2
Through holes in a wall, as it were,
lamps burned in the fog.
In a basement flat, conversation
filled the night, while Ravi Shankar,
cigarette stubs, empty bottles of stout and
crisps
provided the necessary pauses.
He had spent his youth whoring
after English gods.
There is something to be said for exile:
you learn roots are deep.
That language is a tree, loses colour
under another sky.
The bark disappears with ‘ the snow
and branches become hoarse. ’
However, the most reassuring thing
about the past is that it happened.
Dressed in tweeds or grey flannel . ,
its suburban pockets
bursting with immigrants-
‘coloureds’ is what they calls us over
there-the city is no jewel, either:
lanes full of smoke and litter
with puddles of unwashed ‘
English children.
On New Year’s Eve he heard an old man
at Trafalgar Square, ‘It’s no use trying to
change
people. They’ll be what they are.
An empire’s last words are heard
on the hot sands of Africa.
The da Gamas, Clives, Dupleixs are back.
Victoria sleeps on her island
alone, an old hag,
shaking her invincible locks.’
Standing on Westminster Bridge, it
seemed the Thames had clogged the
chariot wheels of Boadicea to stone.
Under the shadow of poplars
the river divides the city from the night.
The noises reappear,
of early trains, the milkman,
and the events of the day become
vocal in the newsboy.
8
A grey sky oppresses the eyes:
porters, rickshaw-pullers, barbers, hawkers,
fortune-tellers, loungers compose the scene.
Above them towers the bridge,
a pale diamond in the water.
Trees, big with shade, squat in the maidan
as I walk, my tongue hunchbacked
with words, towards Jadavpur
to your arms. You smell of gin
and cigarette ash. Your breasts,
sharp with desire, hurt my fingers.
Feelings beggar description,
shiver in dark alleys of the mind,
hungry and alone. Nothing can
really be dispensed with. The heart
needs all.
Q. Write critical analysis of the following poem titled “from
EXILE” by Raj Parthasarathy.
Ans. The poem titled “from EXILE” by Raj Parthasarathy explores
the theme of displacement and the complexities of identity. The speaker
reflects on their experience of living in exile, feeling like an outsider in a
foreign land. The use of vivid imagery and specific references to locations and
events adds depth to the poem.
The opening lines set a somber tone with the image of lamps burning in the
fog, suggesting a sense of isolation and obscurity. The basement flat becomes a
space for conversation and shared experiences, symbolizing a connection to the
past and the need for human interaction.
The speaker reflects on their
youth and the pursuit of English culture, hinting at a sense of longing and
searching for belonging. The idea of exile is presented as a transformative
experience that reveals the importance of one’s roots and language. The
metaphor of language as a tree losing its color under a different sky conveys
the idea of cultural disorientation and the fading of one’s identity.
The poem also explores the contradictions of the past. While the past is
reassuring in that it happened and shapes one’s present, it is also depicted as
flawed and imperfect. The reference to immigrants and the derogatory term
“coloureds” highlights the challenges faced by marginalized
communities in a foreign land.
The poem shifts its focus to
London and the speaker’s observations of the city. The decline of the British
Empire is symbolized by the words of an old man at Trafalgar Square, suggesting
a disillusionment with the empire’s grandeur. The imagery of Victoria as an old
hag shaking her locks emphasizes the fading power and influence of the empire.
The speaker’s reflections on
Westminster Bridge and the Thames river evoke a sense of history and the
passing of time. The bridge becomes a symbol of division, separating the city
from the night and highlighting the contrast between the noises of daily life
and the tranquility of the night.
The concluding lines bring the poem back to personal experiences and
emotions. The physical and sensual imagery of the lover smelling of gin and
cigarette ash and the sharpness of desire evoke a sense of intimacy and longing.
The speaker expresses the difficulty of describing their feelings and the
complexity of the human heart, emphasizing the necessity of embracing all
aspects of life.
Overall, “from EXILE” captures the complexities of living in a
foreign land, the impact of history and cultural identity, and the profound
emotions experienced by the speaker. The poem invites readers to contemplate
the themes of displacement, longing, and the struggle to find a sense of
belonging in an unfamiliar environment.
