Poem No. 4 - "O Where Are You Going" - Summary of the Poem

"O where are you going?" said reader to rider, "
That valley is fatal where furnaces burn,
Yonder's the midden whose odours will madden,
That gap is the grave where the tall return."
 "O do you imagine," said fearer to farer,
"That dusk will delay on your path to the pass,
Your diligent looking discover the lacking,
Your footsteps feel from granite to grass?"
 "O what was that bird," said horror to hearer,
"Did you see that shape in the twisted trees?
Behind you swiftly the figure comes softly,
The spot on your skin is a shocking disease."
 "Out of this house"—said rider to reader,
"Yours never will"—said farer to fearer,
"They're looking for you"—said hearer to horror,
As he left them there, as he left them there.

Summary of the poem
 O WHERE ARE YOU GOING? 

      In the poem "O Where Are You Going?" there are two opposite forces in the form of two imaginary persons who are personified as reader and rider. The arguments between the two opposing forces may be a metaphor for the inner battles within a human, or maybe even mind and heart. The reader, who has no practical concepts about life,. is a coward and timid person whereas the rider is the one who a determined, brave and courageous person, and has a practical approach towards life. The reader is trying to frighten the rider whose mentality is adventurous and inquisitive about life. The former is shown as fearer  and horror who discourages the traveller by telling him that there journey is full of dangers and sufferings. There will be obstacles in the way. Fearer and horror are trying to stop him from exploring the unexplored regions of practical life which is full of hard realities. 

     
Through the dialogue between two opposite force the poet has tried to preach the philosophy of life that man is not made for defeat and one must be determined and confident to achieve the goals of life without losing courage and hope. The reader, fearer and horror in this poem actually represent all those who die ten times before death. The valley is the symbol of hardships and mysteries of life. Twisted trees and shocking disease are the symbols of mysterious forces lying ahead to weaken the rider psychologically.

      The reader warns the rider regarding the risks and tragedies, which may befall during his journey. He says that although the rider is undertaking his journey during the day time, yet at dusk it will become dark and deadly, where his intelligence and vigilance will display his ignorance regarding mysteries of life. The Reader also warns him that the footstepson granite are different from those on grass. In other words, he means to say that the path that the rider has chosen is tortuous and twisted. The fearer tries to discourage the rider so that he may withdraw from his ambition to cross and conquer the valley replete with sufferings. It’s true that bad time never plays trumpet, however, one must be ready to face it courageously. In spite of the reader’s predictions and discouragement, the rider is not ready to give for him.

S. No	Words/Phrases	Meanings
1	Table Cell	Table Cell
2	Table Cell	Table Cell
3	Table Cell	Table Cell
4	Table Cell	Table Cell
5	Table Cell	Table Cell
6	Table Cell	Table Cell
7l	Table Cell	Table Cell
8	Table Cell	Table Cell

HSSC-1, FBISE, English Book 3, First Year, Summarized form of the Pom