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Author Never Dies by Riyas Qurana is a poem that utilizes the metaphor of “the bird” to
express how elusive writing and wording can be in the grand scheme of the author’s
world. The choice of Qurana’s wording creates a sardonic atmosphere that infuses into
the lines, and the overall poem comes as a warning to authors to wait for the right
wording, no matter how evasive it is, since forcing ideas and phrasing can lead to a
subpar product. Qurana claims that he has forced this “bird” into his “text,” and the
result was that the writing did not come to be. In the end then, this is guidance and
advise from one writer to another. You can read the full poem here
written on a bird
willingly
comes to be.
Wandering in silence
shrilling silently
wanders the bird of the text.
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Lines 1-6
Qurana begins describing the writing process by utilizing the metaphor of “a bird.”
Though he does not state what “the bird” is a representation of, the reader can infer “the
bird” is a physical symbol of the written word for an author. This concept is clear through
the description given in regard to “the bird.” Qurana states that “there is no bird…in the
text written on a bird,” and the concept seems almost contrasting and cyclical. When
added to the words that follow this proclamation, that “[y]ou need not feel amazed” by
the absence of “the bird,” the wordplay makes more sense in regard to writing.
For a writer, inspiration might not come as soon as they sit down at a computer to write
a story, and there are numerous reasons why the words would be stunted in the
process of trying to create a book, short story, or poem. While there are plenty of words
in written works, those words are not so immediate in becoming the final product. In
fact, when a writer begins the process of constructing a written work, there is not one
a” finished product at the beginning of the process. Those words must be acquired
through time and frustration as writers cannot “compel [them] to come at once.” In fact,
the repetition in “in the in the text” could be an example of the awkwardness that can
come when “the bird” has yet to show its face and lead the writer to the correct wording.
Words, overall, are not at writers’ beck and call since they care not for “need” or
“urgency.” Like a bird flying high in the sky, ever striking and admirable, those words are
elusive to writers’ methods of catching them and able to fly near or far at their own
“whims.”
Lines 7-12
This series of lines builds the already noted concept of words being as evasive as “a
bird,” even going so far as to mock the concept of the evasiveness by commenting that
“[i]t may be having some important chores.” Clearly, the written word has no “chore”
since it is not a physical being with such responsibilities, so there is a satirical quality to
the concept that grants the poem a sardonic feel. Qurana’s complaints about the
elusiveness feel more like amused commentary with this addition to the reflection.
Once this amused tone is embraced, Qurana returns to commenting on the general
evasiveness of words when writing by saying they “might surface as suits their whims
and fancies,” which builds on the metaphor of “the bird” without mentioning “the bird”
anywhere in lines 7-10. These traits are representative of a living being, like “a bird,” so
since words cannot have “whims and fancies,” the metaphor is embraced through ideas
even when the noun of “the bird” itself is not mentioned.
The final ideas of this section could prove a bit puzzling to the reader when Qurana
states that “[t]here are no rules that dictate that we should place the bird inside the text
and read it.” However, there are two concepts that could be the rationale for this
section.
One is a furthering of the metaphor between words and “the bird.” Like a bird does not
penned in a specific format—or at all. If the reader embraces that metaphor, the parallel
showcases a beauty and familiarity that is possible by corralling those words into a
focused format. Just as a pet bird can be a beautiful sight in a person’s home, the words
that are assembled in this unnecessary fashion can create a beautiful, noteworthy sight.
Although there is no need to catch those words to “write” or “read,” there is contentment
If the reader, however, looks at this in a precisely different manner, the metaphor of the
“cage” becomes a method of criticism, as if the writer who forces the words to form in an
involuntary and strained manner will have a final product that is as tame and restricted
as “a bird” that knows only a “cage.” While “a bird” that flies freely might live a majestic
life of openness and maneuverability, the “caged” animal cannot explore wide open
commentary that even though the words can be elusive, they should still not be forced,
This series of lines clears up any kind of uncertainty regarding how the “rules” concept
should be taken. In fact, Qurana states his intention of bringing up the lack of “rules” for
writing when he says that “[i]t is not proper to have it caged inside the text.” What this
means is that, like “a bird” that will never know the freedom that comes outside of a
“cage,” a written work will never reach its full potential if filled with words that are forced
and dictated.
An odd twist comes into play when Qurana comments that “[i]f it likes your way of
reading,” “the possibility of it getting into the text willingly comes to be.” Since the poem
is about the elusiveness of the writing process, commenting that the words could start
Qurana references the process of “reading” in connection to there being “no rules,” but
“reading” what has been written is different than writing because of “reading.”
It could be though that Quran is referencing the prospect of gaining inspiration and
insight from other authors. If such is the case, by pausing to “read” the works of other
authors, a new writer’s style could form in a way that allows words to come more fluidly
as that new writer learns what does and does not work. In this, claiming “the bird” would
come nearer in connection to “reading” makes sense. Inspiration has happened, and
there is no need to force those words “into the text” like “a bird” that must be in a “cage.”
Lines 19-24
Qurana turns to pleading with the reader in Line 20 to ask that they “please [not]
conclude” “some bird flying high” should be assumed as “the one to stay within the text.”
What this means is that an author should not try to force something that seems
appealing or regal into their writing should those appealing and regal concepts not fit
within the context. Similarly, the easy method of writing should also not be embraced as
“the bird” that “hovers so closely” is not necessarily “the bird for the text” either. The
wording should fit the product, not the easy fix or the ideal vision.
Lines 25-30
In this final series of lines, Qurana seems to say he has tried at some point to force his
wording, writing “[n]ot just of the bird,” and his inspiration to write left him in response.
Specifically, this tactic to force the wording “caus[ed the bird] to exit.” With this concept
in mind, this poem takes on a feeling of warning toward writers. If Qurana is speaking
from experience, after all, his words are a declaration of what could happen if words are
The final lines return to the “whimsy” of earlier ones to claim “the bird” is “[w]andering in
this concept that is applicable to what happens when inspiration leaves since inspiration
itself is not a living being to “wander” anywhere, but the visual fits well with the
metaphor of “the bird.” That “bird” can “wander,” “shrilling silently” into the open night if it
escapes from its “cage” of confinement. Words, however, might only slip from the mind
so that the quality of a work lessens from attempting to force something unnatural into
“the text.” There is no logical reason to assume the words or inspiration travel from the
mind of the writer to find a new one to inspire, but the unrealistic notion solidifies the
flightiness of words in comparison to the freedom of “the bird.” It also hints that even
should one writer fail, another writer will be able to carry on the profession so that
Essentially, this is a poem that embraces a sardonic atmosphere where words are given
unrealistic traits to establish the parallel with “a bird,” leading the reader to one striking
conclusion. While writing, forcing words can be a crucial fault, just like “cag[ing]” an
animal that should be free. Qurana, in the end, is telling the reader to wait for the
Little information about Qurana can be found online, but he is the author of over a
dozen poems. Much of his work is similar to “Author Never Dies” in that the metaphor of
“the bird” appears in a number of his poems as well as the elusiveness of words for a
elaborate upon.
Connie L. Smith spends a decent amount of time with her mind wandering in fictional
places. She reads too much, likes to bake, and might forever be sad that she doesn’t
have fairy wings. She has her BA from Northern Kentucky University in Speech
Communication and History (she doesn’t totally get the connection either), and her MA
in English and Creative Writing. In addition, she freelances as a blogger for topics like
sewing and running, with a little baking, gift-giving, and gardening having occasionally
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I am a forest
When I smile,
If I wink
It becomes a whirlwind
Multiply as fish.
Imagination makes the mind
Darling
the voice of a personified love. In its six stanzas, this poem dives into the notion of love
nature to emphasize the reality of love and how natural it is for us to experience it; so
much so that we can relate it so easily to the world and elements around us. He also
uses the title of the poem to hint the speaker, whilst clarifying the ambiguous final
Stanza One
I am a forest
When I smile,
The first stanza of this poem opens with a short line emphasizing the metaphor of love
forest, love is a place for growth, nourishment and housing. Not only does love itself
grow, but a person who experiences love (romantic or non romantic) grows very in sync
with his/her emotions. Moreover, a person who is loved becomes emotionally nourished
through having his/her natural desire fulfilled of being cared for, needed and wanted.
Just as a forest is a home to many living things, love is also a home to many emotions
such as happiness, loyalty, and contentment. The stanza then, continues on to say that
when this forest smiles “it goes near the pond / and is growing as a mountain”. A pond
is a still body of water, which helps to be aware of the idea that when love “smiles” or is
in an environment of happiness it touches those people who are still and unmoving in
their emotions; perhaps lacking love altogether. Associating love with a mountain,
especially in relation to the growth of a mountain is very out of the ordinary, as at first
thought one would not associate a mountain with the idea of growth or growing.
Mountains are known for their vast sizes and being very solid and stationary; however,
on further inspection it is realized that mountains are not of only one size nor do they all
stay that way, because they do indeed grow in size. This is very relevant to love as
Qurana is depicting it; it is vast in size, strong and sometimes when you think your love
Stanza Two
If I wink
It becomes a whirlwind
Multiply as fish.
Continuing with the theme of nature, the second stanza also plays with metaphors and
imagery from our natural environment. Winking is an action typically used in situations
of secrecy or humor; by having the second stanza initiate with the personification of love
obvious that when love is connected to secrecy or humor it will create circumstances
that could easily be described as whirlwinds. The mention of “falling hairs” in line seven
also coincides with the dramatic imagery of the whirlwind and actually helps emphasize
it as well. The stanza concludes with the idea that “the eyes bouncing” in the “streams
and rivers” “multiply as fish”; this is an interesting concept especially when “eyes” here
symbolize society’s speculations, standards and ideas. When love is mixed with
secrecy, humor or both, it creates quite a messy scenario causing other people to
meddle, or society’s standards in general to complicate and amplify the already complex
emotion of love.
Stanza Three
important to the overall subject of love for the simple and obvious reason that the
powerful sensation of love breaks borders and takes people through a level of emotional
awareness that they have never previously experienced. Experiencing true and sincere
sensation for those who have the opportunity to indulge in it. The final two lines of this
stanza investigate the notion that the “cry” of a persistent love is usually silent. Here,
Qurana is exposing the reality of the love that most of us experience. When an
individual dives into a relationship that grows from love ( romantic or otherwise), usually
he/she is “tireless” in this venture. No matter what obstacles and difficulties present
themselves in their endeavor of love, a person will persist, clinging on to the hope of
success and survival. Most of this resilience in their relationships will be silent to the
outside world; presenting themselves in “peace” and others will accept it as a result of
Stanza Four
and linger over the idea of this flower that love has held in mid air. What exactly is this
flower that love will not let “fall on the earth” no matter the strength of the whirlwinds,
waves and fish? This flower symbolizes hope. Amongst the intensity and severity in
relationships and circumstances that love can bring, is the “flower of hope” that love
claims it will not let “fall”. Hope is a very essential element in the emotional investment
of love. Without hope no relationship that stems from love (which we can safely say is
most relationships) can survive, as it binds the individuals to each other, allowing them
to hold on to something through the times of testing and chaos which inevitably come in
the company of love.
Stanza Five
This stanza also consists of just three lines and continues the topic of hope. At this
point, the personified love is posing a question. It asks people that “is it not up to” those
searching for hope in their love to “come and sit” on hope “and make love?” There are a
few important things to note in this question. Firstly, we notice that by directing a
question to the readers, Qurana is emphasizing the authoritative nature and presence of
love. Secondly, he enforces the idea that the hope that people look for in their
relationships is something that the individuals have to “sit on” or stand firmly with,
because their relationships are at a loss without it. Lastly, it is peculiar that love is
speaking of “making love”; Qurana is highlighting the fact that love takes effort and
work, it needs to be made. Love is made through effort and hope of fulfilment and it
Stanza Six
Darling
The final stanza of this poem concludes with very ambiguous last three lines. It seems
to be advice from our personified love, “to bring the word” when we come. The end of
this poem could probably be interpreted to mean a number of different things. The title
of this poem Love Is Not A Word gives us the clarification that “the word” here is not
meant to mean love. So what exactly could it be asking or rather advising the reader to
bring when the opportunity to experience love arises? The answer is commitment. This
is evident as commitment is something that unfortunately not many people bring to their
relationships and is something that only fortunate people find in their relationships and
sense for love to advise people to make sure we “don’t forget” it. Also by addressing the
reader as “darling” Qurana reminds us that the speaker is not only personified love but
Noor has an Honours in the Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English Literature
and History. She teaches elementary and high school English, and loves to help
students develop a love for in depth analysis, and writing in general. Because of her
interest in History, she also really enjoys reading historical fiction (but nothing beats
reading and rereading Harry Potter!). Reading and writing short stories and poetry has
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Not To Step Into The Arena Of Poetry Just On Request by Riyas Qurana
He looked at me
I said.
Said I further.
Breaking my friendship.
In anger
Not To Step Into The Arena Of Poetry Just On Request by Riyas Qurana is a poem
personal poetic territory. As the title of this poem suggests, Qurana strongly feels that
you cannot “step” into someone else’s poetic territory even if requested because one
can never receive the words of a poem the same as another person. He feels that each
individual poem is a unique form of art that cannot be reproduced especially in the
interpretation of each peace. The narrator in this poem is presented with a very strong
voice and opinions that he does not wish to compromise. He is also very quick to judge
and label the thought process of his friend, letting the readers know that this account of
the conflict is very heavily biased due to his anger. The main idea that the narrator
presents is that no one can hope to be welcomed into someone else’s “arena of poetry”
because the words of the poet have a life of their own and do not stay the same for
anyone.
Not To Step Into The Arena Of Poetry Just On Request Analysis . Critic by Noor
Rehman
First Stanza
He confessed.
This stanza begins with a complaint from the speaker in this poem. The narrator’s
realizes that everything has “disappeared”. This stanza exposes the conflict that unfolds
in the poem. A friend of the narrator seems to have wanted to share his poetry with him
but is unable to get across his ideas and words. This is an interesting concept as it
highlights that each individual perceives emotions, ideas and words differently and
furthermore, interprets them in a unique way that cannot be reproduced for anyone else.
and invites them to accept the words as they themselves felt and expressed them, this
“arena” becomes “empty”. Qurana states that this happens “often” as people expect
others to understand the world around them the way they themselves do, since it is the
only way they can comprehend it. The last line of this stanza demonstrates that the
friend or acquaintance in this poem is realizing that his poetic territory has
narrator, it indicates to the reader that the narrator is presenting himself of superior
persona by implying, that he seems to understand this concept while his friend does
not. By the use of the word “confessed”, Qurana immediately enforces a negative
connotation to the situation, insinuating that his friend was realizing a mistake.
Second Stanza
He looked at me
This is the only couplet in the poem, emphasizing the importance of the words it carries.
Although this is the smallest part of the poem, it cuts into incredibly substantial ideas.
The first line discusses communication; “He looked at me” after the confession from his
friend, this “look” exposes that Qurana is trying to emphasize the idea that a person’s
facial expressions speak volumes about their thought process especially when it comes
because it calls attention to the fact that is poem is truly about the two individuals and
their understanding of each other, rather than the poetic territory that they are exploring
together. Moving on to the second line of this couplet, the reader is again, met with the
indication that the narrator is depicting himself to be more superior than his friend
seeing that he is confused even after his “confession”. The noteworthy point in the
second line is that Qurana stresses that the friend or acquaintance is “confused in
mind”, putting an emphasis on the idea that it was his mind that was still confused, even
if he had outwardly confessed his realization. The clarification that the narrator makes
about the friend’s mind being confused, essentially speaks volumes about his own
mind. He seems to believe that he has a greater understanding of his friends mind, and
can label it as a confused mind given that it does not match with the way he perceives
the situation.
Third Stanza
I said.
Said I further.
Stanza three starts out with the notion of giving “birth” to a poem. Giving birth is a
process that not only assists in the construction of families, but also gives a position of
ownership or right of possession to the one who gave birth. The narrator swiftly strips
away the right of possession of a poem from his friend as he tells him that “no one gives
birth to a poem” in the opening line of the stanza. This line also continues to draw
attention to the overbearing attitude that the narrator has had throughout this poem. He
carries on teaching his friend about the nature of poems and poetic territory by
explaining that poems never exactly “await just for reading” and “cannot be detained for
long”. These concepts help the reader understand Qurana’s idea of poetry and poetic
territory. He seems to claim that no one can own a poem seeing that a poem will never
just wait around to be read. Essentially, Qurana is implying that once a poet writes out a
poem, it no longer belongs to him in the sense that the way readers will perceive,
understand and interpret those words will never be identical to what he had initially
intended. The poem then never stays the same and so can never be truly “owned” by
anyone, it is its own entity free of ownership. Furthermore, when you try to share that
poem with others you lose all control over it. It no longer says “detained” in your mind
and becomes a new story for every individual who comes across it. On the occasion
that words are strung together to form a poem, it is only a matter of time before they are
Fourth Stanza
The fourth stanza of Qurana’s poem maintains the domineering voice of the narrator as
he continues to educate his friend about the nature of poetry. The first line stating that
he is not being believed furthermore emphasizes the unremarkable image that the
narrator has been painting of his friend. The narrator tries to explain that words are not
poetry, your “thoughts enter” into the words adding emotion and meaning behind them
converting the simple words into a poem, which when read “find their way out” into the
world with their diverse meanings for the various readers that encounter this poem.
Through this stanza it becomes evident that the narrator has a very strong opinion on
what a poem is and refuses to accept the fact that others might not identify with it the
same way.
Fifth Stanza
Breaking my friendship.
This last stanza not only concludes the poem but also concludes the friendship of the
two characters in the poem. The very first line in the stanza exposes that his friend has
“found his way out” of the friendship and apparently locked up “all his words”. This
poetic territory the friendship of the characters has fallen out. It seems that the narrator
was not able to comprehend the ideas from his friend’s poems the way his friend had
wanted causing a rift in their relationship; causing the narrator to be very upset. The
narrator continues to claim that in his anger and rage he found poems. Basically saying
that through this conflict he was able to find emotions and words for a poem; and he
heavily implies that the result of the conflict is this poem itself. In order for the readers to
be able to understand the conflict, the narrator recommends that they “break these
words and see”, suggesting that his words are not straight forward and in order to
understand the nature of the conflict a proper analysis of his words must be conducted.
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The Story Of The Cat That Drank The Sea by Riyas Qurana
The Story Of The Cat That Drank The Sea by Riyas Qurana is a free verse poem
composed of seventeen lines. A quick glance at the poem will tell the reader that it is
about a cat from a black and white painting that dries up the sea by drinking up every
last drop of it. The cat then is referred to as the sea and continues going about its day
until it is eventually hit by a bus. It is implied that the cat dies from its injuries and so is
redrawn, but this time as the sea itself. The analysis of this poem is divided up into five
main parts; mainly discussing the cat that noticeably symbolizes an addict and the
ocean that represents the subject of its addiction. Just as the cat devours the ocean and
then becomes one with it, an addict devours the subject of its addiction so much so that
it defines him and he can no longer be recognized without it. Qurana has used a very
simple analogy to uncover the identity crisis an addict faces when he overindulges in his
addiction.
The Story Of The Cat That Drank The Sea. Analysis by Noor Rehman
Qurana opens The Story Of The Cat That Drank The Sea by introducing “the drop” that
was sucked dry. The reader supposes that the topic is an ordinary drink only to find that
it was the sea that was sucked dry. This is done for a dramatic effect in order to provoke
the curiosity of the reader enough so that their attention is on nothing but the upcoming
story within the poem. The sea going dry is also the perfect metaphor for difficulty which
is a strong theme in this poem. These lines alone announce to the reader that the
account ahead is not a light hearted children’s narrative as the title might have
introducing the action of the character (sucking the last drop) before introducing the
actual character, Qurana is giving more importance to the actions of the cat than the cat
itself. This is important to keep in mind as we establish what the cat and the sea signify
in the poem.
In line three the main character of the poem is finally introduced, and that too as a
“hungry” cat. Hunger is an important adjective in this poem as it exposes the cat to be
cat and the sea. It is noteworthy that the action the poem opened with was that of
drinking but the cat was not described as thirsty, but rather hungry. This is interesting
for the reason that the cat didn’t need to drink, let alone the entire sea but did it
anyways. Much like the addiction of an addict, he doesn’t need to do what he is doing
especially at such a level that could harm him (like the cat that drank the entire sea) but
he does it regardless. The subject of his addiction then becomes so tempting that even
though he initially had no need for it he ends up indulging in it excessively. The reader is
also told that he cat is not a real cat but one that is in a painting. This is significant
because although the cat in the painting is supposed to be stationary it moves and lives
a life; moreover an addict could very much be an ordinary person who picks whose
subject of addiction is a stationary thing in the lives of the people around him, but for
him is as vast and deep as the ocean. Line five is crucial in understanding the nature of
an addict as Qurana explains it. Just as the ocean turned the black and white painting of
the cat blue, the addiction fills some colour or satisfaction into the life of the addict and
that is why it is so hard for him to give it up; he truly believes his world cannot be lively
Here, the narrative gets more fascinating. The narrator describes the sea jumping from
branch to branch, which is the natural act of the cat but not the sea. The sea has now
taken over the cat, so much so that it is unrecognizable as an animal and is appearing
more akin to a body of water. In the beginning of this poem the readers are told that the
cat drank the last drop of the sea and here we see that it has taken over the body of the
cat. This is an easy parallel to the story of an addict who has taken the last step to going
too far and now is drowning in his addiction, so much so that he is unrecognizable as
having a boy chasing it away. The only thing is that it is not referred to as the cat which
is it’s true identity but instead it is recognized as the sea, the subject which it
excessively indulged in. this notion is quite significant as it is the fate of an addict who
slowly loses himself in his addiction and his true identity is no longer recognizable. Line
nine also emphasizes how the cat is then treated from enjoying a nap in the kitchen to
being chased away; this falls in line with the life of an addict, who goes from the
peaceful comforts of his home to life where others are trying to get rid of him because
his demeanor becomes offensive and brings discomfort to those around him.
Line ten illustrates an image of a cat that is hastily on the run without much concern of
where it is headed similar to an addict who loses control of the rest of his life due to his
addiction and then eventually gets “hit by a bus”, when the rest of his life catches up
with him. He then “lies injured on the street”, which is significant because the street is a
public place and addict who is ruined at the hands of his addiction usually becomes a
lesson for the public eye. The word “wobbles” in line thirteen is symbolizes the instability
in the life of the addict, and his instability is one that is visible to the public. Line fourteen
suggests that the cat is dying as a result of its injuries, seeing that the waves
(representing the urges of addiction merged with the heartbeat of the addict) become
The last three lines of The Story Of The Cat That Drank The Sea give the narrative an
unexpected turn. The narrator of the poem redraws the cat, but when he strokes with
the brush, out comes waves instead of the cat that he was trying to paint, and the
waves were not soft but wildly gushing all over the walls. This scenario signifies the
memories of an addict who dies at the hands of his addiction. After the death of an
addict, when the community and family try to “redraw” the person in their memories, the
drawing is tainted with the addiction that they excessively indulged in. the memory and
image of that individual will never be the same again because of the pain he not only
caused himself but to those that surround him. By having the cat disappear all together
and be replaced by wild gushing waves that were out of the narrator’s control, Qurana is
ending the poem with a strong idea of the lack of control and neglect that resonates the
life of the addict. An addict who could not control his impulses and so concluded his life
with neglect, irresponsibility, and wild behavior resulting in tainted memories and an
outcome that was completely out of his control. Consequently, he becomes an
uncontainable example to those who witnessed his descend and foolish finale to an
intricate life.
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Some alphabets
Some words
Some sentences
Preventing me to comprehend
Sometimes
And i muse on
In this paper
Will be my haunt
Henceforth.....
A Text About Reading The Letter by Riyas Qurana is a free verse poem with twelve
stanzas dedicated to discussing a letter between a lover and his beloved. This poem
truly dives into a relationship that never gets true closure and in consequence the
individuals are subject to suffering. It is a difficult situation when something so loved and
treasured falls apart at the seems and there is nothing that can be done about it; that is
First Stanza
The opening of Qurana’s A Text About Reading The Letter, introduces the letter quite
dramatically. The very first line of this stanza mentions that the words in the letter are
crawling “like crabs”; Qurana is trying to paint an image of a letter that is unclear, so
much so that it feels like the words were moving, sliding or crawling on the paper itself.
This also gives the impression that the message in this letter is going to be unclear or at
least incomplete. Line two of this stanza lets the reader know that the letter in fact was
incomplete as the words were found only on half of the paper . The word “drafted”
presents the idea that there was only an outline of the intended message left. Line three
confirms that the letter was incomplete because the sea was “on the other” half of the
letter; implying that the writing had been washed away. This stanza also informs the
reader that the letter in question was either found at sea or traveled through the sea at
The second stanza of this poem describes in detail the condition of the second half of
the letter. Line four explains that the letter truly was washed in the sea as “the waves
wiped away” the text within. Line five exposes that the words were completely illegible
as even their ‘foot paths” were washed away. Line five concludes the stanza by
describing the words as ones that “sauntered on the shore”, this tells the readers that
the reader of his letter did not get the intended message and it is as good as left on
shore, where perhaps it started its journey in the hands of it’s writer. Even though the
poem is just about a letter, it is conveying a story of the people that are deeply
Third Stanza
Stanza three presents the letter in quite an aggressive manner perhaps mirroring the
emotions of aggression that the person who revived the letter must be feeling at the
sight of the state of it. Line seven mentions that “some words” had “hollowed out the
papers”, this could be literally or it could intend to portray that the words were so intense
that they left holes in the text. Line eight continues to describe the letter as being
destroyed, so much so that chunks of the words were physically missing where the
paper had torn. Line nine is interesting as it depicts the” words gliding ashore towards
the bay” implying that the words are not only lost but constantly moving, so that they
Fourth Stanza
Stanza four is important as it introduces the two main characters of the poem. Line ten
is about an individual who describes himself to be carelessly playing like a child; this
description exposes that he was aware of the fact that he was being careless and
childish in his play, giving the reader some information about the individuals personality.
Line eleven frames the the individual “close to the sea”, automatically connecting him
and the letter that has been washed up by the sea. Line twelve finally introduces the
second character. there seems to be a woman whose memory the sea is screaming out
to the individual. This woman also gets connected to the letter by being so closely
related to the sea. In this stanza the reader is able to detect a story of love and loss that
perhaps has much to do with the letter and its lost words.
Fifth Stanza
Stanza five is actually a couplet and underlines the connection of this man, the letter
and the sea. Line thirteen mentions “slithering words” this relates to the reader that the
words are not friendly or comforting, but rather repulsive and unwelcome. The shoreline
seems to be bring back memories and experiences that are difficult for the individual to
indulge in. Line fourteen further highlights the unpleasantness of the words by claiming
that the words “could not be assembled and read”; basically saying that they didn’t tell a
full story, these words were so full of memories and emotion that read without context
Sixth Stanza
Stanza six is the longest stanza in the poem and begins to tell the story of the two
characters outside the letter. The individual seems to be hoping and expecting the
words to make sense to him as he tries to read them on the floor, because he
associates these words to the woman trying to convey her own message to him. The
sea seems to be a mediator between the two as they try to communicate and
understand each other. however it is also the sea that seems to be interfering with their
union and communication as the letter was washed away and the words on the sea
Here, in stanza seven the man seems to start assuming that the woman does not want
to be clear in her communication, perhaps she wants to carry on without defining what it
is she wants. Maybe she is happy by keeping him confused and at a distance. The
reader can really see the desperation of the man as he tries to find meaning in the little
communication he has received from the woman. By now it is safe to assume that the
two are or at least were in a romantic relationship and have suffered through losing
Eighth Stanza
Stanza eight gives the reader a better understanding of the letter in relation to the
characters. The man has received the letter that has been battered by the sea from his
beloved or once beloved. The letter has opened up feelings of confusion and lack of
closure for the man. The relationship is one that is obviously struggling and the man is
being hit by waves of feelings, emotions, scenes of the past that are not helping him at
Ninth Stanza
Stanza nine is a couplet and focuses on the indecisive emotions of the man and how he
feels trapped by them. The man confesses to wanting more specifically “yearning” to
dive into the letter, hoping for a better understanding, a better connection with his
beloved but has to force himself to stay put. perhaps she chose to walk away and he is
doing all he can just to stay on shore and just watch her sail away.
Tenth Stanza
Stanza ten is powerful as the character displays how much her letters impact him. in
this stanza the reader witnesses the power that this woman has over this man. She is
able to change his “sunny day” meaning a day full of life and happiness into one of rain,
specifically the rain she was witnessing herself. it seems whenever he communicates
with her he is left feeling upset. She drags him down with her when she is suffering.
This stanza displays quite clearly the level of the man’s attachment to his woman.
Eleventh Stanza
Stanza eleven exposes the man and how he still searches for his beloved. He sees her
eyes in the letters he receives and can feel the rain that she describes. He is so
invested in her that he can feel what she feels and see her in front of him even in her
absence. He is hopelessly in love with a woman who seems to be confused in what she
wants.
Twelfth Stanza
The conclusion of this poem exposes that there does not have to be a physical letter
from his woman in order for him to remember her or her words. the world around him
reminds him of her in every way. everything haunts him because the skies and the
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
i wait
of an expired day.
yet i must!
i walk back from dusk
no i only reflect
i'm startled
i'm troubled
for,
she bequeathed
in dream
i bathed,
for
babbling
reaching home.
person about a sunrise that is anticipated to flip life upside-down. The main character
has suffered in life by making decisions that lead her to have a life opposite if what she
wanted and so she hopes for a day break that would make everything backwards and
First Stanza
The first stanza of this poem introduces the setting. There is a character waiting at “the
crack of dawn” regretting the day that has just gone by knowing it can never be returned
to her. The first line alone emphasizes the importance of her waiting. It represents her
anticipation for change, her hope for better. Lines two and three explain exactly what
this character is waiting for: “the crack of dawn/ of an expired day”; these lines tell the
reader that the character has been through something significant and as a result is
desperately waiting for the next day to arrive. Perhaps the character is looking forward
to a new beginning. Line four displays an air of regret and nostalgia as she exclaims
that things that go by can never be brought back. The reader becomes aware that the
character is still hesitant about the new coming day but still desperately awaits it. Line
five pursues the suspense the stanza has created by simply admitting that she “must”.
She must what? The answer is: wait. The story of her eagerness is yet to unfold
The second stanza begins with the character describe her panicked walk. Line seven
displays her clouded memory of the event as she quickly explains that no, she didn’t
walk but did think about it. At this point the reader is wondering exactly what is causing
such panic and anxiety for the character. Line eight continues to drive the suspense as
the character declares she has not seen anything for a while; is she looking for
something? And if so why is she waiting for it at this hour? The final line of this stanza
doesn’t do much to relieve the buildup of suspense as the character exclaims “oh that
must be my siesta!”. The slow increase in mystery in the last two stanzas keeps the
reader’s attention and also implies that she has a secret that she isn’t willing to expose
just yet.
Third Stanza
Stanza three is a couplet that speaks volumes about the main character. The two lines
simply express that upon noticing someone she acts startled, although she is not as she
has been waiting for this exact moment in quite the anxiety. She feels the need to act
startled to make the situation or encounter seem natural as possible, although that is
quite impossible considering the setting. This couplet also suggests that the character is
very much in control of the way she is acting despite her panicky demeanour.
Fourth Stanza
Stanza four unfolds in the very first line that the character is troubled. Right away the
reader can tell that something is out of place. She was looking forward to this moment
quite desperately, for her to be troubled at this point means she miscalculated
something. The story here takes a turn. It seems that she is watching herself take back
a letter that she had once “bequeathed”. This stanza is very confusing as the character
refers to herself in third person. “In dream” here is suggesting that the event of handing
down the letter never actually took place and was actually a figment of her imagination.
Fifth Stanza
Here in the fifth stanza a very interesting concept is introduced by the character.
Apparently as time moves backwards it undo’s what happens and flips the scenario so
the recipient becomes the one who gives. It seems that either the character is trapped
in wishful thinking or she has reached an alternate reality in which everything she was
running away from while hoping for the new day has turned backwards so that not only
is everything undone but it reverses the events causing opposite circumstances to take
place. One would only wish for such reality if they had made many mistakes they
wished to not only erase but flip around to change the course of events.
Sixth Stanza
The sixth stanza yet again takes a turn as the character asks for forgiveness and asks
the reader to join her as she “really” contemplates. As the reader makes it to this part of
the poem he or she realizes that the main character is not only unpredictable but
untrustworthy. She seems to jump from one place to the next without explaining herself
or her train of thought. She asks for forgiveness without giving a reason almost as if to
say she understands that she does not make much sense. Then, she asks the reader to
join in contemplation, hopefully to clarify her story as so far the reader knows nothing
Seventh Stanza
In stanza seven the character describes the sun being at its peak, so probably a time in
the afternoon when it gets the warmest. The setting has changed to a time in the
afternoon in which she knows is hot but chooses to wear a dress that is not suited to the
weather. The diction implies that this is a common occurrence for her. Remember that
things are still playing out backwards, so instead of it being cold and her wearing
clothing that is for warmer weather the opposite is happening. She goes to take a
shower but the water is being poured back into the well and leaves her hair dry instead
of wet. This stanza allows the reader to get a view of her day but in a manner that
Eighth Stanza
Stanza eight continues in the absurd reality that he character is narrating. She cycles
backwards to the market, meaning she had left there in reality. In this market that she is
wheeling into backwards, there are people who stare at her shocked because they have
never met a person who was suffering internally. The reader can interpret he stanza as
the character cycling through the market place and no on e actually noticed her
because it is so common for people to suffer internally for whatever the reason. This
stanza helps the reader understand that the character felt ignored and lonely.
Ninth Stanza
In the ninth stanza the character reminisces walking side by side through the market p
lace with her significant other. Now, in this alternate reality she claims they walk
important point in this stanza is that the reach home; this tells the reader that she
probably never reached a place of comfort or homeliness with her significant other.
Again the reader gets a little window to examine the desperation she shows in the first
stanza, she never truly made it home the man she wished to walk side by side with.
Tenth Stanza
Stanza ten paints a completely new picture in regards to the loss and hurt that have
been mentioned in the previous stanzas. Here she sits drinking a warm cup of tea as
the birds chirp and the dawn brings calmness to the scene. If the reader continues to
translate this stanza as the previous ones it seems that the never got her cup of tea and
the calmness that she probably so desired in her life. This also tells the reader that she
wanted her life to be full of scenes of nature and life and simple happiness but never
Eleventh Stanza
Stanza eleven is the final stanza of this poem and concludes the character’s story by
expressing to the reader that it wasn’t just a cup of tea that she missed out on that is
causing her to wish for the opposites and backwardness. It was so much more than that
and so she does not regret this alternate reality and would visit or create it multiple
times.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Can't breathe
In the streets
On the walls
Fences
shocks as if it is happening
highlights the claustrophobia that comes along with the concept of surveillance. It
becomes even more hard to bear when it is social standards and cultural pressures that
Lines 1 to 2
Qurana’s Surveillance is introduced with the idea of suffocation. In the first two lines
Qurana is expressing the intensity of what being constantly watched by others actually
feels like. He specifically mentions not being able to inhale, this is important because
mentioning that inhalation is not taking place Qurana is implying that it is difficult for
second line is just two words but they are heavy to read. “can’t breathe” relays to the
readers that there is a story that is yet to unfold and it contains the reason behind the
suffocation the narrator is facing. Line two also suggests that someone is in the process
of dying in a situation where they are still trying to breathe. Had the narrator given up
on life he would have said he stopped breathing, instead he used the word “can’t” which
portrays effort still being made to breathe; implying that the narrator is fighting to
survive.
Lines 3 to 4
Lines three and four of Qurana’s poem continues to describe the impact surveillance is
having on the narrator. He speaks of a sense of relief “now and then” as he gets some
space to breathe; however, he makes it clear that someone or something made sure it
did not last very long. These lines help the reader understand that the character is not
suffering due to his own actions but rather the actions of someone else. It is safe to
assume the relief that the character is able to get is when he isn’t being watched so
carefully, and the one watching him rarely takes any breaks. Although the reader is
unaware of whom the character is and who is watching him, it is still easy to understand
the discomfort and suffocation that comes along with not being given any breathing
room. By not exposing who is doing the surveillance Qurana is allowing the reader to
make this narration their own by stepping into the character’s shoes. This permits the
reader to associate their own story with the character, whether it is family, friends or
Lines 5 to 7
The next three lines are pretty clear that the character feels he must even monitor his
that Qurana has chosen to describe his silence. The narrator is claiming to “eat” the
words that he wants to say, and that the hunger he has being proven as “unbearable”.
The circumstance of the character seems to be so extreme or he at least feels that way.
It seems that no matter how many of his own words he has to “eat” or keep silent about
should or should not say. Eventually he will reach a point where his appetite will not
leave any words for him that he can use; essentially meaning that he will not feel like
sharing anything he has to say because they will feel inadequate for the public to
receive. This stanza highlight’s the fact that the narrator feels judged on his words and
opinions alongside being constantly watched and judged for his actions.
Lines 8 to 9
Lines eight and nine are more sinister as they spitefully consider the situation of the
character. It is obvious that the narrator is having a hard time with his circumstances
and hates being under a watchful eye at all times. These two lines inform the reader of
the fact that the character is not being watched by one person but by a “them”; at this
point in the poem the reader can consider them to be social and cultural standards and
pressures. Moreover, these lines suggest that he is not the only one suffering as he
mentions “we”. The narrator is explaining how absurd it is that he must act and speak a
certain way or in a certain manner in order to live and be accepted by “them”, this does
not make sense to him as he doesn’t think a person can live a fulfilling life if he is not
given the freedom to be himself. Social and cultural standards are important to anyone’s
identity because it helps define their identity, however, the pressures of cultures and
societies to be a specific way cannot be supported because of the reason that
being outcasted.
Lines 10 to 16
Lines ten and eleven continue with the sarcastic and spiteful tone as they paint a picture
of utter control. By claiming that “we have but their hands/we walk with their legs” the
narrator is stressing the concept of complete control over a life that is not yours. Hands
and legs are a crucial part of the human body that help people with their tasks that they
have to manage for basic everyday life; by stating that he doesn’t even have his own
hands and legs, he is displaying the extremity of his situation while highlighting how little
control he has over his own basic tasks without the interference of social and cultural
standards and pressures. Lines twelve through sixteen express that the only thing he
feels actually belongs to himself is his stomach, this is an interesting point as the basic
function of the stomach is to digest the food entering the body. Fundamentally the
narrator is stating that the only thing he feels is left in his control is his ability to “digest”
the standards and pressures that are being forcefully fed to him. His process of
breaking down the expectations being thrown at him to a level that he understands them
is purely and solely his own, untouched by anyone. It stays that way whether he be
outdoors or indoors and it is the only thing he feels truly confident about.
Lines 17 to 19
Lines seventeen through nineteen paint a very striking image of eyes stuck in the sky.
This imagery is a powerful way to describe the intensity of the gaze that social and
cultural standards/pressures have set on every individual who desires to stay connected
to them. Line seventeen is important because it suggests that the very air that every
person breathes in is tainted heavily by society’s eye. By stating that “their eyes are
stuck” the narrator suggest that these standards and pressures are jammed in one
place and do not conform to individual needs. They are just permanently there. Line
nineteen is a statement that is presented for the first time in the poem that actually
expresses being watched; for a poem titled Surveillance this is an important point as
displays that the narrator is finally comfortable enough with the reader and to plainly
Lines 20 to 22
The next three lines are important because it exposes the lengths to which social norms
and standards go in order to interfere with someone’s life. The impact of cultures and
societies is that it assists in building a person’s identity, character and personal morals;
even when a person is not surrounded by people and is in the comfort of his own home
he is influenced by the social and cultural norms he has grown up around. These lines
specifically seem to be those of annoyance with a hint of guilt as the narrator confesses
to a secret kiss and how it didn’t stay very secret because he felt the judgement of
The closing lines of this poem don’t conclude the conflict in the poem. The narrator is
rightfully quite upset with his experience and wishes that the pressures of culture and
society didn’t exist so that no one would have to feel like they need to meet a specific
standard in order to be accepted as a part of the community or even family. Why can’t
can just put aside what others have to say and be authentically themselves? The
narrator wishes he could close the poem by telling his readers that his experience
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When The Rain Started Drizzling Into His Story by Riyas Qurana
Little by little.
And weeping
verse poem about growth and moving on. This poem focuses on a character’s journey
of coming out of a hard place in life and having the strength to rebuild his identity so that
he can experience the a fresh new start with the possibility of new opportunities that will
bring back the happiness in his life. This poem promotes self growth and the power of
redefining your identity to become stronger despite all the things that tried to pull you
down.
When The Rain Started Drizzling Into His Story Analysis by Noor Rehman
First Stanza
Qurana starts the first stanza by giving the reader a visual of the environment the
character is surrounded by. This description is important because not only does it set
the mood for the poem but the environment is a symbol for the internal journey that the
character is experiencing. Line one opens the poem with an image of soft footsteps on a
grassy field; signifying the smooth natural adventures of life that every individual
experiences throughout their existence. The concept of walking represents life moving
forward as a person continues to exist day in and day out. The second line mentions
“passing a hilltop”, this hilltop can easily embody hardships that one faces, the bumps
on the road that are unavoidable in any persons journey through life. By indicating that
the character is “passing beyond” the hill, Qurana is revealing to the reader that the
character has been through his bump in the road or difficulty and it is now behind him.
Line three illustrates a new image of rain drizzling over a tree. This image is extremely
important as it lets the reader experience the emotional circumstance that the character
is experiencing. The tree is a symbol of his new beginning, it represents the person he
can be if he lets go of the hurt he experienced from his hardship and embrace the
lessons he has learned and grow into a better, wiser, stronger individual. The rain in this
line also helps promote the idea of a new beginning and washing away the past. Line
four clarifies that the tree is his new identity as he grows as a person and moves on
from his past because it states that this tree “stands only in his story” implying that no
one else can have that tree in their story because they are not this character and have
not experienced or lived what he has, each individual has their own trees in their stories.
Lines five to eight continue to explain the journey as they paint a picture of the character
walking up to the tree and witnessing the rain dripping off the leaves of the tree and the
grass was not as luscious under the shade of the tree. This image is a clear symbol of
the character’s new identity. As his new identity awaits to be embraced (the tree), it is
dripping in the rain of new beginnings. The grass not being soft and new under the tree
signifies that the character is not moving through smooth adventures of life anymore, he
has experienced hardship and learned to move on so the grass is “cropped” right where
his new identity is standing. The next two lines depict the turn of events for the
character after he passes his hilltop and reaches his new identity through the birds
coming out of the clouds to sit and sing on the tree. The singing birds represent a new
day and the new opportunities that come along with it. Qurana describes the birds
coming out of hidden clouds, this could imply two things. The first being that the new
opportunities in his life now are coming out of the characters difficulties and hardships
that he experienced; or that these new opportunities are coming out of places he never
thought were possible for him since the clouds (possibly his ambitious dreams) are
described as “hidden”. By having these birds sitting on a tree that signifies the
character’s new identity Qurana is pointing out that when the character moves on and
decides to embrace his hardships and grow into a new person because of them, he is
also embracing a life full of new opportunities that he cannot access if he holds on to his
past. Lines eleven and twelve expose that the voice of these birds are reaching the
character “little by little” entailing that he is slowly starting to accept and embrace this
tree with its birds. He is acknowledging his new identity and is beginning to see the
blessing of new opportunities that accompany it. Line thirteen is a little more ambiguous
as Qurana states that at any moment “they might come”; the “they” symbolizes his past
experiences and people who remind him of his disappointments , which he does not
want catching up to him. The last two lines of the stanza is showcasing the concept of
growing into a new person by suggesting that by the simple fact of wanting to grow into
a new person the character has planted a seed for his tree. Indicating that the character
has fully accepted the idea of a new identity and the freedoms that come along with it,
Second Stanza
The second stanza of this poem switches into first person probably to bring the
experience that the character is going through to a more intimate and genuine level for
the reader. Line sixteen depicts the character floating in the air. Which is highly
significant to the character’s journey as it embodies the lightness that character feels at
accepting the new identity that is full of new beginnings for him. By choosing to move on
the character has left behind the burdens of negativity, damage and heart ache that he
had experienced so far, resulting in a weightlessness that allows him to rise up. Line
that he has to process in order to embody his new identity. Line eighteen continues to
illustrate his transformation with his legs becoming the trunk growing its roots
underground. This line informs the reader that his new identity is not a phase but a true
transformation that has a strong foundation due to his past experiences and his ability to
let go and move forward. The next two lines express his successful embodiment of the
tree as the birds that represented new experiences and opportunities come towards the
character and settle on him signing freely celebrating his new beginning. The reason the
mentioning of the birds singing and flapping their wings is so important is because it
highlights that things do get better when a person chooses to grow and chooses to
accept the possibility of a much better future by giving life another chance through
optimism. Line twenty one really allows the reader to glance into the past to view the
hilltop that the character had just passed before owning this new identity. It becomes
apparent in this line that his hilltop was a relationship that didn’t go the way he had
anticipated and now that he has moved on and is looking forward to the freedoms new
opportunities will bring him, “she” comes looking for him. The reader can understand
that the “she” here is his previous love and she is now here with a song of her own,
except hers is described as “struggling” to come out and “weeping” in lines twenty two
and twenty three. Perhaps she is regretful of losing him and is trying to get him back,
the possibility if the character returning to her seems highly unlikely as he does not hear
her song as one that is beautiful and enticing rather it reaches him broken and
Third Stanza
The third stanza returns to being in third person and concludes the story by revealing
the past of the character. Line twenty four begins to explain to the reader that every
person is the author of their book of life and this poem helps others take a look into the
book of this specific character. Lines twenty five and twenty six discuss that if the reader
turns the “pages of his book”, meaning the character’s book of life so far (as he has just
embodied a new beginning so the rest of the “book” is yet to be written.) it becomes
clear that “she” (his lover) was a prominent part of his story. By disclosing that this
woman has been a big part of the character’s past Qurana is promoting the message
that it is possible to move on and see yourself with a new identity even after you let go
of a relationship that you invested so much time and effort into. Furthermore, you can
choose your identity and redefine yourself as many times as you need to in your
lifetime.
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for years.
is done.
At night
Same thing happened the other day
Any more.
Qurana believes his creative ability to be far superior to other artists and illustrates
himself and his creativity as an infinite source of greatness in his poetic writing. The
entire poem is soaking in the narrator’s prideful airs as he discusses his creativity under
First Stanza
The first stanza of this poem opens up by introducing the main subject: the bird. This
stanza describes the condition of this bird whilst giving the reader an idea of what the
bird is a metaphor for. The very first line tells the reader that the bird is something that is
used often; giving the reader a reason to believe it represents something that is
common and perhaps found in everyday life. Lines two and three are quick to inform the
reader that despite the constant use of this bird it is still in very good condition has been
in good condition for many years now. The second clue that is given here is that this
bird is seemingly infinite; although it is used continuously, it does not become weary.
This translates to the fact that this bird represents a nontangible item; if it was an object
or tool it would definitely have some wear and tear over the course of the years that it
has been in use. Lines four through six underline the idea that it is used often and still
has not lost even a feather, allowing the readers to comprehend the infinite use this bird
has. Although it is difficult for a reader to say from the first stanza alone, the rest of the
poem helps to suggest that the bird in this poem represents creativity. In the first stanza
alone, the idea of the bird being a metaphor for creativity makes sense. The bird or
creativity is constantly used by individuals but here especially the narrator as he relays
his words through a creative means: a poem. It looks as if the narrator is speaking
about his own creativity and creative writing when he claims that he uses it a lot and it
has remained in good condition (meaning he hasn’t run out of ideas). Line four
reinforces this idea as it highlights that the narrator continues to draw out his creativity
without depleting it, almost as if to show off his ability to maintain it. The first stanza is
tainted with arrogant airs as the narrator professes the value of his bird or creativity.
Second Stanza
The second stanza here describes the narrator’s bird in further detail, allowing the
reader to understand the nature of it. Lines seven to nine open the second stanza with
the idea that that the bird changes colours as frequently as a person blinks their eyes.
Here the message being relayed is that of creativity as an abstract existence that
continues to change shape or form depending on what it is needed for. That is the
beauty of imagination, originality, and creativity, it continues to grow and change based
on the lengths that an individual is willing to work with it. Line ten proclaims that it starts
working at daybreak, which is true as creativity or creative writing works from the
moment the artist wakes and sometimes even when he is asleep (maintaining its
existence through his dreams). The word “rushed” also explains the nature of the
narrator’s personal creativity, it gives readers the impression that he starts his days with
a rush of ideas for his writings and the ideas and the work is endless and in a hurry to
be drawn out. Lines eleven and twelve illustrate the notion that in order for any artwork
to be entirely complete the creative juices need to start their work at daybreak just like
the bird that Qurana speaks of. This is an interesting idea and really allows for the
readers to get a better idea of the narrator’s work ethics and his beliefs of creativity
being a driving force and not just a simple tool for an artist (of visual and written art). It
is obvious here that the narrator believes that his creativity is responsible for his work
whilst he himself becomes the tool, this becomes apparent as he describes the bird
rushing out at daybreak and the bird doing the mending of the art pieces. Lines thirteen
and fourteen express that by the end of the day the bird devours the colours of the
artwork, this implies that the narrator’s creativity completely takes over his art as his day
comes to an end. Lines fifteen to eighteen conclude the stanza by revealing to the
readers that the narrator is a lyrical or song artist too (aside from his poetic art) and that
his creativity completely consumed the song, implying that he thinks very highly of it.
Again, an arrogant or prideful tone is noticed as he professes his talents and creativity.
Third Stanza
The fourth stanza is initiated by acknowledging the greatness of language and art. As
the reader has already been introduced to the pride the narrator openly and freely
displays whilst he conveys his strong ideas about his work of art, it is not surprising that
he proclaims the greatness of writing and art. By line twenty-one the reader is very
familiar with the bird being a clear embodiment of his creative art. This line specifically is
driving the message that the narrator believes that his personal creativity is “most used
by” the “greatness” of his language and what that language is able to paint: poems. It is
clear that the narrator not only thinks very highly of his poems but also is very confident
in publicly claiming that his poems are drenched in his creativity. The last two lines of
this stanza not only conclude his thoughts but also re-emphasize the congratulatory airs
that he gives himself on his self proclaimed prominence in the field of poetic art. Line
twenty two emphasizes his pride in keeping his creative juices consistent and in “good
condition”, while the following line underlines that there is zero “damage” done to his
creativity as he continues to use it so powerfully in his poems. This entire stanza is used
by the narrator to simply boast about his creative abilities and essentially that he has
never faced writers block and he doesn’t see it in his future either. By continuously
bringing up his talents (that he continues to claim he possesses) in his poem the
narrator is obviously putting in all of his efforts to convince his readers that he is a
The final stanza of this poem continues to display a prideful tone except it becomes very
arrogant and rude towards the readers at this point. The first two lines the narrator
speaks in an almost taunting voice suggesting that the reader should have guessed
what the bird symbolized in his poem by now. Lines twenty-five and twenty-six continue
the taunt by stating that the time has run out for the reader to put together an answer,
this is because the poem has come to an end. The narrator is quick to assume that
readers will not pick up the symbolic significance of his bird, almost as though he wants
them not o understand so he can gloat in his superiority. Line twenty-eight is the most
aggressive line in the entire poem and also is evidence of the narrator’s arrogance and
want of being superior over others especially his readers. He finally concludes his poem
by declaring that he has to put his pen down so that his creativity can rest. It becomes
evident at this point that the narrator has painted a self image of greatness and
magnitude, so much so that he even includes belittling tones through his art for his
who cannot relate to his readers as he uses the poem to bring up a wall between
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naked.
To last long
I am looking forward
written in first person with ten stanzas that conveys the story of the narrator missing his
that would bless the earth. Perhaps his mother did not live an ideal life, so he is now
creating a world in which she would be honored. The title of the poem is the only thing
that allows the reader to understand that this poem is dedicated to the narrator’s
mother; “Filling in Blank” could easily be portraying that this poem fills in the blanks of
his mother’s life; it is everything he wanted and wished for her to have experienced.
First Stanza
The first stanza of this poem is actually a couplet. This couplet introduces the imaginary
world the narrator is creating throughout the poem. Line one states that he has created
the night with light, possibly implying that he decorated the night sky with the light of the
stars. Line two continues his creation of the night sky by stating that he has created the
light with the night. Because this is impossible, it gives the reader a glimpse of what the
rest of the poem contains. Through this couplet, the reader is informed that the narrator
is responsible for creating the world the reader is going to be exposed to throughout the
poem. This couplet also displays the logic that is to be expected for the rest of the
stanzas: misconstrued ideologies about what the world should be like in the eyes of the
narrator. By openly declaring himself to be the creator the narrator is relaying that the
The second stanza consists of three lines that continue to emphasize the impossibility
of the creation the narrator is taking credit for. Line three stresses that the narrator feels
fully in charge of his creation and does not set any logical boundaries for his fabrication.
He claims to build a sea with smoke and a hill with water, this imagery suggests that his
world is quite mystical or magical with waves coming in made of smoke and water
standing tall in the form of hills. He continues his bizarre claims by stating that the put
the sky together from pieces of the earth and build the earth with clouds. The reader is
left to imagine the sky being land, whilst people walk on clouds, literally. This image
truly proves that the narrator is trying to paint a picture that is very far from reality.
Third Stanza
The third stanza moves on to describing what resides in this world the narrator has
created. He mentions the trees, which are a common symbol for growth and roots are
made with air, implying they don’t exist. The air that people breathe in is further
described to be made of leaves. Notice that if the trees are made of air the leaves of the
trees air also made of air, so essentially the narrator is just stating that the air is made of
air, perhaps he wants a little bit of normality if he wishes anyone (including his mother)
to survive in this world. The second line in this couplet introduces a very absurd idea,
that the men would be embedded with wombs, perhaps he wants to rid the woman of
the struggle of carrying a child and having her body grow it. On the other hand, he could
The fourth stanza explains the role of women in this supernatural and bizarre world. The
narrator now reveals that he wants a world where women are the center of
management. They control what happens and administer what needs to be taken care
of. The second line in this stanza states that the Gods are then cursed ( by him or the
women) to roam from tree to tree. This is an obvious reference to the story of Adam and
Eve. By flipping the role of man and god and also throwing a curse in the “life” of gods
the reader can note the anger or resentment the narrator seems to harbor against a
higher power. Perhaps his mother is no longer alive and with him, so he misses her
Fifth Stanza
The narrator continues his out of the ordinary construction of his imaginary world. He
states he has made it so that birds are the only means of traveling and animals are
grown instead of food and that women are continuing the pursuit of knowledge and
growing as individuals. It seems the only good that the narrator’s world has is the
women and their lifestyles. The reason for that could be because he has dedicated this
poem to the memories of his mother, implying that she loved birds and was highly
intelligent and always wanted to advance in her education by exploring it further.
Sixth Stanza
The sixth stanza gets even more weird as the narrator declares that no man could give
birth to a woman, that the men would breed men and keep their children close by until
they are no longer children. Here it seems that the narrator wants to honour women to a
degree that they have no connection with men altogether, almost as if the men are not
worthy of giving birth to a woman. This is quite the flip in many societies as many
cultures prefer male children over female children. Perhaps the narrator is including this
in his world to spite this social trend, and that is why he stresses that the male children
Seventh Stanza
The narrator conveys his message of the importance of women quite clearly here in the
seventh stanza. He freely declares that women don’t even go through the process of
natural birth, they are actually descending from above, as majestically as the reader van
possibly imagine. The narrator is then quick to discuss that even night and day has
complete different rules in his world, every day has seven nights and is completely not
comprehensible by any reader. This is done to underline how far-fetched the narrator is
willing to go in memory of his mother; it is possible she loved night more than day so he
Eighth Stanza
This stanza probably would not sit well with many readers as he degrades men. It
makes the reader wonder what happened in the life of the narrator that could cause him
to be so vile. In this eighth stanza, he proclaims no death for women while painting a
very disturbing image of men continuously licking the heels of women in order to stay
alive, because they will seize to exists if they choose to stop. It is very possible that
most men let down his mother in her lifetime and even hurt her and the narrator is
taking revenge by creating this alternate reality where they would not survive unless
Ninth Stanza
The narrator continues to bash and degrade men in the ninth stanza as he decides that
the food for men will be excess stars that fall out from a woman’s hair. It is not explained
why he is so harsh to his own gender but it is obvious that he is full of rage and has
deep wounds inflicted by men and he does not want any good for men in general now.
Tenth Stanza
The tenth stanza is the very last stanza and speaks to the reader directly. The narrator
invites the reader to his fictitious town by stating that one will find it existent in vapor.
This could easily suggest that the narrator is saying the only way to find a place like this
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