Note of symbolism in the poem’ The Pencil’s Story’ written by Florence Hoaston

Note of symbolism in the poem’ The Pencil’s Story’ written by Florence Hoaston

The poem ‘The Pencil’s Story’ is written by Florence Hoatson. The present poem is symbolic poem, which suggests us how small things can also teach a lesson to our life. In this poem a pencil called H and B, itself narrating its own story. It is the story of a pencil’s journey from mantelpiece to the holder as our journey begins from birth and ends in death. The theme of the poem is centered on the usefulness of life.

                 The pencil called H and B (hard and black) is narrating its own story as it is a little pencil and lies upon the mantelpiece as to be seen by everyone. It is used almost forty times a day. So it feels very tired. The pencil feels happy as it is very useful to the whole family because Tommy, the young child of the family, uses it to draw untidy pictures like submarines, aeroplanes to cabbages; Miss Phyllis uses it to write beautiful letters, mother uses it to do washing list and father uses it to note down the scores of the game.

                 However the pencil feels bad because it is never allowed to grow, it is made smaller and smaller by sharpening it. It is shortened every day. When knife begins to sharp it, which is very painful, it keeps quiet because the point has to be sharp. But the pencil is very proud of its achievement. Though its writing is dark, it is very useful and each time someone uses it, it leaves a mark on them. At the end of the poem the pencil, when it becomes short and useless, reaches holder, the end of the pencil’s journey.

                      Thus the poem ‘The Pencil’s Story’ is most symbolic poem. Through this poem, the poet seems to give the message that our life should be like a pencil. A pencil suffers pain (when it is sharpened) to make itself brighter. The more it is used the smaller it becomes but it would have left its mark whenever or whatever is written with it. This aspect gives the message that the more good we become and the more good we and other feel about us. The pains and sufferings in our life make us better and wise human beings. Thus the poem is very significant.

Omkar Hosalli

English Language Teacher

Government Adarsha Vidyalaya

Aurad (B)