The poem describes a man who appeared quiet and gentle to a woman but was deceiving her with his "quiet eyes". The eyes were actually "two pools of lies" hiding his true intentions. The woman did not realize this and thought his "breathing desolate sighs" meant he cared for her. However, the poem advises that she should not have compromised with a "pleasure-seeking" man, and suggests it is always best to listen to advice about choosing nice partners who will not cause one to lose their heart.

1. He Had Such Quiet Eyes by Bibsy Soenharjo
He had such quiet eyes
She did not realise
They were two pools of lies
Layered with thinnest ice
To her, those quiet eyes
Were breathing desolate sighs
Imploring her to be nice
And to render him paradise
If only she’d been wise
And had listened to the advice
Never to compromise
With pleasure-seeking guys
She’d be free from ‘the hows and whys’
Now here’s a bit of advice
Be sure that nice really nice
Then you’ll never be losing at dice
Though you lose your heart once or twice
Mokhzani/kv shas kuala lipis/2013

2. Stanza 1
1. Give two words from the poem that ryhme with “eyes”?
2. How does the man appear to the woman?
3. How does the poet describe the man’s eyes?
4. In your opinion, why does the girl did not realize that the
man is cheating her?
5. What did ‘she’ not realise?
6. What do you think the man wanted from the girl?
7. What does the line “ And to render him paradise” mean?
8. What does the man want from the girl?
9. What does the poet mean by “layered with thinnest ice’?
10. What kind of image does the word paradise give?
11. Which line in the poem in stanza 1 tells us that the man was
not honest?
12. Which line tells you that the eyes hid its true colour?
13. Which part of the body has made the girl to feel in love with
“‘He”?
14. Which word in stanza one tells us that the man was begging
the woman to give in to him?
15. Which words carries similar meaning as ‘pleading’?
16. Who had such quiet eyes?
17. Why did she fall in love with the man?
18. Why did the girl not see the man’s true character in the
beginning?
19. Why did the poet describe the man’s eyes as ‘two pools of
lies”?
20. Why do you think the girl fall in love with “he”?
21. Why does the poet refer to his eyes as ‘quiet’?
22. Why does the poet refer to the man’s eye’s as ‘two pools of
lies’?
Mokhzani/kv shas kuala lipis/2013

3. Stanza 2
23. Did the girl accept the advice given to her? Quote evidence
from the poem to support your answer.
24. Do you think the advice would have helped her? Why?
25. Explain the meaning of the expression “the hows and whys”.
26. How could the woman be wise?
27. How do you think girls should behave with pleasure-seeking
man?
28. How would the girl have felt about answering “the hows and
whys’?
29. What advice should she have listened to?
30. What advice should she have listened to?
31. What do you think had happened to the young girl? Use
evidence from the poem to support your answer.
32. What does the phrase “ pleasure-seeking guys” imply?
33. What does the stanza imply?
34. What does the word “compromise” mean?
35. What happened to the girl when she did not listen to the
advice?
36. What is the advice given?
37. What mistake had the girl committed?
38. When the poet says, “If only she’d wise”, what does she
mean?
39. Which word in the poem means agree?
40. Who do you think would ask “the hows and whys’?
41. Whom had she compromised with?
Stanza 3
42. In your own words, describe on what it means by “Be sure
that nice really nice”?
43. What advice given to young girls in Stanza 3? Explain using
your own words.
44. What advice had the woman been given?
Mokhzani/kv shas kuala lipis/2013

4. 45. What can we afford to lose?
46. What do you think the phrase “lose your heart once or
twice” means?
47. What does the poet mean by the words “losing at dice’?
48. What is the advice given on Stanza 3?
49. What is the emotion suggested in the first line of this
stanza?
50. What is your opinion on the advice given in the poem?
51. Would you accept the poet’s advice? Why?
Free response
52. Do you think society has a right to ask question when young
girls go astray?
53. How would you advise a friend or relative if you think he opr
she is making a mistake?
54. In your own words, explain why one should be careful in
their choices of friends?
55. In your own words, what would you do if you were to meet
such man?
56. In your own words, why do you think people give advice to
others?
57. What can you conclude about the girl’s character?
58. What do you think of the man’s behaviour?
59. Why do elders and parents advise their children?
60. Would you advise a friend if you think she/he is making a
mistake?
Mokhzani/kv shas kuala lipis/2013