Far far from gusty waves these children’s faces.

Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor.

The tall girl with her weighed-down head.

The paper seeming boy, with rat’s eyes.

The stunted unlucky heir of twisted bones,

Reciting a father’s gnarled disease,

his lesson, from his desk.

The tall girl has bowed down her head:

Questions:

(i) Who is being described in the lines?

(ii) What is he doing?

(iii) What does he have in his eyes?

(iv) Why is the classroom dim?

Hi ! Studying late night...