newtons law is a poem composed by nandita das

3. About the poet…
Nandita Das was born in Calcutta. Her poetry is filled
with rich humour, great imagery, and philosophical
thoughts. While at college, her poem ‘ Stalemate’ was
published in an anthology by the Poet’s International
Organization, in 1991. The poem “Newton’s Law” is
taken from her collection of poems - Colours of delight.
She now lives in Banglore.

5. NEWTON’S LAW…..
I was inattentive in Science class one day
When the teacher at random looked my
way
I didn’t look up, I wouldn’t dare
There’s no escaping that intense glare.
Asked me to explain to the classes
Newton’s Law of Gravity and mass
My mind was a blank, heartbeats louder
For an answer I started to flounder.
I stood before the class trembling with fear
“Gravity”, I said…and then oh dear!!!
I fell off the stage on to the floor
How the class with laughter did roar.

6. Explanation…
 The poet was inattentive in the science
class one day when she was asked by her
teacher to explain Newton’s Law of gravity
and mass. The frightened Nandita stuttered
about gravity before falling down
unconscious. This brought forth a roar of
laughter in the class.

7. Do you think these lines has a rhyming
scheme? Can you identify and say:
Day-way
Dare-glare
Class-mass
Louder-flounder
Fear-dear
Floor-roar

8. Glossary reference
 Random-without definite direction
 Dare- to have enough courage
 Intense- very strong
 Glare- to stare angrily
 Flounder- to be unsure about what to do
 Trembling- to be nervous
 Roar- to laugh loudly

9. Questions…
 Why did not the poet look up at the
teacher?
 Why could not she answer the question?
 Why did the class roar with laughter?

10. Answers…
1. The poet was frightened that the teacher would scold
her for her inattentiveness if she looked up.
2. She was inattentive in the science class and her mind
was blank. So she could not answer the question.
3. While trying to answer the question, the poet fell on to
the floor. This raised a roar of laughter in the class.

11. PART – 4
The children tittered in great amusement
They didn’t know my sad predicament
The teacher said, “you’ve demonstrated gravity”
“Although you did it with much levity”
At length I returned to my seat
With much applause did they greet
Now I look back upon this and ponder
I decide to listen and not let my mind wander.

12. Explanation…
The teacher took it to be a
demonstration of gravity and
appreciated it. She also won much
more applause from her friends. This
incident made her take a resolution
never to be inattentive in the science
classes.

13. Do you think these lines has a rhyming
scheme? Can you identify and say:
 Amusement-predicament
 Gravity-levity
 Seat-greet
 Ponder-wander

14. Glossary…
 Amusement- to be entertained
 Demonstrate-to prove by showing examples
 Levity-lack of seriousness
 Applause-appreciation by hands
 Ponder-to think about
 wander-to follow a path
 Predicament-unpleasant situation

15. Questions..
 How did the poet demonstrate Newton’s
law?
 “I look back upon this and ponder”.
Explain.

16. Answers..
By falling on to the floor the poet
appeared to be demonstrating Newton’s
law.
The poet remembers an incident which
had happened during her school days. She
even ponders over the mistake she had
committed them by being inattentive in
class.

17. THANK YOU