Summary

Dylan Thomas wrote the radio drama Under Milk Wood in 1954, and “Every Morning I Wake” is an excerpt from it. In this poem, Thomas begs the glorious God to have pity on the common people who live under the Milk Wood. The poem is about God's adoration and grandeur. God may take on several characteristics and shapes. The speaker begs the deity to retain his loving gaze on the planet's mortal animals. The speaker appears to be considerate to the audience.

Every morning, he ple God to have pity on all the wretched people who live beneath the wood. People are destined to be born and die. They require assistance and protection for as long as they are alive. These things are possible because of God's kindness. Every evening, the speaker prays to God for protection of the community. The speaker is unsure if they will survive or perish. He is certain that God will come to bless them as they go. The speaker adds in the third verse that no one in town is fully wicked or nice.

He begs God to see and judge them. God has the authority to choose which is the finest and which is the worst. God evaluates these characteristics. In the poem's last verse, the speaker advises that all of the residents of Milk Wood see another day. Everyone in that town will bow to the sun because they have trust in it, and they will say good-by, expecting to see the sunrise the next day.

According to the poetry, we humans are so inept at performing tasks. We completely rely on God's kindness. The blessing of God directs our life. We pray to God because he is valuable and can protect us.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

Answer the questions below.

a. At what times does the speaker pray to God?

The speaker prays to God both when he wakes up in the morning and before going to bed at night.

b. For what purpose does the speaker pray?

The speaker asks God to grant the residents of Milk Wood grace and blessings.

c. Who exactly are these "poor creatures?" Why is the speaker referring to them as "poor creatures?"

The individuals who live beneath Milk Wood—as well as humanity as a whole—are the "poor creatures" in particular. They are referred to as poor creatures because they are born to die and are made of bone and flesh.

d. What sounds like Milk Wood; a region or a kind of wood? Why?

Milk Wood suggests a location because there is no preceding article. A grammatical article such as "a," "an," or "the" must have been used, if it was a type of wood. A single proper noun referring to a specific location does not require an article.

e. For what reason do the occupants of Milk Wood bow to the sunset 'but just for now'?

In order to bid farewell to the evening, the inhabitants of Milk Wood bow to the setting sun "but just for now." They anticipate seeing the sun the following morning. With God's help and the sun's warmth, they long to live another day.

REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT

a. Discussion of "Every Morning I Wake" as a prayer to God.

“Every Morning I Wake” by Dylan Thomas is a prayer poem. The speaker prays, "Dear Lord, a small prayer I make, O please do keep Thy loving eye on all poor creatures born to die." The speaker is asking God to watch over all creatures in need and shower them with blessings. The speaker of the prayer poem asks God for blessings and direction throughout his life and the lives of all humans and animals.

b. Why does the speaker pray to God but not to a scientist, billionaire, or king?

The speaker prays to God because he is the supreme deity, the creator, and the primary object of faith. He is all-present, all-powerful, and all-knowing. Scientists, billionaires, and kings are all made of flesh and bones and destined to die. No matter how much power they have, how much money they have, or how much knowledge they have, they are never compared to God. They are also under the control of God. He created us, saved us, loves us, trusts us, and directs us in the right direction. He is a holy being. We worship him for this reason, to receive his blessings and mercy.

c. In what manner does the poet emphasize the magnificence of God?

Through the speaker's morning and nightly prayers, the poet emphasizes the magnificence of God. Since God is aware of every aspect of the creature, his blessings sustain us throughout the day.

d. In what ways does the poem's rhyme scheme support its message?

The rhyme scheme in this poem is AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH. This kind of rhyme scheme is used in majority of prayers and hymns. Therefore, this rhyme scheme makes this poem closer to a prayer to God which is also the major theme of the poem.

REFERENCE BEYOND THE TEXT

a. Is there a God? Share your thoughts.

Of course there is God. If there was no God then who made this universe? Who made the knowledge and who made us? I believe there is God because wherever the science ends, begins God. God does not show himself to us, but we can feel the energy if we are willing to just like not everybody knows the laws of physics. Only those know who are willing to study it. Therefore, there should not be any doubt that God does not exist in my view.

b. Voltaire writes, "Even if the God didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent him" in his 1768 Epistle to the author of The Three Impostors. Write a paragraph that emphasizes how important God is to society.

"Even if God didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent him," states the importance of God in society. This idea was expressed in the 18th-century French philosopher Voltaire's "The Three Imposters". He emphasizes the human need to believe in a divine being named God. He is the creator or ruler of nature in addition to being a supreme intelligence with enormous power. The world is a mess without God. There are deaths, damages, and destruction if there is no God. The greatest creator has preserved this planet's beauty. It is necessary for everyone in every culture to have faith in Him. A civilized society must function effectively. While evil represents all of our society's negative aspects, God symbolizes all of our society's positive aspects.