Blessing by Imtiaz Dharker Essay -- Blessing Imtiaz Dharker Poems Poet

Blessing by Imtiaz DharkerImtiaz Dharkers poem can be read in two flairs. A straightforward reading material efficiency suggest that the poem is simply a description of anincident when a pipe wears and people run excitedly for the wet supply.A more(prenominal) considered reading, however, would rule the poem as being moreominous and disturbing.Under the unmistakable good fortune and excitement of the scene are darkerideas about the scantness and superstition of the people in the poetsnative country.It is the second reading we will be exploring in this revisionprogramme.Either way, the attitude to water in the poem should make us in theWest admiration at how much we all take for granted, and how too often we neutralise the earths resources.Dharker paints for the reader a vivid scene apply opthalmic and auralimagery.For instance, after opening with a powerful visual image, the poetgoes on to make us hear the smallest noise echo/ in a tin mug,before upping the sound level wi th the yowl of tongues as peopledescend on the pipe.The title of the poem appears to be ironic.These people are not blessed - they have little water of their own.Only superstition could lead them to count this municipal pipe burstas a blessing.In reality, it shows the poor state of the pipes, part of the citysbasic infrastructure, pipes that should be carrying water to thepeople. The fact that the people choke in huts, that the children arenaked and that everyone is frantic for the water tell us a visionabout the living conditions.There is a lot of sensual imagery in this poem. Mainly we hear and seethe unfolding scene.These details show us what the peoples lives are like. In thefollowing table are some of the vis... ... darker, andharder hitting.The layers of the poem reflect the way different people will see thesame scene/culuture differently. officeThe poet appears at first to be objective, describing but notcommenting on the incident. And to some extent she leaves the read erto decide the feeling and meaning of the poem. Perhaps though there ishorror and pity in that opening image of strip down cracking like a pod.To me the poem seems like a lament for the poverty of these people andfor the value system that keeps them poor, yet discredit and thankful.StyleDharker uses sensual imagery to evoke the scene, and builds the rhythmof the poem into a crescendo at the bursting of the pipe. She uses anextended metaphor, comparing water to a god. She makes lines intentionally ambiguous, uncertain, so that the scene can beinterpreted in more than one way.