ like that of the poet, as it is rich in natural beauty and scenery.
“Apple orchards blossom there, the air is like wine and there is cool green grass there, where
men may lie at rest and thrushes are in song there, fluting from the nests”.
Q4 Which season of the year is being described here? State the evidence that supports
your answer?
A4 The season that is being described is the „Spring Season.” Flowers have blossomed in
abundance. The spirit of the mid-spring of April is felt when the west wind blows and the
daffodils dance. The month of May is bright, the sun is also brilliant and there is warmth in
the rain-showers.
Q5 How does the „speaker‟ tempt the poet to come home? How does the call affect the
poet?
A5. The speaker, the West Wind tempts the poet to come home by reminding him of the
spring in April and May and the bright sun and warm rain. The rabbits run in the corn fields.
It tells the poet to hear the wild bees and see the merry spring as it is a song to a man‟s soul
and fire to a man‟s brain. It also tells him about the larks that sing. The West Wind asks him
if he would come home to rest his tired feet as it has a balm for bruised hearts and sleep for
aching eyes. It is the west wind which brings to him the message of the „warm hearts‟ that wait
for him at home. A deep longing for England is thus inspired in his heart.
Ref II
“Larks are singing in the west, brother, above the green wheat,
So will ye not come home, brother, and rest your tired feet?”
Q1. What does the poet mean by “It‟s a song to a man‟s soul, brother, fire to a man‟s
brain”?
A1 The poet says that the whole atmosphere is surcharged with beauty and music produced
by the west wind. It is like a sweet song that soothes and brings solace and joy to the human
soul and also brings freshness to one‟s mind. It is also mentally stimulating.
Q2 How does the poet want to calm his troubled mind?
A2 The poet wants to listen to the larks sing above the green wheat and he is calling the west
wind to rest his tired feet. The west wind says that it can provide balm for bruised hearts and
sleep for aching eyes to calm the unrest in the poet‟s mind.
Ref III
“It‟s the white road westwards is the road I must tread
To the green grass, the cool grass, and the rest for heart and head,”
Q1. What according to the poet is an ideal road to tread?
A1 The poet is feeling nostalgic and homesick and cannot stay away from his beloved land
anymore. He intends to take the western road which will lead him to his native place.
Q2 Give examples to show how the poet has used a great deal of colour and sound in the
poem.
A2 The poet uses several visual images. The liberal use of colours in the vivid descriptions
creates a remarkably attractive picture of rural England. For example: The hills are old
andbrown; the grass is cool and green; may is white; the sun is bright; the corn is young and
green. Along with the poet, the reader too can almost hear the bird‟s cries, the lark‟s songs, one
can see the blue skies, white clouds and the green grass all around, and feel the intoxicating air,
rain and the sun.
Q3 What message does the poet try to communicate through this poem?
A3 The poem „The West Wind‟ is a nostalgic poem where the poet John Masefield has
expressed the love for his homeland. His craving for the peace and serenity of country life is
apparently indicated. „The West Wind‟ contains vivid pictures of English rural scenes. The
apple orchards, the green corn, wild bees, the larks singing above the green wheat paint a
pretty picture of the rustic charm of the countryside. This authentic picture amply displays the
strong realism that pervades in the poem. Wherever man may wander in search of happiness
and contentment, he finds no place like his home. East or West, home is the best.