The burning ghat erupted
phosphorescence:
and wandering ghost-lights frightened
passers-by
as moonlight scuttled among the
bones.
Once strolling at dawn past
river-bank and ghat
we saw embers losing their cruel
redness
to the grey ash that swallows all.
Half-cooked limbs
bore witness to the fire’s
debauchery.
My father said, ‘You see those
half-burnt fingers
and bone-stubs? The fire at times
forgets its deed!’
A Zoroastrian I, my child-fingers
clenched
into a little knot of
pain,
I swore to save fire
from the sin of
forgetfulness.
It never forgot, and twenty years
since
as I consigned my first-born to the
flames the nearest Tower
of Silence! was a thousand
miles–
the fire-hymn said to me, ‘You stand
forgiven.’
Broken, yet rebellious, I swore this
time
to save it from the sin of
forgiving.
Q. Write
a critical analysis of the poem “Fire-Hymn” by Keki N. Daruwalla.
Ans. “Fire-Hymn” by Keki N. Daruwalla is a poignant
poem which deals the complex relationship between fire and human emotions. The
poem is divided into three stanzas. Each stanza explores a different aspect of
fire and its impact on the human experience.
The first stanza of the poem describes the
burning Ghat and its impact on the passer-by including the poet himself. The
use of vivid imagery such as “phosphorescence,”
“ghost-lights,” and “moonlight scuttling among the bones”
creates a haunting atmosphere, invoking a sense of fear and awe. The poet’s
father’s comment that “the fire at times forgets its dead” adds a
layer of existential dread to the scene. It highlights the transience and
impermanence of human life.
The second stanza describes the poet’s
personal experience with fire. He talks about his painful experience of the
cremation of his first-born. The poet’s Zoroastrian background and his vow to
save fire from “the sin of forgetfulness” highlights the religious
significance of fire, as well as the personal and cultural beliefs attached to
it. The juxtaposition of the poet’s brokenness and rebelliousness adds an
interesting dimension to the poem. It suggests that the poet’s relationship
with fire is not always straightforward or predictable.
To conclude, “Fire-Hymn”
is a poem that explores the many facets of fire and its impact on human
experience. It is a perfect Indian poem as it reflects customs and rituals in
Indian ethos. Through vivid imagery and personal anecdotes, the poem highlights
the religious, cultural, and emotional significance of fire, as well as its
destructive potential when used for malicious purposes. The poem’s use of
imagery and language is particularly effective. It creates a sense of mood and
atmosphere that lingers in the mind of the sensitive readers long after the
poem is finished.
