The poem is about a woman who was deceived by a man with quiet but insincere eyes. She did not realize his eyes were hiding lies layered with thin ice. After feeling betrayed, she regretted not heeding advice to avoid compromising herself with pleasure-seeking men. The poet advises women to be sure a man's niceness is genuine before committing, and to protect their hearts from deceit.

1. He had such
quite eyes
by:
Bibsy Soenharjo

2. HE HAD SUCH QUITE EYES
He had such quiet eyes
She did not realise
They were two pools of lies
Layered with thinnest ice
To her, those quiet eyes
Lying/Deceit
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 Regret/remorse
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 means nice
Then you'll never be losing at dice Advice
Though you may lose your heart once or twice

3. WORD HELP
WORD HELP
Desolate = depressed
Imploring = pleading/begging
Render = cause one to be
Paradise = ecstasy
Compromise = conciliate
Pleasure seeking = interested only in enjoyment
Dice = tiny cube used in gambling

4. STANZA
STANZA 1 1
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
• Meeting people and getting
• When the persona looked into involved in a social relationship is
the young man’s sincere-looking part and parcel of life.
eyes, she was deceived into
• However, along the way, we may
thinking that he needed someone
meet two-faced people with
to love.
ulterior motives.
• She was not aware that he is lying
• Sometimes, they may across as
to her.
so sincere that we innocently
• His eyes even made her feel accept them as their friends or
compelled to be “nice” to him. partners.

5. STANZA
STANZA 2 1
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”
• When the persona was
betrayed by the man, she • Social relationships can turn
wondered why she had not sour if one party betrays the
been wiser. other. Hence, one should be
careful on the other party’s
• She should have remembered
motives.
the advice of not believing men
blindly. • In any case, do not
compromise your principles, as
• If she had held on to her
someone who is sincere would
principles, she would not be
not force you into giving up
asking herself why she had
your morals.
been cheated.

6. STANZA
STANZA 3 1
Now here’s a bit of advice
Be sure that nice really means nice
Then you’ll never be losing at dice
Though you may lose your heart once or twice
• The poet advises young ladies to • It is always good to be cautions
be more careful before getting before committing to a
involved in relationships with relationship to avoid serious
men. consequences.
• They must make sure that they • You have to make sure you can
know the men well. They should trust the person you befriend.
learn to differentiate between Do not gamble with your
sincerity and falsehood. affections, even you fall in love.
• They eventually meet the right
man, though they may lose their
hearts a few times before that.

7. •
the end