8 Lower English Appreciations for poems in the "My English Book Eight" .

Get a complete guide to writing poem appreciations for the Class 8 English 'My English Book' of the Maharashtra State Board. Find easy-to-understand explanations, formats, and examples to score full marks in your board exams.

This blog provides a clear and easy-to-understand guide to writing poem appreciations for all the poems in the textbook. 

Std 8th Lower English poems 

Std 8th Lower English poem 1.1 "Be the Best"

Title: The title of the poem is "Be the Best".

Poet: The poem is written by Douglas Malloch.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the first two stanzas is ABAB. The last two stanzas have AABB.

Figures of Speech:

• Metaphor: The poem is full of metaphors. (For example, the line "If you can’t be a highway then just be a trail" compares different roles in life to different kinds of paths.)
• Alliteration: The repetition of a sound, as in "But the liveliest bass in the lake!"

Theme/Central Idea: We should always try to do our best in whatever we do. It doesn't matter if our role is big or small. What is important is to be the best version of ourselves.

Why I like the poem: I like this poem because its message is very simple and inspiring. It tells us that everyone is important.

Std 8th Lower English poem 1.3 "Trees are the Kindest Things I Know"

Title: The title of the poem is "Trees are the Kindest Things I Know"

Poet: The poem is written by Harry Behn.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem is written in rhyming couplets. The rhyme scheme is AABB, CCDD, and so on.

Figures of Speech:

• Personification: Trees are given the human quality of being kind. The first line says, "Trees are the kindest things I know." They also "hum a drowsy lullaby."
• Alliteration: The repetition of a sound, as in "spread a shade for sleepy cows".

Theme/Central Idea: Trees are kind, harmless, and very useful. They selflessly provide food, shelter, and comfort to all living creatures, including animals and humans.

Why I like the poem: I like this poem because it has a very gentle and sweet tone. It uses simple words to show the importance of trees in our lives and makes me feel grateful for them.

Std 8th Lower English poem 2.1  "Try Again"

Title: The title of the poem is "Try Again".

Poet: The poem is written by W. E. Hickson.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem has a regular rhyme scheme of ABABCB.

Figures of Speech:

• Repetition: The words "Try again" are repeated throughout the poem to emphasise its main message.
• Apostrophe: The poet directly speaks to the reader, making the advice feel personal. For example, "'Tis a lesson you should heed."

Theme/Central Idea: We should never give up on our goals. Even if we fail one or two times, we must keep trying with courage and patience, and we will finally succeed.

Why I like the poem: I find this poem very motivating. It gives the message to keep trying.

Std 8th Lower English poem 2.3 "The Little River"

Title: The title of the poem is "The Little River".

Poet: The poem is written by the famous Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of most stanzas is ABCB.

Figures of Speech:

• Onomatopoeia: The word "babbling" imitates the sound of the flowing river.
• Alliteration: The repetition of sounds, as in "the sands shine bright."

Theme/Central Idea:The poem describes a small village river and the life around it. It shows how the river looks different in summer (calm and shallow) and in the rainy season (full and noisy). Tagore’s words make us feel like we are actually there, seeing and hearing everything.

Why I like the poem: I like this poem because it creates a very beautiful and clear picture of a river in the countryside. 

Std 8th Lower English poem 3.1 "Why?"

Title: The title of the poem is "Why?"

Poet: The poet of this poem is Anonymous.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem is made of rhyming couplets, with an AABB rhyme scheme.

Figures of Speech:

• Repetition: The word "Why" is repeated at the beginning of many lines.
• Interrogation: The entire poem is a list of questions. 

• Personification: "Why sinks the sun behind the hills?" The sun is personified(given a human quality)

• Inversion: "Why sinks the sun behind the hills?" It is an incorrect prose order.

Theme/Central Idea: The central idea is a child's curiosity.  It's a fun poem that reminds us of how we all used to ask "why" about everything. A little boy always asks "why" about everything and wants to know why this and why that. It reminds us that asking questions is the best way to learn.

Std 8th Lower English poem 3.3 "Truth"

Title: The title of the poem is "Truth"

Poet: The poem is written by Barrie Wade.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of each stanza is ABCB.

Figures of Speech:

1. Metaphor: Words are compared to "ghosts" that haunt and "swords" that pierce.

2. Alliteration: "Bats and bricks may ache through bones." B sound is repeated.

Theme/Central Idea: This is a serious and reflective poem. It gives us a moral lesson that we must be very careful with our words. It is better to be kind and gentle always. Unkind words cause much deeper and longer-lasting pain than physical injuries. 

Std 8th Lower English poem 4.1 "The Vet"

Title: The title of the poem is "The Vet".

Poet: The poem is by Guy Boas.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem has a simple AABB rhyme scheme.

Figures of Speech:

• Hyperbole: There are many overstatements for comic effect, for example, " the vet must know an incredible number of things."
• Personification: Animals are given human-like problems, such as hyenas not laughing at jokes.

• Metaphor: "Friendship is a Golden chain."

• Simile: "And like a rare and precious jewel."

Theme/Central Idea:  The poem uses humour and irony. A veterinarian (vet) has a very hard and complex job. They must know the bodies of many different animals. Every animal has a "different inside" and different problems. Unlike humans, animals cannot speak to explain their pain. The poet humorously suggests that treating humans is much easier. We should respect vets for their great knowledge and hard work.

Std 8th Lower English poem 4.3 "Golden Chain"

Title: The title of the poem is "Golden Chain.

Poet: The poem is by Helen Steiner Rice.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABCB.

Figures of Speech:

• Metaphor: Friendship is directly compared to a "Golden chain".
• Simile: Friendship is also compared to a jewel using the word "like": "And like a rare and precious jewel".

Theme/Central Idea: The poem is rhythmic and sentimental. True friendship is a beautiful and priceless gift. It is a strong bond of love. It becomes more valuable with time.  We cannot buy or sell it. I like this poem because it explains the value of friendship in a very sweet and simple way.