“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.
– Charles Kingsley
Bangla Translation:
The Sands of Dee
(ডির বালির উপকূলে)
O Mary, go and call the cattle home,
‘ও মেরি, যাও এবং গবাদিপশুগুলোকে বাড়ি ফিরিয়ে আনো
And call the cattle home,
এবং গবাদিপশুগুলোকে বাড়ি ফিরিয়ে আনো
And call the cattle home
এবং গবাদিপশুগুলোকে বাড়ি ফিরিয়ে আনো
Across the sands of Dee ডির বালির উপর দিয়ে:
The western wind was wild and dank with foam,
পশ্চিম বাতাস ছিল বিক্ষুদ্ধ/হিংস্র/ভয়ানক এবং ফেনায় পরিপূর্ণ,
And all alone went she.
এবং একা একা সে যাচ্ছিল।
The western tide crept up along the sand,
পশ্চিমা স্রোত বালির উপর দিয়ে আসছিল,
And o’er and o’er the sand
এবং বালির উপর বারবার,
And round and round the sand
এবং বালির চারপাশে ঘুরতে লাগলো,
As far as eye could see
যতদূর চোখ যেতো।
The rolling mist came down and hid the land:
ঘূর্ণায়মান কুয়াশা নেমে এল এবং ভূমি আড়াল করে ফেলল:
And never home came she.
এবং সে কখনো বাড়ি ফিরলো না।
“Oh! is it weed, or fish, or floating hair-
‘ওহ! এটা কি সাগরের কচুরি, মাছ, বা ভাসমান চুল-
A tress of golden hair
একটি সোনালী চুলের গোছা,
A drowned maiden’s hair
একটি ডুবে যাওয়া কন্যার চুল,
Above the nets at sea?
সাগরের জালগুলির উপরে?
Was never salmon yet that shone so fair
কখনো এমন একটি স্যালমন ছিল না যা এত সুন্দর ঝলমল করত
Among the stakes on Dee.”
ডির খুঁটির মাঝে।
They rowed her in across the rolling foam,
তারা তাকে ভাসমান ফেনার মধ্যে নৌকা করে নিয়ে এল,
The cruel crawling foam, অবিশ্বাস্য নিষ্ঠুর ফেনা,
The cruel hungry foam, নিষ্ঠুর ক্ষুধার্ত ফেনা
To her grave beside the sea: তার সমাধি সাগরের পাশে:
But still the boatmen hear her call the cattle home
কিন্তু এখনো নৌকার মাঝিরা শুনতে পায় তার ডাক, গবাদিপশুগুলোকে বাড়ি ফিরিয়ে এসো।
Across the sands of Dee.
ডির বালির উপর দিয়ে।
Paraphrasing
“O Mary, go and call the cattle home,”
The speaker is asking Mary to go and bring the cattle back to their home. This is her job, and it’s important for her to do it now.
“And call the cattle home,”
This repeats the instruction to Mary, emphasizing that she needs to bring the cattle back to their home. The repetition shows it is an important task.
“And call the cattle home across the sands of Dee;”
Mary needs to bring the cattle across the sands of Dee, which is a stretch of land near the sea. This location is important because it is where the story takes place and also where the tragic event happens.
“The western wind was wild and dank with foam,”
The wind from the west is very strong, cold, and filled with sea foam. The word “dank” makes it sound like the air is wet and uncomfortable.
“And all alone went she.”
Mary is going alone on her journey to bring the cattle back. This makes it more dangerous, as she has no one to help her if something goes wrong.
“The western tide crept up along the sand,”
The tide from the west slowly moves up the sandy beach. The word “crept makes it sound like the tide is coming in quietly but steadily.
The tide moves back and forth over the sand again and again. This shows that the sea is always moving and is a powerful force that cannot be stopped.
“And round and round the sand,”
The tide moves in circles around the sand, continuing to cover more ground. The sea’s movement is endless and repetitive.
“As far as eye could see.”
The sand stretches as far as the eye can see. This shows that Mary is far from help, and there is no one around to assist her.
“The rolling mist came down and hid the land:”
A thick mist or fog comes down and covers everything. It makes it hard for anyone
“And never home came she.”
Mary never returns home. The mist and the sea take her, and she disappears without anyone seeing what happened to her.
“”Oh! is it weed, or fish, or floating hair-
Some people see something floating in the water and wonder if it is a plant (weed), a fish, or something more surprising, like hair,
“A tress of golden hair,”
The floating thing turns out to be a piece of beautiful golden hair. This hair could be from a woman, and it suggests that the person it belongs to may have drowned in the sea.
“A drowned maiden’s hair above the nets at sea?”
The speaker wonders if the golden hair belongs to a young woman who has drowned in the sea. This is an important clue that connects the hair to the tragedy.
“Was never salmon yet that shone so fair among the stakes on Dee.”
The hair is described as more beautiful and shining than any fish that has ever been caught in the river Dee. The comparison makes the hair seem almost magical or otherworldly.
“They rowed her in across the rolling foam,”
The boatmen take her body and row it through the sea foam, which is rough and rolling. The foam shows the strength of the sea as it continues to move powerfully.
“The cruel crawling foam,”
The foam is described as cruel, making it seem like the sea is unforgiving. It is “crawling” because it is slowly moving, just like the danger that slowly took Mary.
“The cruel hungry foam,”
The foam is also described as “hungry, suggesting that it consumes lives, as if the sea is a predator that takes what it wants.
“To her grave beside the sea:”
Her body is taken to be buried near the sea, the place where she lost her life. The sea, which was the cause of her death, now becomes the site of her grave.
“But still the boatmen hear her call the cattle home across the sands of Dee.“
Even after her death, the boatmen still hear Mary’s voice calling for the cattle to come home, as if her spirit is still trying to finish her task. This suggests that her work is not over, and her voice lives on.
A. Short Questions & Answers (1–20)
Q1. Who wrote the poem “The Sands of Dee”?
Ans: The poem was written by Charles Kingsley.
Q2. Who is Mary in the poem?
Ans: Mary is a young girl who goes to the seashore to bring cattle home.
Q3. Where did Mary go?
Ans: She went to the sands near the sea called Dee.
Q4. Why did Mary go to the sands of Dee?
Ans: To bring the cattle home.
Q5. What happened to Mary at the sands of Dee?
Ans: She was drowned by the rising tide.
Q6. What is Dee?
Ans: Dee is a river in England that flows into the sea.
Q7. What natural force caused Mary’s death?
Ans: The strong tide and waves of the sea.
Q8. Who was waiting for Mary to return?
Ans: Her friends and family.
Q9. Did Mary return home?
Ans: No, she drowned and never returned.
Q10. What do the winds and waves cry out?
Ans: “Mary, Mary, come home to Dee.”
Q11. What does the sea represent in the poem?
Ans: The sea represents the powerful and uncontrollable force of nature.
Q12. How do the waves seem to mourn for Mary?
Ans: They call her name in a sad tone as if crying for her.
Q13. What is the mood of the poem?
Ans: The mood is sad and tragic.
Q14. What lesson do we learn from Mary’s death?
Ans: We learn that human life is fragile against the power of nature.
Q15. What was Mary’s duty?
Ans: To bring cattle safely home from the seashore.
Q16. What kind of girl was Mary?
Ans: She was young, innocent, and dutiful.
Q17. What do the repeated words “Come home” suggest?
Ans: They suggest sorrow and the hopeless wish for Mary’s return.
Q18. How does the poet show sympathy for Mary?
Ans: By describing how even nature mourns her death.
Q19. Why is the poem considered a ballad?
Ans: Because it tells a simple, tragic story in verse form.
Q20. What does the poem warn us about?
Ans: It warns us about the dangers of nature and the need for caution.
B. Long Questions & Answers (21–30)
Q21. Describe the story of Mary in your own words.
Ans: Mary was a young girl who went to the seashore to bring cattle home. Unfortunately, the tide rose high, and the waves drowned her. She never returned, and the winds and waves seemed to cry her name sadly.
Q22. How does the poet make the ending of the poem powerful?
Ans: By making the winds and waves call out Mary’s name, the poet creates a deep sense of sorrow and helplessness, making the ending powerful.
Q23. What role does nature play in the poem?
Ans: Nature plays a destructive role, showing its power over human life by drowning Mary.
Q24. Why do we feel pity for Mary?
Ans: Because she was innocent and helpless, and her tragic death shows the cruelty of fate.
Q25. How is the theme of loss presented in the poem?
Ans: The loss is shown through Mary’s death and how even nature seems to mourn for her.
Q26. Why is the poem still meaningful today?
Ans: Because it reminds us of the dangers of nature and the value of life, which is always true.
Q27. What does Mary symbolize in the poem?
Ans: Mary symbolizes innocence, duty, and human helplessness before nature.
Q28. Explain how repetition adds beauty to the poem.
Ans: The repeated call “Come home” creates rhythm and highlights the sadness of Mary’s absence.
Q29. Do you think Mary’s death could have been avoided? Why or why not?
Ans: Possibly yes, if she had not gone during high tide. But sometimes, accidents cannot be controlled.
Q30. What feelings does the poem leave in the reader’s mind?
Ans: It leaves feelings of sadness, pity for Mary, and respect for the power of nature.
C. Multiple Choice Questions (31–50)
Q31. Who is the poet of “The Sands of Dee”?
a) William Wordsworth
b) Charles Kingsley
c) P.B. Shelley
d) John Keats
Ans: b) Charles Kingsley
Q32. What was Mary’s task?
a) To collect flowers
b) To bring cattle home
c) To fetch water
d) To meet friends
Ans: b) To bring cattle home
Q33. What drowned Mary?
a) Heavy rain
b) Rising tide
c) Storm wind
d) Flood
Ans: b) Rising tide
Q34. Where did Mary go?
a) To the market
b) To the woods
c) To the sands of Dee
d) To the riverbank
Ans: c) To the sands of Dee
Q35. What natural elements are mentioned at the end?
a) Stars and moon
b) Waves and winds
c) Rain and storm
d) Birds and trees
Ans: b) Waves and winds
Q36. What do the waves and winds say?
a) “Sleep in peace”
b) “Come home, Mary”
c) “Beware of the sea”
d) “Rest in Dee”
Ans: b) “Come home, Mary”
Q37. The tone of the poem is —
a) Joyful
b) Sad
c) Funny
d) Hopeful
Ans: b) Sad
Q38. The poem “The Sands of Dee” is a —
a) Sonnet
b) Ballad
c) Epic
d) Ode
Ans: b) Ballad
Q39. What is the main theme of the poem?
a) Power of money
b) Power of nature
c) Beauty of flowers
d) Friendship
Ans: b) Power of nature
Q40. Mary’s death shows —
a) Human strength
b) Human helplessness
c) Human cruelty
d) Human pride
Ans: b) Human helplessness
Q41. The repeated call “Come home” expresses —
a) Happiness
b) Anger
c) Sadness
d) Surprise
Ans: c) Sadness
Q42. Who is the speaker in the poem?
a) Mary herself
b) The poet/narrator
c) Mary’s mother
d) A fisherman
Ans: b) The poet/narrator
Q43. Which river is mentioned in the poem?
a) Thames
b) Nile
c) Dee
d) Amazon
Ans: c) Dee
Q44. Mary’s story is an example of —
a) Courage
b) Tragedy
c) Comedy
d) Adventure
Ans: b) Tragedy
Q45. What kind of poem is it?
a) Romantic
b) Comic
c) Tragic ballad
d) Heroic epic
Ans: c) Tragic ballad
Q46. The poem teaches us to —
a) Respect nature
b) Disobey nature
c) Fight nature
d) Ignore nature
Ans: a) Respect nature
Q47. Mary was drowned because —
a) She was careless
b) The tide was strong
c) She forgot the way
d) She was ill
Ans: b) The tide was strong
Q48. The mood of the ending is —
a) Joyful
b) Peaceful
c) Sorrowful
d) Exciting
Ans: c) Sorrowful
Q49. The poem is set near —
a) A forest
b) A city
c) A seashore
d) A desert
Ans: c) A seashore
Q50. What is the central message of the poem?
a) Life is powerful
b) Nature is powerful and must be respected
c) Death is joyful
d) Duty is meaningless
Ans: b) Nature is powerful and must be respected
More Short Answers and Questions (Basic)
What is the setting of the poem “The Sands of Dee”?
The poem happens by the sea near a place called Dee. The area is very empty and wild. The wind is cold and strong, and there is mist. It feels like a lonely, scary place. This setting makes it seem like something sad could happen here.
What does the western wind bring in “The Sands of Dee”?
The western wind is cold and strong. It carries sea foam, which shows how rough and wild the sea is. The wind makes everything feel harsh and unsettled, adding to the dangerous setting of the poem
What happened to Mary in “The Sands of Dee”?
Mary goes out to bring the cattle home across the sand, but she never returns. The sea and mist take her, and she is lost. Later, the boatmen find her body, showing that she drowned. Her disappearance is sad and mysterious.
How is the tide described in “The Sands of Dee’?
The tide moves slowly and covers the sand. It repeats again and again, showing that the tide never stops. This gives the feeling of something powerful and unstoppable, which is part of Mary’s sad fate.
What obscures the land in “The Sands of Dee’?
A thick mist covers the land, making it hard to see anything. The mist hides what happened to Mary and adds to the mystery of her fate. It also makes the place feel dangerous, as no one can help her.
What do people question about what they find in the nets in “The Sands of Dee”?
The boatmen find something strange in their nets, and they wonder if it is seaweed, a fish, or hair. They think it could be golden hair, maybe from a drowned woman like Mary. This adds to the sadness of the poem.
How is Mary’s hair described in “The Sands of Dee”?
Mary’s hair is golden, and it is seen floating in the sea. This makes her seem beautiful and innocent. The golden hair adds to the sadness of her death.
What comparison is made with Mary’s hair in “The Sands of Dee”?
Mary’s hair is compared to a salmon, saying no saimon was ever as beautiful. This shows how special her hair was, even after her death.
Who is being asked to call the cattle home in “The Sands of Dee”?
Mary is the one asked to call the cattle home. She is supposed to bring them back, but she disappears into the sea and never returns.
What does the “cruel crawling foam” signify in “The Sands of Dee”?
The “cruel crawling foam” shows how dangerous and powerful the sea is. The foam moves slowly, almost like it is coming to take something, and it eventually takes Mary away.
What happens to Mary’s body in “The Sands of Dee”?
Mary’s body is found later, and the boatmen bring her back. She is dead, and the sea has taken her life. This shows the finality of her death.
What emotion does the “cruel hungry foam evoke in “The Sands of Dee”?
The foam makes us feel sad and scared. It shows how the sea is hungry and takes life without care. Mary is taken by it, and we feel her loss deeply.
Where is Mary buried in “The Sands of Dee*?
Mary is buried near the sea. The boatmen bring her body back and lay her to rest by the shore, marking the end of her tragic life.
What haunting element remains after Mary’s death in “The Sands of Dee”?
After Mary dies, her voice is still heard calling the cattle. It feels like her spirit is still there, trapped in the land and sea.
How does the poet depict the sea in “The Sands of Dee”?
The poet shows the sea as cruel and powerful. It takes away life, and the poem describes it as dangerous and all-consuming.
What is the significance of the catchphrase “call the cattle home” in “The Sands of Dee”?
“Call the cattle home” shows Mary’s duty. After she dies, the phrase becomes sad because her spirit is still calling, but she can never return.
What does the rolling mist symbolize in “The Sands of Dee”?
The mist symbolizes mystery and the unknown. It hides what happened to Mary and makes her death even more tragic and unclear.
How is the tragedy of Mary’s death highlighted in “The Sands of Dee”?
The tragedy is shown through the sadness of her disappearance and the haunting sound of her voice calling. The sea takes her away, and her spirit is stuck in the same place forever.
What imagery is used to describe the tide in “The Sands of Dee”?
The tide is shown as moving over and over again, It seems never-ending, like a force that. can’t be stopped. This shows how the sea controls everything, including Mary’s fate.
What do the boatmen hear after Mary’s death in “The Sands of Dee”?
After Mary dies, the boatmen still hear her calling the cattle. This makes it feel like her spirit is still there, forever tied to the sands.
How does repetition contribute to the mood in “The Sands of Dee”?
Repetition makes the poem feel sad and eerie. The repeated phrases show how the events are unstoppable, and it adds to the feeling of loss.
What role does nature play in “The Sands of Dee”?
Nature, especially the sea, is a force that causes Mary’s death. It is powerful and unstoppable, showing how nature can take away life without care.
How is Mary remembered in “The Sands of Dee”?
Mary is remembered by her voice calling the cattle. Even after her death, she is still part of the land and sea, trapped in a cycle of her old task.
What feeling does the poet leave the reader with in “The Sands of Dee”?
The poet leaves the reader feeling sad and uneasy. The loss of Mary and the haunting call of her voice make us think about death and loss.
What is the central theme of “The Sands of Dee?
The main theme is about life, death, and how memories stay after someone is gone. It shows how nature can take away life, but the memory of a person, like Mary, can last forever.
Summary of “The Sands of Dee”
The poem tells the sad story of a young girl named Mary. She went out to bring the cattle home from the seashore. However, the tide of the sea rose higher, and the waves became strong. Poor Mary could not escape, and the sea drowned her.
Later, people standing by the shore heard the winds and waves calling out sadly, as if they were crying her name: “Mary, Mary, come home to Dee.” But Mary was gone forever.
Main Idea
The poem shows the power of nature and the helplessness of human beings against it. It is also about loss and sadness, as Mary never returned home.
