Themes in the Poetry of Nissim Ezekiel
Explore the themes of power and limits of language and Indian identity in the poetry of Nissim Ezekiel. Delve into how Ezekiel's poems reflect on the challenges of communication, cultural identity, and social issues in India. Analyze the nuances of language, poetic process, and the complexity of Indian identity in his works.
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I.B. P.G. COLLEGE PANIPAT CLASS : M.A. (ENGLISH) PREVIOUS YEAR UNIT : POETRY OF NISSIM EZEKIEL TOPIC : THEMES IN THE POETRY OF NISSIM EZEKIEL
PRESENTED BY PREETI PAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
THEMES IN THE POETRY OF NISSIM EZEKIEL
EZEKIEL'S POEMS OFTEN TOUCH UPON LANGUAGE AND THE WRITING PROCESS. IN "A TIME TO CHANGE," EZEKIEL IMAGINES THE POET AS "A STUBBORN WORKMAN" WHO MUST TOIL OVER LANGUAGE IN ORDER TO REACH TOWARDS "THE PERFECT POEM." THIS "PERFECT POEM" IS CHARACTERIZED BY "PRECISE COMMUNICATION OF A THOUGHT" (P 5). IN "ON MEETING A PEDANT," EZEKIEL REVOKES LANGUAGE, WHICH IS "COLD AS PRINT" AND "INSIDIOUS" FOR THE PLEASURES OF THE WORLD: "GIVE ME TOUCH OF MEN AND GIVE ME SMELL OF / FORNICATION, PREGNANCY AND SPICES" (P 9).
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE THEME OF THE POWER AND LIMITS OF LANGUAGE IN EZEKIEL'S WORK IS "A WORD FOR THE WIND," WHICH LAMENTS THE SPEAKER'S INABILITY TO FIND A WORD FOR THE WIND BESIDES THE ONES WHICH ARE ALREADY ASSIGNED TO THE WIND. IRONICALLY, EZEKIEL'S POEM FLOWS EXACTLY LIKE THE WIND HE IS DESCRIBING, AND BECOMES ITSELF A "WORD" FOR THE WIND. EZEKIEL DOES NOT SHY AWAY FROM ENJAMBMENT OR THE MANIPULATION OF RHYTHM AS HIS WORDS TWINE OVER THE LINES OF THIS POEM. FOR EXAMPLE, LINES 3-5 EVOKE THE FLOWING NATURE OF THE WIND AS THE THOUGHT STRETCHES OVER THREE LINES: "VERSES / MOVING SLOWLY LIKE THE WIND / OVER GRASS" (21).
THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST CHALLENGING AND CONTROVERSIAL THEME THAT SURFACES IN THE POETRY OF NISSIM EZEKIEL. THE IDEA OF THE INDIANNESS OF A WORK MANIFESTS TIME AND AGAIN IN HIS POETRY. THE CONTENT WRITTEN BY NISSIM EZEKIEL IS VERY INDIAN IN ITS SOCIAL CONTEXT. POEMS LIKE GOODBYE PARTY FOR MISS PUSHPA T.S. AND NIGHT OF THE SCORPION DEAL WITH EXTENSIVELY INDIAN ISSUES, SUCH AS THE PRESTIGE ACCORDED TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, AND THE ROLE OF SUPERSTITIONS. IN NIGHT OF THE SCORPION, THE SPEAKER RECALLS AN INCIDENT FROM HIS CHILDHOOD IN WHICH HIS MOTHER WAS STUNG BY A SCORPION. THE POEM USES COLLOQUIAL BUT MUSICAL LANGUAGE TO RELAY THE MEMORY, AND INTRODUCE QUESTIONS OF CLASS DIFFERENCE, COLLECTIVE MYTHOLOGY, RELIGION, AND FAMILY.
EZEKIEL DESCRIBES INDIA THROUGHOUT HIS FIFTH COLLECTION OF POETRY, THE EXACT NAME. IN THE FIRST PART OF IN INDIA, HE PROVIDES A COLLAGE OF IMAGES THAT HELP TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF A PLACE: ALWAYS, IN THE SUN S EYE, / HERE AMONG THE BEGGARS, / HAWKERS, PAVEMENT SLEEPERS, / HUTMENT DWELLERS, SLUMS / DEAD SOULS OF MEN AND GODS, / BURNT- OUT MOTHERS, FRIGHTENED / VIRGINS, WASTED CHILD / AND TORTURED ANIMAL, / ALL IN NOISY SILENCE (131). THE SLIGHT IAMBIC METER OF THESE LINES ADDS A MUSICALITY AND VIBRANCY TO EZEKIEL S DESCRIPTIONS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EZEKIEL S DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIA CENTER ON THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN THE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH SUGGESTS AN INTENTION ON EZEKIEL S PART TO DEFINE A PLACE ACCORDING TO ITS INHABITANTS.
EZEKIELS LATER POEMS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY AN INCREASED SKEPTICISM TOWARDS RELIGION AND WHAT THE SPEAKER CALLS SUPERSTITION. IN AFTER READING A PREDICTION, THE SPEAKER REVEALS: I AM NOT SUPERSTITIOUS. / THE ZODIAC PREDICTS A NEW / CREATIVE PHASE OF SEVEN YEARS / FOR SAGITTARIANS (155). SIMILARLY, THE SPEAKER ADDRESSES GOD IN THEOLOGICAL WITH COMPLAINTS: YOUR TRUTH / IS TOO MOMENTOUS FOR MAN / AND NOT ALWAYS USEFUL. / I VE STRIPPED OFF A HUNDRED VEILS / AND STILL THERE ARE MORE / THAT COVER YOUR CREATION (156).
POETRY IS A MAJOR THEME IN POET, LOVER, BIRDWATCHER, IN WHICH THE SPEAKER COMPARES WRITING POETRY TO WATCHING BIRDS OR WOMEN: THE BEST POETS WAIT FOR WORDS. / THE HUNT IS NOT AN EXERCISE OF WILL / BUT PATIENT LOVE RELAXING ON A HILL (135). BY THIS POINT IN HIS CAREER, EZEKIEL S POETRY HAD PROGRESSED TO THE POINT WHERE AN ARS POETICA OR STATEMENT OF POETICS WAS IMMEDIATELY WELL-RECEIVED. CRITICS SPECULATED THAT THE BIRDS IN THE POEM SYMBOLIZE THE QUEST FOR SELF-KNOWLEDGE WHILE THE WOMEN REPRESENT MUSE-LIKE INSPIRATION. EZEKIEL BRINGS THE NATURAL WORLD AN ELUSIVE, SOUGHT AFTER, AND OFTEN FRAUGHT LANDSCAPE IN HIS EARLIER WORKS INTO HIS WRITING PROCESS, WHICH SUGGESTS HARMONY, EASE, AND INDEPENDENCE AWAY FROM THE URBAN SPHERE. THE SPEAKER EMPHASIZES, TO WATCH THE RARER BIRDS, YOU HAVE TO GO / ALONG DESERTED LANDS AND WHERE THE RIVERS FLOW (135).
