He Had Such Quiet Eyes

by Bibsy Soenharjo

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

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’

Now here’s a bit of advice
Be sure that nice really nice
Then you’ll never be losing at dice
Though you lose your heart once or twice




Stanza 1
1. Why do you think the girl feel in love?
2. How does the man appear to the woman?
3. In your opinion, why does the girl did not realize that the man is cheating her?
4. Which part of the body has made the girl to feel in love with “‘He”?
5. Why did the poet describe the man’s eyes as “two pools of lies”?
6. What kind of image does the word paradise give?
7. Which words in Stanza 1 carries similar meaning as ‘pleading’?

Stanza 2
8. From Stanza 2;
a. How could the woman be wise?
b. What advice was given to the girl?
9. Did the girl accept the advice given to her? Quote evidence from the poem to support your answer.
10. What advice given to young girls in Stanza 3? Explain using your own words.
11. What mistake had the girl committed?
12. What does the phrase “ pleasure-seeking guys” imply?
13. What do you think had happened to the young girl? Use evidence from the poem to support your answer.
Stanza 3
14. What do you think the phrase lose your heart means?
15. In your own words, describe on what it means by “Be sure that nice really nice”?
16.