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

Blessing by Imtiaz DharkerImtiaz Dharkers poem can be read in two ways. A straightforwardreading might suggest that the poem is simply a description of anincident when a pipe bursts and stack run excitedly for the urine.A more considered reading, however, would see the poem as being moreominous and disturbing.Under the apparent good fortune and excitement of the scene are darkerideas active the poverty and superstition of the people in the poetsnative believery.It is the second reading we will be exploring in this revisionprogramme.Either way, the attitude to water in the poem should fill us in theWest wonder at how much we all take for granted, and how too often wesquander the countrys resources.Dharker paints for the reader a vivid scene using visual 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 with the roar of tongues as people set 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 circumstance that the people live in huts, that the children arenaked and that everyone is frantic for the water tell us a lotabout 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.AttitudeThe poet appears at first to be objective, describing but notcommenting on the incident. And to some extent she leaves the readerto decide the feeling and meaning of the poem. Perhap s though there is revulsion and pity in that opening image of skin 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 humble 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, comparison water to a god. She makes linesintentionally ambiguous, uncertain, so that the scene can beinterpreted in more than one way.