Imtiaz Dharker Imtiaz Dharker
•• Born in Pakistan, raised in Born in Pakistan, raised in Glasgow and now lives in India,Glasgow and now lives in India, so work
so work spans Euspans European anropean and Indid Indian cultuan cultures. res. In ‘BIn ‘Blessing’,lessing’, trying to show Westerners what it’s like to be short of water. trying to show Westerners what it’s like to be short of water.
Writes in a free, speech-like style. Writes in a free, speech-like style.
Blessing
Blessing is a poem byis a poem by ImtiazImtiaz Dharker Dharker .. Set in a slum called
Set in a slum called Dharavi Dharavi , in, in IndiaIndia. It describes the. It describes the
pandemonium that would occur if a huge water tunnel were to pandemonium that would occur if a huge water tunnel were to
burst and shower the parched locals with
burst and shower the parched locals with water water . The water is. The water is described, as "the voice of a kindly god", "silver" and a
described, as "the voice of a kindly god", "silver" and a "blessing". Religi
"blessing". Religious imagery is ous imagery is used throughout the poem,used throughout the poem, including the description of the clamoring locals as a " including the description of the clamoring locals as a "
congregation
The skin cracks like a pod
The skin cracks like a pod
There is never enough water
There is never enough water
Imagine
Imagine the drip of it,
the drip of it,
The small splash, echo
The small splash, echo
In a
In a tin
tin
mug
mug
The voice of a
The voice of a kindly god
kindly god
DUAL MEANING:
DUAL MEANING: Skin /Skin / ground
ground SIMILE:
SIMILE: cracks - drynesscracks - dryness
SIMPLE STATEMENT: SIMPLE STATEMENT: Sets the scene for what Sets the scene for what follows
follows
Can’t even remember water Can’t even remember water
RELIGIOUS
RELIGIOUS LANGUAGLANGUAGE:E: The answer to their prayers The answer to their prayers
Even a
Even a little drop makes alittle drop makes a big impact
big impact. (in an empty. (in an empty cup, in a barren land, in cup, in a barren land, in
their lives) their lives)
Sometimes, the sudden rush
Sometimes, the sudden rush
Of
Of fortune.
fortune. The
The municipal
municipal pipe
pipe bursts,
bursts,
Silver
Silver crashes to the ground
crashes to the ground
And the flow has found
And the flow has found
A roar of tongues.
A roar of tongues.
Extended Metaphor Extended Metaphor :: shows the value of water shows the value of water
RUSH
RUSH :: rushing water,rushing water, rushing people, a feeling or rushing people, a feeling or
a ‘rush’ a ‘rush’
Rhyme
Rhyme:: irregular, creates airregular, creates a feeling of chaos, or a rush feeling of chaos, or a rush
From the huts,
From the huts,
A
A congregation
congregation
: every man woman
: every man woman
Child for streets around
Child for streets around
Butts in, with pots,
Butts in, with pots,
Brass, copper, aluminium
Brass, copper, aluminium
Plastic buckets Frantic hands
Plastic buckets Frantic hands
,,
Religious Language Religious Language:: aa group in church – as if they group in church – as if they
worship the water. worship the water.
Short Lines
Short Lines:: add to theadd to the rushing feeling
rushing feeling
RUSH
RUSH :: This stanza movesThis stanza moves very quickly compared to very quickly compared to
the
the imaginingimagining andand religious
religious feelings in other feelings in other stanzas
And naked children
And naked children
Screaming in the liquid sun,
Screaming in the liquid sun,
Their highlights
Their highlights
p
polished to
olished to
p
perfection,
erfection,
Flashing light,
Flashing light,
As the
As the
blessing sings
blessing sings
Over their small bones.
Over their small bones.
Naked
Naked :: feeling of purity, asfeeling of purity, as with the water.
with the water.
IMAGERY
IMAGERY :: Brightness andBrightness and light… the water is like a light… the water is like a
miracle. miracle.
ALLITERATION
ALLITERATION :: bringsbrings attention to this line. attention to this line. Focuses on the life-giving Focuses on the life-giving
quality of water’ quality of water’
Reminds of first line Reminds of first line::
skin and bones skin and bones BLESSING
BLESSING :: water is seenwater is seen as a gift. Many take it for as a gift. Many take it for
granted. granted.
FIRST STANZA FIRST STANZA:: Focus on dryness Focus on dryness Dreaming / Dreaming / Imagining Imagining Desperation due Desperation due to lack of water to lack of water SECOND STANZA SECOND STANZA::
Water pipe bursts Water pipe bursts Rushing / Sense of Rushing / Sense of
Urgency Urgency
Fast paced. People Fast paced. People
are delighted. are delighted. THIRD STANZA THIRD STANZA:: Focus on Life Focus on Life Thankfulness / Thankfulness / Happiness Happiness Light, Blessing, Light, Blessing, Religious feelings Religious feelings
