The Poem 'The Newcomer' written by Brian Patten
Paraphrasing:
Stanza 1:
‘There’s something new in the river,’
The fish said as it swam—
‘It’s got no scales, no fins, and no gills,
And ignores the impassable dam.’
Paraphrase:
The fish noticed a strange new presence in the river. It didn’t look like any fish,
it had no scales, fins, or gills. Yet, it moved freely, even crossing barriers that
fish usually can’t.
Stanza 2:
‘There’s something new in the trees,’
I heard a bloated thrush sing,
‘It’s got no beak, no claws, and no feathers,
And not even the ghost of a wing.’
Paraphrase:
A puffed-up bird in the trees sang about something unfamiliar. This being had
no beak, claws, or feathers not even a trace of wings, yet it was still present in
the treetops.
Stanza 3:
‘There’s something new in the warren,’
Said the rabbit to the doe.
‘It’s got no fur, no eyes, and no paws,
Yet digs deeper than we dare go.’
Paraphrase:
In the underground burrows, the rabbit told the female deer about something
strange. It had no fur, no eyes, and no paws, but it was digging even deeper
than any animal would.
Stanza 4:
There’s something new in the whiteness,’
Said the snow-bright polar bear.
‘I saw its shadow on a glacier,
But it left no pawmarks there'.
Paraphrase:
In the snowy lands, the polar bear spoke of a new presence. It cast a shadow
on the ice, yet it left no footprints behind an eerie and puzzling thing.
Stanza 5:
Through the animal kingdom
The news was spreading fast—
No beak, no claws, no feather,
No scales, no fur, no gills,
It lives in the trees and the water,
In the soil and the snow and the hills,
And it kills and it kills and it kills.
Paraphrase:
All the animals quickly came to know of this mysterious creature. It had none
of the features of birds, fish, or mammals. It existed everywhere, on land, in
water, in forests, and snow. And wherever it went, it brought death and destruction.
Summary:
The poem describes how various animals across different habitats notice a strange,
new presence. This mysterious being has no usual physical features—no eyes, fur,
fins, or claws—yet it moves through rivers, trees, snow, and underground.
It leaves no trace but brings death and destruction everywhere it goes. The
animals are confused and frightened by this invisible, unstoppable force.
Central Idea:
The poem highlights the arrival of an unnatural and dangerous force in the natural
world. Despite having no physical form, it affects every environment and all living
creatures.
Theme:
The main theme is the destructive impact of human activity on nature. The poem
reflects fear, loss, and confusion among animals as they face an invisible enemy.
It also explores the theme of nature's vulnerability and the consequences of
ignoring environmental harm.
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