Read: The Poem

Class 6 English · Chapter 5: A Friend's Prayer · NCERT Poorvi section pp. 52–53

Learn

Before you read: compare three sentences: "I wish my friend brings idli tomorrow." "I hope we win the race." "May my friend get well soon." Which one sounds like a prayer? The last one: it humbly asks for something good for someone else. What would you pray for your friend?

Stanza 1 (in our words): the speaker prays that her friendships will always be the most important thing to her. With special friends she feels blessed (lucky and thankful), so she wants to give them her very best.

Stanza 2: she wants to do more than just share her friends' hopes and plans. She will try everything a friend can do to help make their wishes come true. This shows she is caring.

Stanza 3: she asks to use her heart to understand what friends can be, to not judge them from a distance, and to love her friends just as they are. This shows she is thoughtful. The poem was written by Jill Wolf.

Explore: prayer or everyday wish?

1. Sort each sentence.

Remember

• The speaker prays that friendship stays the most important thing and that she gives friends her best.
• She wants to help make friends' wishes come true and love them as they are, without judging.

Quick check

How does the speaker feel about having special friends?

1. Blessed
2. Bored
3. Worried
4. Proud

Think about it

Which idea in the poem do you agree with most, and why?

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.