The Four Levels of New Year (Parijat)

The four levels of the New Year can be interpreted in the following four headings:
1. Literal Comprehension
2. Interpretation
3. Critical Thinking
4. Assimilation

1. Literal Comprehension

The poem ‘ New Year ‘ was written by Parijat here she states the reality about the new year. By looking at the woods and the wind that is blowing and chasing the march away. And the sun is climbing up the hill the poetess can tell that the New Year has arrived.

By seeing all those nightingale flit to and fro in the sky and the buds blooming of the bottle brush, she presumes that a new day has arrived.

But then looking at the mason wasps that return lazily back to their same old nest, their nests are situated in the sooty ceiling of the poetess’ home. This scene makes her remember all the old dreams and she wants to paint the whole nature new.

2. Interpretation

The poem might be starting with hope and happiness about the New Year finally arriving but ends with a picture of the harsh reality of the society.

The mason wasps in the poem are used as a metaphor for poor people who work every day if they don’t work a day they will have nothing to eat and live. For these people, New Year is just another day where they go to work. The day is changed but the destination is the same.

With the last ­­line of the poetess which says ‘painting the nature fresh!’ she is shouting for a change, her want to change the society and system so that everyone can enjoy the new year, the new day not just the rich people.

3. Critical Thinking

The poem teaches us the lesson that the new beginnings tell us their needs to change. The poetess enjoys the arrival of the new year as soon as she remembered her old dream.

• She is sad but all the regrets that she has are meaningless because is the arrival of a new year supposed to guarantee the freshness and challenges in life?
• Aren’t people supposed to make a change by acting not by just being sad and whining that new year did not bring the new changes that it promised to?

 4. Assimilation

When I think about the new year be it any time of the year the first feeling I get is happiness. But I can’t even figure out the source of happiness. The happiness maybe because of the celebration and new beginnings. Maybe just letting go of another year filled with memories, knowledge, mistakes, success, and failure. And the happiness of having another day to live, so I can now live many new endeavors.