Poem Explanation - To The Nile

Poem explanation: 'To the Nile' line by line
"Son of the old Moon-mountains African!"
The speaker begins by addressing the Nile as the "Son of the old Moon-mountains
African." This personification suggests that the Nile has ancient and mystical
origins, possibly linking it to the moon and African geography.
"Chief of the Pyramid and Crocodile!"
The Nile is described as the "Chief" or ruler of both the pyramids and crocodiles.
This emphasizes the river's significance in Egyptian culture, where the pyramids
and crocodiles were iconic symbols.
"We call thee fruitful, and that very while"
The speaker acknowledges that people consider the Nile to be fruitful and
abundant. The river is seen as a source of life and sustenance.
"A desert fills our seeing's inward span:"
Despite the Nile's reputation for fertility, the speaker acknowledges that when
they look inwardly, they see a desert. This line suggests a contrast between the
outward perception of abundance and the inner sense of emptiness or ignorance.
"Nurse of swart nations since the world began,"
The speaker recognizes the Nile as the "Nurse" or nurturer of dark-skinned

(swart) nations since the beginning of the world. This reinforces the idea that the
Nile has been a source of life and sustenance for countless generations.
"Art thou so fruitful? or dost thou beguile"

The speaker questions whether the Nile is truly as fruitful as it seems or if it
deceives people with its appearance.
"Such men to honour thee, who, worn with toil,"
The speaker suggests that people who are exhausted from their labor might take
a break and honor the Nile.
"Rest for a space 'twixt Cairo and Decan?"
The speaker wonders if those weary travelers find rest and respite along the Nile's
banks between the cities of Cairo and Decan.
"O may dark fancies err! They surely do;"
The speaker expresses hope that their dark thoughts and doubts about the Nile
are mistaken. They want to believe in the river's fertility and significance.
"'Tis ignorance that makes a barren waste"
The speaker suggests that ignorance is what turns what should be a fertile and
abundant land into a barren wasteland. Lack of understanding or appreciation for
the Nile's importance leads to this misconception.
"Of all beyond itself. Thou dost bedew
Green rushes like our rivers, and dost taste
The pleasant sunrise."
The speaker describes how the Nile enriches the land, causing green rushes to
grow along its banks and enjoying the pleasant sunrise. This imagery reinforces
the idea of the Nile as a life-giving force.
"Green isles hast thou too,
And to the sea as happily dost haste."
The speaker mentions that the Nile also has green islands, and it flows happily
towards the sea. This further underscores the idea of the Nile as a source of
beauty and abundance.
Old English/archaic words used in the poem

In the poem "To The Nile" by John Keats, there are some words and phrases that
may be considered archaic or old-fashioned in modern English. Here are
explanations for these old English words:
Swart: This word means "dark" or "black" and is used to describe the skin color of
the nations nurtured by the Nile. In this context, it refers to the people with dark
or black skin.
Beguile: In the line, "Art thou so fruitful? or dost thou beguile," "beguile" means
to deceive or mislead. The speaker is questioning whether the Nile's apparent
fertility is real or if it deceives people.
'Twixt: This is a contraction of "between" and is often used in older English poetry
to maintain the meter or rhyme scheme.
'Tis: This is a contraction of "it is" and is used in place of the full phrase to fit the
poem's meter.
Hast: This is an archaic form of the word "have" or "has," and it means "have" or
"have you." In the line, "And to the sea as happily dost haste," it means that the
Nile flows happily toward the sea.
Bedew: This word means to moisten or sprinkle with liquid. In the poem, it is used
to describe how the Nile enriches the land by moistening or watering it.
Decan": This term may not be familiar to modern readers. "Decan" likely refers to
the Deccan Plateau in India, which is a region known for its historical and
geographical significance. The mention of "Cairo and Decan" may symbolize
distant places along the Nile's course.
Thee: "Thee" is an old English pronoun used in place of "you" when referring to
one person in the objective case. It's used to address someone directly. In the
poem, it's used when the speaker is directly addressing the Nile, as in "We call
thee fruitful."
Thou: "Thou" is another old English pronoun used to refer to one person in the
nominative (subject) case. It's the equivalent of "you" when used to address a
single individual. In the poem, "Art thou so fruitful?" uses "thou" to ask if the Nile
is truly as fruitful as it seems.
Dost: "Dost" is an archaic form of the verb "do" in the second person singular
(you do). It's used to indicate an action in the present tense. In the poem, it
appears in lines like "Thou dost bedew green rushes" and "Thou dost taste the
pleasant sunrise," where it conveys that the Nile is actively performing these
actions of moistening and experiencing the sunrise.

Poem Explanation - To The Nile

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Poem explanation: 'To the Nile' line by line

"Son of the old Moon-mountains African!"

"Chief of the Pyramid and Crocodile!"

"We call thee fruitful, and that very while"

"A desert fills our seeing's inward span:"

"Nurse of swart nations since the world began,"

The speaker recognizes the Nile as the "Nurse" or nurturer of dark-skinned

"Art thou so fruitful? or dost thou beguile"

"Such men to honour thee, who, worn with toil,"

"Rest for a space 'twixt Cairo and Decan?"

"O may dark fancies err! They surely do;"

"'Tis ignorance that makes a barren waste"

"Of all beyond itself. Thou dost bedew

Green rushes like our rivers, and dost taste

The pleasant sunrise."

And to the sea as happily dost haste."

Old English/archaic words used in the poem

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