The Wonderful Words

By

Mary O' Neill

Introduction 
In the poem 'The Wonderful Words' by Mary O’ Neill, the poet talks about the importance of words in the world. He praises English Language and advises the readers to learn it so that we may be able to express our thoughts. Poet says that we should use beautiful word to express our thoughts because they are the food and dress of our thoughts.

Explanation 
Let us try to understand the poem line by line.

Never let a thought shrivel and die
For want of a way to say it
For English is a wonderful game
And all of you can play it.

The poet advises the readers to never let a thought shrivel (i.e. become worthless) and die (i.e. forget). In other words, we should never let our thoughts go away. We should say it properly. English is a wonderful game which we all can play. In other words, English is a beautiful language which we all can speak and should speak.
So, the poet says that instead of forgetting a beautiful thought, we should bring it out using the words. And English is a good language for expressing those thoughts to others.

All that you do is match the words

To the brightest thoughts in your head

So that they come out clear and true

And handsomely groomed and fed —

For many of the loveliest things

Have never yet been said.

For expressing what is in our minds, we need to match the most relevant words to the brightest i.e. most beautiful thoughts in our mind. In other words, we should find the most suitable words for our thoughts. This way they will come out of our mouths clear and true. They will be handsomely groomed i.e. said with good words and gestures. The person(s) listening to us will be able to understand our words and also feel good by our sweetness.
The poet says that we often fail to say many beautiful and amazing things because we don’t know the words to express them. Hence we should learn as many words as possible so that we may be able to express those beautiful things to the world instead of letting them die.

Words are the food and dress of thought

They give it its body and swing

And everyone’s longing today to hear

Some fresh and beautiful thing;

But only words can free a thought

From its prison behind your eyes

May be your mind is holding now

A marvellous new surprise!

According to the poet, words are the food and the dress of our thoughts. In other words they make our thoughts appear beautiful and pleasing. The words give our thought a body. This way, those who are desiring to listen to us hear something new and beautiful that pleases their ears and mind. According to the poet, thoughts are imprisoned behind our eyes. They may be trapped in the mind. Only way to free them is using words. Only words can provide them a way to come out. Finally, the poet says that if we have words to express our thoughts, the person(s) listening to us will be amazed because of amazing things which we will tell them.

Exercise

Question and Answers

1. With your partner, complete the following sentences in your own words using the ideas in the poem. 

(i) Do not let a thought shrivel and die because ——————————— 

(i) Do not let a thought shrivel and die because of lack of understanding of a language.
(ii) English is a —————————————with words that everyone can play.
(ii) English is a rich language with words that everyone can play.
(iii) One has to match———————————————
(iii) One has to match the words with thoughts.
(iv) Words are the ——————————— of thought.
(iv) Words are the food and dress of thought.   

2. In groups of four discuss the following lines and their meanings.

(i)  All that you do is match the words To the brightest thoughts in your head 
To give expression to thoughts one needs only right and correct words for the ideas in mind.
(ii) For many of the loveliest things Have never yet been said
Many good and beautiful things or ideas have yet not been said.
(iii) And everyone’s longing today to hear Some fresh and beautiful thing 

People are waiting to hear new and good things. They will definitely accept good things.
(iv) But only words can free a thought From its prison behind your eyes 
Only words have the power to set the ideas in mind free. Means only words can communicate and share ideas with others.