No Men Are Foreign

Summary

The poet tells us not to differentiate between people based on their appearance, religion,
region, etc. People of the whole world are brothers. All the people are born, wear clothes, eat
food, at last die and are buried in the same earth. All of us have the same body. It is we who
defile the earth by hating and fighting with each other.

Explanation 

Stanza 1:

Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign,
Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes
Like ours; the land our brothers walk upon
Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie.

The poet tells his readers that men are not different from each other simply on the basis that
they hail from separate countries. They may fight for the army of this nation or that one, but
underneath the uniform, they are all essentially similar. Your opponent army’s soldiers live
and breathe just as you do. Most fights between the men of one country and another result
from disputes over which piece of land belongs to which nation. However, all the land on
earth is the same. Moreover, all men have to die and will be buried in the same earth.

Stanza 2:

They, too, aware of sun and air and water,
Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starv’d.
Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read
A labour not different from our own.

The poet provides further evidence of the unity of man. He says that those who hail from
countries other than our own also depend, like we do, on sun and air and water for their
survival. They too have seen periods of peace and periods of war. In times of peace, they
have had the assurance of a square meal every day, just like us. Again just like us, war has
been a long winter to them, when food is scarce and every moment brings with it the dread
of an approaching famine. They look just like us and are descended from the same ancestors
as we are. Their life struggles are no different from ours.

Stanza 3:

Remember they have eyes like ours that wake
Or sleep, and strength that can be won
By love. In every land is common life
That all can recognise and understand.

In this stanza, the poet entreats his readers to keep in mind the fact that our opponents
sleep and wake just like we do, and follow the same pattern in life as ours. Every human
being has an inner resource of strength that can be steered towards positive behaviour with
love. Only when we love someone can we stand up for them. That is why it is absolutely
necessary for every man to love his fellow beings without creating divisions amongst them.
Despite the differences between various nations, there is one thing that they all have in
common. The common people live the same kind of life everywhere. Therefore, you can
recognize and understand the presence of that life no matter where you travel in this wide
world.

Stanza 4:

Let us remember, whenever we are told
To hate our brothers, it is ourselves
That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.
Remember we who take arms against each other.

In this stanza, the poet protests against the efforts of military and religious groups that
encourage us to wage wars. The poet believes that when we hate people we don’t realize
that it is our own brothers that we hate. Any hatred that we may harbor for any member of
the human race is like our betrayal towards the human species condemnation of its future. If
we kill people of any other nation, we are in fact endangering the human species as a whole
and its survival on earth.

Stanza 5:

It is the human earth that we defile.
Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence
Of air that is everywhere our own,
Remember, no men are foreign, and no countries strange.

In this stanza, the poet compares wartime with hell. In war as in hell, there is fire and smoke
everywhere. As a result of this, the earth is becoming poisoned. The very air that we breathe
is becoming impure and will not be able to sustain human life for much longer. That is why
the poet encourages us not to wage war on our fellow men thinking they are foreigners and

that their countries are unlike our own.

Comprehension Questions

1. Why do we consider one country as ours and the rest as foreign?
Human race is in a state of constant progress and development. When countries
encourage a negative patriotism and nationalist feeling, every child is taught to
love his nation more than others and consider the other nations as enemies at a
time of war.

2. What does the poet mean by uniform?
Uniform refers to the marks and costumes that keep one nation different from the
other. Uniform reminds one citizen of his difference from another citizen and sows
the seeds of enmity and difference in his mind. Uniform helps people stand
together but at the same time it keeps it away from the other people.

3. What is the irony in ‘uniform’?
Uniform means a singular identification mark such as dress, costume or colour but
uniform gives rise to differences. Because every nation has a uniform, the world
remains divided rather than united.

4. Why is the war’s long winter starved?
The war affects the supply of all types of resources, During the war; everything is
short in supply, especially food. Just as in winter food is scarce, so also during the
time of war.

5. What will help us win over people all over the world?
Nothing is achieved by war. All wars are futile. It is only love and goodwill that will
help us win over people all over the world.

6. What should be recognized and understood?
In every part of the world, there are so many common things. People have the
same body parts, same needs, feelings and aspirations. This common life must be
recognized and understood.

7. What will happen if we hate our brothers?
If we hate our brothers we deprive ourselves of who we are. Instead of finding the
cause and solution within ourselves, we blame others and begin fighting with
them.
The poet then reminds us that by trying to hate and even exploit others and
their lands, we will be betraying and condemning ourselves. Such kind of
exploitation will only lead to superficial short-term success and no deep or
spiritual kind of redemption.

8. What do you understand by ‘human earth?’
Human earth refers to the earth that is full of human feelings and human values;
love and brotherhood; compassion and care; unity and concern.

9. How do we defile the human earth?
We defile the human earth ; by dividing our earth into countries, countries into
states and states into town and villages;, by considering other men as our
enemies, outsiders and foreigners, by developing enmity among groups of people.

10. How does air remind us of our sharing the earth?
While land remains divided, the air we breathe remains undivided. Air doesn’t
belong to any country or territory. Air moves from one country to another and is
taken in by all men and women.

11.What do you mean by the innocence of the air?
Air is essentially clean so is it innocent. Because we raise dust and emit smoke, the
air appears to be dirty and dark. Air doesn’t mean to bring destruction but human
activities pollute the air and make it poisonous.

12.What are our hells of fire and dust? What does this hell outrage air?
The Hells of fire and dust are the fire and dust caused by wars between countries.
Fire and dust outrage the innocence of air.

13.What is the message conveyed by the poet through the poem?
We need to constantly remember that we are all one in the spirit and
encourage mutual respect, discussion and dialogue for a truly humane, just
and sustainable world in the future. The poet reminds us that taking ‘arms
against each other’, which- is war, is in fact futile. The very human earth is
ruined through war, hatred and exploitation of any kind. The earth can
become ravaged and polluted through war and exploitation with the constant
firing, destruction and piling up of dust and debris. The air that we breathe
also becomes polluted as a result.

Long answer type questions.

1.’All men are alike’. Explain with reference to the poem.
We have same body structure. All of us need air to breathe, sun to get sunlight and
warmth and water for many purposes. Our daily routine is also almost the same. All of
us long for love. We all sleep at night and wake up in the morning. When our needs
and feelings are the same, then we should treat all people equally. We should not look
down upon anybody on the basis of his/her colour, caste, region or gender. We should
treat everyone as our brother and sister. The poet entreats his readers to keep in mind
the fact that our opponents sleep and wake just like we do, and follow the same
pattern in life as us. The common people live the same kind of life everywhere.

2.'The land our brothers walk upon. Is earth like this in which we all shall lie! Explain.
The poet means to say in these lines that the people all over the world walk on the
same land on which we walk and after our death would be buried in the same earth.
Through these lines the poet tells us that we do all our activities on the same land. We
get food from this land. We make our houses on this land. We share the air we breathe
and the light from the sun .Then why do we use the term 'others'. No one is other.
Then why do we create discrimination against some people. Why do we fight with our
brothers? It is all because of our greed to get more wealth and power. In pursuit to
fulfil this desire, we fight with others and hurt them. The poet also tells us that one day
all of us have to die. Nothing would remain ours. We will have to leave all things on
the same earth. At last, we all will be buried in the same earth.

Q3. The poet says that beneath apparent differences of lands, races and uniforms there lies
the same human body.
No doubt, geography, religious, cultures and races divide lands and people. These
division lead to conflicts and wars. Such man-made differences pollute the minds of
people. Wars and conflicts defile the earth which is ours. Beneath all these divisions
and differences, we should understand and recognise 'common life' which is same in
every land. Hating the people of other lands means hating humanity and mankind. Let
us weave ourselves in the common wreath of humanity. Let us not defile and destroy
this earth which is ours. Let us understand once for all that all divisions of men are only
superficial. The same soul runs through all men. The same heart throbs in all—the
heart of man.

Q4. How does the poem ‘No Men are Foreign’ give the message of unity and commonality
of all mankind? Give a reasoned answer.
James Kirkup gives a definite message of hope to mankind. In spite of apparent
divisions and differences, all of us are united by the common bond of humanity.
Every part of the earth and every human being is nourished by sun, air and
water. In every part of the world, there are so many common things. People have the
same body parts, same needs, feelings and aspirations Moreover, all men have to die
and will be buried in the same earth.
Despite the differences between various nations, there is one thing that they all have
in common. The common people live the same kind of life everywhere.
War is futile. It is only love and goodwill that will help us win over people all over the
world.

Q5. What do you understand by peaceful harvests? How does the poet show the destruction
caused by war `No Men are Foreign'?
`Peaceful harvests' refers to the fact that it is only in the times of peace that a
civilization progresses. It is only in time of peace that everybody lives in harmony and
contentment.
In fact if a war is raging in a country then that country faces the threat of starvation
since availability of resources is disrupted, production of goods comes to a halt. This
very idea is conveyed by `war's long winter'. Just as in the winter season, there is little
vegetation and the cold hampers life so also, but to a far greater and almost
permanent extent, war renders a land barren. It leaves the people without any means
of sustainability. Both the land and the people are unable to create anything
meaningful.

Answers to Text book questions

Thinking about the Poem

1. (i) “Beneath all uniforms...” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about?
The poet is probably speaking about the uniforms that the soldiers wear at the time of
war. The word ‘uniform’ here could also mean the traditional dresses of a country.

(ii) How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?
The poet suggests that all people on earth are the same as they breathe, wake, sleep,
hate, love and labour in the same manner. When they die, they are buried under the
same earth. The importance of the sun and air and water is equal for everyone.
Everyone needs peace and suffers from starvation during wars.

3. In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike.
Each of us has a similar body, we breathe the common air, we walk on the same earth ,
we live and will die and be buried under the same earth.
How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words.
There are five common features in stanza 2. All men share the sun, the air, the water.
All men are fed by the crops they harvest. They all labour to make a living.

1. “...whenever we are told to hate our brothers...” When do you think this happens? Why?
Who ‘tells’ us? Should we do as we are told at such times? What does the poet say?
Whenever there is war, leaders tell people to hate the other country. They tell us to do
so because of their personal gains. But we should not act as a puppet in their hands
and do as they say. We should understand that war is futile and analyse the situation
before jumping to conclusions. The poet says that if we fight against our brethren, we

kill and condemn ourselves.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q1 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

(a) Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign,

Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes

Like ours; the land our brothers walk upon

Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie.

i. What does the poet want us to remember?

The poet wants us to remember that people all over the world are the same.

ii. What does the poet mean by the term ‘all uniforms’?

The uniforms refer to the various dresses people wear, and also to the uniforms

worn by the defence forces of different nations.

iii. Where shall we all lie? When?

After our death, we shall all be buried under the same earth.

iv. Give the synonym of the word – ‘strange’ as used in the extract.

different

(b) They, too, aware of sun and air and water,

Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starv’d.

Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read

A labour not different from our own.

i. Who is referred to as ‘they’? What are they aware of?

The people living in other places or countries are referred to as ‘They’. They too

have the access to the same sun, air and water.

ii. Why is war winter starved?

During the war, food is in short supply. In winter months, there is not much of

food cultivation.

iii. What do we read in their lines?

In their lines we read that they also do hard labour in order to sustain

themselves, just like us.

iv. What is the meaning of the term ‘peaceful harvests’?

Crops grown in peaceful times.

(c) Remember they have eyes like ours that wake

Or sleep, and strength that can be won

By love. In every land is common life

That all can recognise and understand.

i. What does the poet want to convey through the lines-‘they have eyes like ours that

wake or sleep’?

The poet wishes to convey that all humans are same, have the same body parts,

same needs.

ii. How can their strength be won?

Their strength can be won by love.

iii. What can be recognised and understood?

The common life of people everywhere in the world must be recognized and

understood.

iv. What is the meaning of the word ‘strength’

Every man’s thoughts and actions that can be steered towards positive.

(d) Let us remember, whenever we are told

To hate our brothers, it is ourselves

That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.

Remember we who take arms against each other.

i. What are we told and by whom?

People with vested interests spread hate among fellow human beings.

ii. What are the consequences of the spread of ‘hatred’?

The spread of hatred leads to violence, communal disharmony and war.

iii. What do we do when we ‘hate our brothers’ according to the poet?

According to the poet when we hate our brothers it is ourselves that we

dispossess, betray and condemn.

iv. Give the meaning of the word ’dispossess’

deprive

(e) It is the human earth that we defile.

Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence

Of air that is everywhere our own,

Remember, no men are foreign, and no countries strange.

i. How do we defile the human earth?

We defile the earth by creating divisions among men, spreading hatred and

fighting with each other.

ii. How do we outrage the ‘innocence of air’?

Air is essentially clean, but human activities pollute the air and make it impure.

iii. What is referred to as ‘hells of fire and dust’?

Hells of fire and dust refers to the wars.

iv. Give the synonym of the word ‘defile’.

restore/ purify

2. Answer each of the following questions in 30-40 words.

(a) Explain ‘Remember no men are foreign and no countries strange’

We must remember that all the people in the world are our brethren. No one is

different, no countries are different either. People are the same everywhere in

body and spirit.

(b) What do you understand by ‘human earth?’

Human earth refers to the earth that is full of human feelings and human values;

love and brotherhood; compassion and care; unity and concern among the

people, irrespective of where they live.

(c) What will help us win over people all over the world?

It is only love and goodwill that will help us win over people all over the world.

Nothing is achieved by war. All wars are futile.

(d) What happens when we are told to hate our brothers?

The poet tells us that by trying to hate and even exploit others and their lands,

we will be betraying and condemning ourselves. Such kind of exploitation will

only lead to superficial short-term success and no deep or spiritual kind of

redemption.

3. Answer each of the following questions in 100-150 words.

(a) How does the poem-‘No Men Are Foreign’ describe the poet’s desire for universal

brotherhood?

The poet says that the people all over the world walk on the same land on which

we walk and after death would be buried in the same earth.

We have the same body structure. All of us need air to breathe, sun to get

sunlight and warmth and water for many purposes.

The poet entreats his readers to keep in mind the fact that our opponents sleep

and wake just like we do, and follow the same pattern in life as us. The common

people live the same kind of life everywhere.

All of us long for love. When our needs and feelings are the same, then we

should treat all people equally. We should not look down upon anybody on the

basis of his/her colour, caste, region or gender. We should treat everyone as our

brother and sister.

(b) When do you understand by the term –‘peaceful harvests? What, according to the

poet, hampers the ‘peaceful harvest’ and how?

`Peaceful harvests' refers to the fact that it is only in the times of peace that a

civilization progresses. It is only in time of peace that everybody lives in

harmony and contentment and has enough food to sustain themselves.

If a war is raging in a country then that country faces the threat of starvation

since availability of resources is disrupted, production of goods comes to a halt.

This very idea is conveyed by `war's long winter'. Just as in the winter season,

there is little vegetation and the cold hampers life so also, but to a far greater

and almost permanent extent, war renders a land barren. It leaves the people

without any means of sustainability. Both the land and the people are unable to

create anything meaningful.