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Reference to the context

Read these lines from the poem and answer the questions that follow.

1. Just Home and Love! it’s hard to guess
Which of the two were best to gain;

Home without Love is bitterness;

Love without Home is often pain.

No! each alone will seldom do;

Somehow they travel hand and glove:

If you win one you must have two,

Both Home and Love.

a. Why does the poet use the word ‘just’ before ‘home and love’?

b. What is considered to be pain?
i. both home and love ii. home without love

iii. love without home iv. home without family

c. What does the poet mean by these lines?

Home without Love is bitterness;

Love without Home is often pain.
d. What phrase does the poet use to tell us that love and home go together?

2. And if you’ve both, well then I’m sure

You ought to sing the whole day long;

It doesn’t matter if you’re poor

With these to make divine your song.

And so I praisefully repeat,

When angels talk in Heaven above,

There are no words more simply sweet

Than Home and Love.
a. What does ‘both’ refer to in the first line?

b. When should you sing the whole day long?

c. According to the poet, which words are sweeter than the words spoken by angels?

d. What message does the poet want to convey to people who have both love and home?

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