Somebody’s Mother | Class VIII | Word-Meanings|Summary |NCERT solution | Hindi Translation| Poem Explanation

This heart-warming poem celebrates compassion. When others ignore a frail woman, one boy guides her safely across the road, reminding us that every act of kindness enriches life and humanity.

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Somebody's Grandmother Crossing the Road

Summary:

The poem Somebody’s Mother is a touching story about compassion and empathy. On a cold winter evening, an old, frail woman stood at the roadside, hesitant to cross the busy street filled with rushing children and careless passersby. She looked poor, weak, and scared, knowing she might stumble or fall if she attempted to cross alone. Nobody came forward to help her, as people were concerned only with themselves. At that moment, a young schoolboy noticed her plight. Unlike others, he did not ignore her. He gently took her hand and carefully guided her across the slippery road. After ensuring her safety, he left quickly to rejoin his friends. The woman, deeply moved, prayed for God’s blessings upon the boy, asking that someone equally kind might one day help his own mother in her time of need. The poem concludes with the idea that kindness, no matter how small, creates ripples of goodness in the world. By helping “somebody’s mother,” the boy revealed his sensitivity, empathy, and respect for elders. The poem emphasizes how selfless acts of kindness not only bring comfort to those in need but also return as blessings and goodwill to the doer.

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Theme :

The central theme of Somebody’s Mother is compassion and empathy. The poet highlights the value of selfless kindness through the boy’s simple yet profound act of helping an old woman. The poem shows how respecting and caring for others, especially the weak and helpless, reflects true humanity. It also suggests that kindness circles back as blessings — by helping “somebody’s mother,” the boy ensured prayers for his own mother’s well-being. Thus, the poem teaches that every small deed of goodness strengthens the bond of human love and creates a more caring world.

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Word-Meanings

Word	Meaning (Easy English)	Sentence (Usage)
Ragged	Torn, old, and in bad condition	The beggar wore a ragged coat that kept him warm.
Grey	Having white or silver colour due to age	Her hair had turned grey with years of wisdom.
Bent	Curved or stooped due to weakness	The old man was bent with age as he walked slowly.
Chill	Coldness, especially uncomfortable	The chill of winter made everyone wear warm clothes.
Aged	Very old	The aged woman found it hard to walk quickly.
Slow	Not fast; taking more time	He was very slow in completing his homework.
Throng	A large crowd of people	A throng of fans gathered to see the actor.
Timid	Shy, nervous, or afraid	The timid child hid behind her mother.
Trembling	Shaking because of fear, weakness, or cold	His hands were trembling before giving the speech.
Proud	Feeling pleasure or satisfaction	She was proud of her daughter’s achievement.
Firm	Strong and steady	He gave me a firm handshake of confidence.
Strong	Having physical power or ability	The bridge was strong enough to carry heavy vehicles.
Content	Satisfied and happy	The monk lived a simple life, feeling content with little.
Noble	Having high moral qualities	Helping the poor is a noble act of kindness.
Prayer	Words spoken to God to ask for help/bless	The child whispered a prayer for his sick mother.

Interactive Word-Matching Exercises

Hindi Translation of the Poem

Original Lines (English)	Easy Hindi Translation
The woman was old and ragged and gray,	वह औरत बूढ़ी, फटे-पुराने कपड़ों में और सफ़ेद बालों वाली थी।
And bent with the chill of the winter’s day;	और ठंडी सर्दियों के दिन में ठिठुर कर झुकी हुई थी।
The street was wet with a recent snow,	सड़क पर हाल ही में गिरी बर्फ़ से नमी थी।
And the woman’s feet were aged and slow.	और उस औरत के पैर बूढ़े होने के कारण बहुत धीमे थे।
She stood at the crossing and waited long,	वह सड़क पार करने की जगह पर खड़ी रही और काफी देर इंतज़ार करती रही।
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng	भीड़ के बीच अकेली और उपेक्षित थी।
Of human beings who passed her by,	लोग वहाँ से गुज़रते रहे,
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.	पर किसी ने उसकी चिंतित नज़रों पर ध्यान नहीं दिया।
Down the street with laughter and shout,	सड़क पर हँसी-खुशी और चिल्लाहट थी,
Glad in the freedom of “school let out”;	बच्चे “स्कूल खत्म होने” की आज़ादी से खुश थे।
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,	लड़के झुंड में भेड़ों की तरह आ रहे थे।
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.	वे गहरी और सफ़ेद बर्फ़ देखकर खुशी मना रहे थे।
Past the woman so old and gray,	वे उस बूढ़ी औरत के पास से गुज़र गए,
Hastened the children on their way.	बच्चे जल्दी-जल्दी अपनी राह चले गए।
Nor offered a helping hand to her—	किसी ने भी उसकी मदद के लिए हाथ नहीं बढ़ाया—
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir,	वह इतनी शांत, डरी हुई और हिलने से घबराई हुई थी।
Lest her trembling feet step wrong;	डर था कि उसके काँपते पैर कहीं ग़लत कदम न रख दें;
Give way beneath the crowd so strong.	और मज़बूत भीड़ में वह गिर न जाए।
At last came one of the merry troop,	अंततः उस मस्ती से भरे दल में से एक लड़का आया,
The gayest laddie of all the group;	जो पूरे समूह का सबसे खुशमिजाज लड़का था;
He paused beside her and whispered low,	वह उसके पास रुका और धीरे से बोला,
“I’ll help you across, if you wish to go.”	“अगर आप जाना चाहें तो मैं आपको सड़क पार करा दूँगा।”
Her aged hand on his strong young arm	उसका बूढ़ा हाथ उस लड़के की मज़बूत बाँह पर रखा गया,
She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,	और इस तरह, बिना चोट खाए या गिरे,
He guided the trembling feet along,	उसने उसके काँपते पैरों को आगे बढ़ाया,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.	और गर्व महसूस किया कि उसके अपने पैर मज़बूत और स्थिर हैं।
Then back again to his friends he went,	फिर वह अपने दोस्तों के पास लौट गया,
His young heart happy and well content.	उसका युवा दिल खुशी और संतोष से भर गया।
She’s somebody’s mother, boys, you know,	“वह किसी की माँ है, दोस्तों, यह जान लो,
For all she’s aged, and poor and slow.	चाहे वह बूढ़ी, ग़रीब और धीमी हो।”
And somebody’s mother bowed low her head	और किसी की माँ ने अपना सिर झुका लिया
In her home that night, and the prayer she said:	उस रात अपने घर में, और उसने यह प्रार्थना की:
“God, be kind to that noble boy,	“हे भगवान, उस महान लड़के पर कृपा करना,
Who is somebody’s son, and pride and joy.”	जो किसी का बेटा है और गर्व और आनंद का कारण है।”