Best Time You Old Gypsy Man by Ralph Hodgson – Summary, Analysis & Questions
Explore the classic poem Time You Old Gypsy Man by Ralph Hodgson. Get a detailed summary, line-by-line analysis, English-to-Bangla translation, main idea, paraphrasing, and 30 questions & answers for better understanding.
Time You Old Gypsy Man by Ralph Hodgson
Will you not stay,
Put up your caravan
Just for one day?
All things I'll give you
Will you be my guest,
Bells for your jennet
Of silver the best,
Goldsmiths shall beat you
A great golden ring,
Peacocks shall bow to you,
Little boys sing.
Oh, and sweet girls will
Festoon you with may,
Time, you old gypsy,
Why hasten away?
Last week in Babylon,
Last night in Rome,
Morning, and in the crush
Under Paul's dome;
Under Pauls' dial
You tighten your rein -
Only a moment,
And off once again;
Off to some city
Now blind in the womb,
Off to another
Ere that's in the tomb.
Time, you old gypsy man,
Will you not stay,
Put up your caravan
Just for one day?
📌 Poem: Time, You Old Gypsy Man by Ralph Hodgson
🔹 Line by Line Analysis with Translation (English → Bangla)
- Analysis: The poet addresses Time as an old gypsy, a wanderer who never stays in one place.
- Translation: সময়, তুমি সেই বৃদ্ধ যাযাবর।
2. Will you not stay,
Put up your caravan
Just for one day?
- Analysis: The poet asks Time to pause, to stop traveling with its caravan (life’s journey) for just one day.
- Translation: তুমি কি একবার থামবে না?
তোমার কারাভান বসাও,
শুধু এক দিনের জন্য।
3. All things I'll give you
Will you be my guest,
Bells for your jennet
Of silver the best,
- Analysis: The poet offers gifts—silver bells for Time’s horse (jennet)—to persuade Time to stop.
- Translation: আমি তোমাকে সব কিছু দেবো,
তুমি কি আমার অতিথি হবে?
তোমার ঘোড়ার জন্য রুপার ঘণ্টা দেবো।
4. Wild fowl for dinner,
Cherry for tea,
And golden pippins
All for you, free.
- Analysis: More offerings—wild birds, cherries, and golden apples—to tempt Time.
- Translation: রাতের খাবারে বুনো হাঁস,
চায়ের জন্য চেরি,
সোনালি আপেল—
সবই তোমার জন্য, বিনামূল্যে।
5. But Time, you old gipsy man,
Will you not stay,
Put up your caravan
Just for one day?
- Analysis: A repetition, showing man’s desperate wish to stop the passing of time.
- Translation: কিন্তু সময়, বুড়ো যাযাবর,
তুমি কি থামবে না?
তোমার কারাভান বসাও,
শুধু এক দিনের জন্য।
6. Last week in Babylon,
Last night in Rome,
Morning, and in the crush
Under Paul’s dome;