YOUTHMAXIMO D. RAMOS

Region III – Central Luzon

AUTHOR’S BACKGROUNDMAXIMO D. RAMOS

San Narciso, Zambales1910Hugo H. Miller Memorial ScholarM.A. in English at the Indiana Universityformer head of the English Department at the Philippine Normal University (PNU)Dean of the College of Liberal Arts of the University of the East (UE)

WHY IS THE TITLE

OF THE POEM

“YOUTH”?

Youthmaximo d. ramos

They have known the tingling freshness

Of the coming forth from God

The sweetness of mother’s breast

The ringing sinewiness of

growth,The fell of the

loved one’s cheek,

the songOf April suns and

showers…

And these will know

The quiet dimming down of age

And the silent wonder

Of the going backTo God.

interpretationThe poem describes the beauty and the mystery of life as it is endured by every individual.

First stanzaThe fulfilment of being given the chance to see the light of the world for the first time was beautifully described. Being born and having been given the chance to live a life is one great manifestation of God’s graciousness and love. It is one’s first witness of acceptance and care. Promises of fun and wonderful memories are being savored in the restless days of childhood, until such time when one comes of age and gets the chance to raise a family.

Second stanzaUnfolds another mystery of life. This is somehow the moment when one finally expresses content and enrichment of one’s experiences of the life that he has been given. He takes the final phase of surrendering the life to be able to enter a new one and reunite with the Giver, and that is the greatest and the most beautiful mystery of mankind.

Theme (subject/topic)- Reality of Life and Death

Genre- Descriptive Poem (describes the world of the speaker)

Point of View (speaker)- Omniscient (all-knowing)- Third person- speaker is

unnamed/unidentified (a detached observer). He/she reports on events and lets the reader supply the meaning. Structure

- Formal Structure (it has lines & stanzas)Historical/Cultural Aspect

-Spanish Era/Cultural aspect of Filipinos in Religion

Figure of Speech- The quiet dimming down of age (Metaphor)

Mood- Mysterious – Life is like a rosary, full of mysteries

Tone- Serious – talking about Life and Death is a serious matter

Language- Euphony (pleasant words)Death (instead of harsh words)-The quiet dimming down of ageAnd the silent wonderOf the going backTo God

Rhythm and Meter- Free Verse (doesn’t have a pattern/required measurement)

*Paraphrase the poem.-restatement of a text or passage, giving

meaning in another form; not an exact quoteThey have known the tingling

freshnessOf the coming forth from God

The sweetness of mother’s breast

The ringing sinewiness of growth,

The fell of the loved one’s cheek, the song

Of April suns and showers…

And these will knowThe quiet dimming down of

ageAnd the silent wonder

Of the going backTo God.

The feeling of purity and innocence

Having the life given from GodExperiencing the love and care of

a mother or a familyWith pure strength of growth in

the childhood daysMeeting the love of your life and

raising your own familyFull of happiness, fun, and

bittersweet memories

Time of fulfilment and contentment will come

From old age to calm and peaceful death

Speechless and wordless admirationOf reunitingWith God.

The feeling of purity and innocence

Having the life given from God

Experiencing the love and care of a mother or a familyWith pure strength

of growth in the childhood days

Meeting the love of their life and

raising their own family

Full of happiness,

fun, and bittersweet memories

Time of fulfilment and contentment

will comeFrom old age to

calm and peaceful death

Speechless and wordless

admirationOf reunitingWith God.

Comprehension check-up1. There is a cyclic effect in the

poem. Look for it and give your analyses.

Of the coming forth from GodThe ringing sinewiness of growthThe fell of the loved one’s cheekThe quiet dimming down of age

And the silent wonderOf the going back

To God

2.What is meant by the lines “To have known the tingling freshness of the coming forth from God.”“The feeling of purity and

innocenceHaving the life given from

God”

3.What is the theme of the poem?

- Reality of Life and Death

4. What is the essence of tales to children?

• tales establish children’s sense of wonder• stir their imagination• satisfy their hunger for adventure• develop courage in children• play a role in the emotional development

of children• provide pleasure and enjoyment for

children• touch moral and spiritual sense of values • cultivate thinking and creativity

5. What belief is reflected in the piece? Does it reflect Filipino culture? Why or why not?

- Belief about God is reflected in the piece. Yes, it reflects Filipino culture which is believing in God or the Superior Being whatever religion we may belong. The poem showed how life of an individual starts from God and goes back to God. The speaker in the poem believes that God is the reason of our existence here on earth, and I do believe it too.

WHY IS THE TITLE

OF THE POEM

“YOUTH”?

Youth – connection to the poem

“All endings are also beginnings.” For Maximo, youth is where it all started, it is the beginning. And for most people, youth is the happiest part of their life, it is the time when they are young, naïve, free, and have all the time in the world to grow and develop.

Life is a journey but it’s not always about your destination. Sometimes what really matters are the experiences, places and people you encounter along the way. It’s not about how many times you fell down, it’s about how you stood back up again. It’s about living life to the fullest.

Like in a basketball game, it is not about winning or losing. It is about how you played the game.

Like in an examination, it is not about getting the highest or lowest score. It is about how you answered it and learned from your mistakes. Anyways the correct ones are the ones being counted. Mistakes are just for improvements.

“Life is what you

make it.”

My experienceThe first time I read the poem, I already got

that it was all about life, but I did not understand some of the lines until I had the chance to read it again and again, reflect on it, and then analyze it.

I also found difficulty in understanding the word “sinewiness” which means strength because it’s the first time I encountered the word and I’m not familiar with it so I have to look it up in the dictionary.

In general, I enjoyed reading the poem because it showed me how beautiful the mystery of life is. Maximo D. Ramos succeeded in making me, as a reader, feel seriousness and at the same time be entertained and appreciate the beauty, mystery, and wonder of life every individual have, could, and would experience in this world.

referenceSaymo, Apolinario S. et. al., 2004. Philippine Literature. Bulacan: Trinitas Publishing, Inc.