Life, full of enigmas, requires direction at every moment to tread on its intricate trajectory carving a niche of meaning for oneself to be proud of or to escape from the pangs and anxieties of regret and remorse. Standing up and combatting with the influx of obstructions propelling oneself ahead to maintain the pace and be abreast with the advances of life, makes it worth living. A daily dose of encouragement is indispensable like the air we breathe to live to embolden us to be steadfast on the journey of life. Being dispirited and despondent worsens the pain and cuts it short leaving behind a trail of complaints and wishes of return that never occurs. A guide, friend, teacher, poem or a novel may inspire you and equip you with the zest and zeal of life to move forward. Post interacting your guide or reading a poem, you may recollect your spirit of life prodding you to go on carrying the burden of existence with joy and peace. One does not have any other option except accepting life as it is and working hard to improve its standard on daily basis. One needs to figure out the ways in life to have its best possible version in his favour.
Few days ago, I had to teach students, “snowdrop” a poem by Ted Hugues that prod me to rethink about the challenges of life and the ways to overcome them by being persistent on the way to battle with them vowing not to give up whatever the circumstances and however bigger the challenges. A short poem about the harshness of winter and the resistance of bell shaped flower, snowdrop, that pierces the snow, frost and the wave of bone chilling cold to bloom in the mid winter breaking the intensity of brutal winter that slows down growth and development of all species of life on earth by shrinking the globe tight. Enduring the loss of his beloved, Sylvia Plath, who suicided after getting the news of Hugues’ extramarital affair with another woman sharing their flat in which they were lodged, he helped thousands of people throughout the world by his poetry particularly through this poem to overcome the tragedies of life making it worthy no matter how disappointing it’s offerings. This poem stands as an epitome of resistance and battle against the problems of life that bog down all of us one way or the other at one point or the other. Such poems act as an inspiration for defeated and fatigued people to hold on to the hope of healing and recovery finding their ways through impenetrable storms of life overcoming it to be driven ahead to mark ones traces on the book of life never to be forgotten so quickly after death. Such poems help us to leave behind a legacy of lessons that urge hundreds and thousands of people to never get disheartened and disgruntled in life.
The petals of this flower have been described as metal- hard to bear the harshness of winter, to carry the layer of snow and frost without getting affected to stunt its blooming. Other birds and animals have been portrayed as immobile and their hearts dulled due to cold but this flower resisted everything and fought bravely to pierce the hardships and start blooming even in the mid winter whenever everything else is stagnant waiting the winter spell to dispel.
Literature especially poetry hold immense significance in dealing with the larger issues of life explaining it’s intricacies and offering remedies as well to solve them and give it meaning that makes it joyful. I am reminded of Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem, “IF” that works as a repository of strength and hope to combat the challenges of life remaining unaffected by every thing and thick of life preserving ones composure . Snowdrop poem stands out as a unique poem by Ted Hughes from his whole literary oeuvre that transmits the message of transcending above the ordinary bitter experiences of life. It urges us to aggravate forbearance of life and striving to grapple with every challenge that confronts us.

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