'Prayer Before Birth' By Louis MacNeice

 

 

    Isn't this title an alarming one ? ! Not only the  title but whole poem raises the question on humanity itself.  The titled poem was written by Louis MacNiece in the year 1944. He was a poet, playwright and the member called Auden Group of poets. The group focused on 'social poetry' which stamped them as a social poets.

       The central theme of the poem debunks the idea of military and the war. The poet sends this message through the persona of an unborn child's prayer. That how the violence has destroyed the humanity. Which can be saved by sharing love and care for each other. Not only brutality,  but corruption has made human beings sick. Here this poem tries to awaken human feelings for each other before they become destructive spirits.  

I am not yet born; O hear me.  

 Let not the bloodsucking bat or the rat or the stoat or the 

           club - footed ghoul come near me.

     The very first stanza speaks about the child's imagination. Which is full of horrors. The unborn child indicates that even unborn children are being corrupted by humans in their visualization.  To show that fear,  unborn chiild compares human being with the insects called bat, rat, stoat and club footed ghoul.  

I am not yet born, console me.  

I fear that the human race may with tall walls wall me, 

with strong drugs dope me,  with wise lies lure me, 

on black racks rack me, in blood- baths roll me.  

    In the next stanza, the child asks for the sympathy from the human beings. Because the child is aware about the cruelty committed by the humans. Here the word 'Wall' creates the feelings of dictatorship and claustrophobia. Not only that, the unborn child warns us of drugs which can be dangerous for all of us. These savage attributes makes child dejected for upcoming life. 

I am not yet born; provide me 

With water to dandle me, grass to grow for me, trees to talk to me, sky to sing me, birds and a white light in the back of my mind to guide me.  

  The stanza three includes the optimistic view of life. Here, child desires the natural elements to be a guide in his/ her path. First, it asks for the sympathy, particularly through cuddling. We know that human beings are social animals and it always remains in the search of some company.  For a baby,  these Trees, Grass,  Sky and birds are the soulmates for the rest of his/ her life.   Because these are the persons ( All natural elements personified in this stanza ) who have been a guide to him/ her throughout the life. The nature shows the humanly feelings rather than the humans themselves. The poet denounces the cruel world of humans.

I am not yet born; Forgive me 

For the sins that in me the world shall commit, my words when they speak me, my thoughts when they think me, my treason engendered by traitors beyond me, my life when they murder by means of my hands, my death when they live me.  

 We know that it is the monologue written from the perspective of an unborn child. The child is aware about the worldly things where to be aloof from these manipulatory threats is a difficult thing. Therefore,  it asks to pardon him/her-self before committing any crime. According to the child, the malpractice, corruption, is as same as the traitorhood. These words expresses the fear of becoming corrupted like everyone else on earth.  

I am not yet born; rehearse me 

In the parts I must play and the cues I must take when old men lecture me,  bureaucrats hector me,  mountains frown at me, lovers laugh at me,  the white waves call me to folly and the desert calls me to doom and the beggar refuses my gift and my children curse me. 

  The stanza five speaks about the adulthood of an unborn child. Now, the  child has faced many gruesome experiences of a real life. The child is ready to follow the path suggested by the old men. Furthermore, it seems that the child has become the puppet of a bureaucrat. Which suuggest that, the innocence is not anymore with the unborn child.  In addition, even mountains are not happy with the child due to its inhuman decisions. Nobody is happy with the (adult) child, for instance, lovers laugh at him, the white waves, that is the ocean,  which stands for peace, but here,  the waves also considers an adult child a folly. Still the pang is not going away from the child as desert declares the final dooms on the child.  So far these natural elements have cursed the adult, even beggars are not taking the gifts from him. But things became worst when his/ her own children curse the man. ( The unborn child who thinks of his future.) We can say that the child is now all alone in this cruel world.  

I am not yet born; O hear me, 

Let not the man who is beast or who thinks he is God come near me.  

   After becoming alone in this world,  it becomes difficult to survive.  But the child knows the living beast within the human being and its looming danger. For that,  the child openly tells that he/she doesn't want to be near with the violent men. It criticises the hypocrisy of the preachers. Who acts like a God but actually they are not. Who just takes the advantage of the person' s position for the own selfish reasons.    

I am not yet born; O fill me 

With strength against those who would freeze my humanity, would dragoon me into a lethal automation, would make me a cog in a machine, a thing with one face,  a thing, and against all those who would dissipate my entirely, would blow me like thistledown hither and thither or hither and thither like water held in the hands would spill me 

Let them not take me a stone and let them not spill me.  

Otherwise kill me.  

 As we proceed to the end of the poem, In  the last stanza the unborn child prays for the inner strength. The child openly admits that why he/ she requires the strength. Because people may freeze his humanity. Which represents the insensitive nature of a men. The next sentence represents the machinery world of contemporary era.  Where humans are being treated like a machine. For that poet here provides the metaphor of 'a cog in a machine.' Ultimately,  the child has now lost his own identity and wants be careful from this dissipate people. At the last the unborn child says that these people will blow him away like a  thistle and then he/ she no longer be the part of this humanly world.  

      However,  the child admits that he doesn't want to be a  stone hearted person like others. (Here the background may focuses on the life of a soldier)  And if, it happens then the unborn child is ready to die before coming out into the world. Eventually, the whole poem is an appeal, a prayer, (by a baby who is still in a womb), for the liberty and a rebel against the despotism. The tone of the poem is quite depressing.  Because the WAR is just a small word but its consequences are always gigantic one.  Not only that, it halts the progress of a nation.  The epitome of the poem is, only mankind can save an  innocent child and for that  the innocent child asks for a courage and willpower.  

•Context : Time of World War 2.  It was a time of fear for the survival of human beings.  

•Tone : The tone is full of pessimism.  There's constant menace of the future.  The poem has an apocalyptic or nightmarish sense. It represents the despondency, tribulation and the forthcoming disaster caused by the violence.  

• Form and Structure : The form of the poem is a dramatic monologue spoken by an unborn child.  Which is quite abstract.  

• Themse : 

1. The Cruel World 

2. Violence and Human Beings

3. Liberty and Despotism 

4. Bureaucracy and Corruption 

5. Dying emotion 

6. Wise or Destructive nature of machines

• Personification : 

1. Water 

2. Grass 

3. Trees 

4. Sky 

5. White light 

6. Mountains

7. White Waves 

8. Desert 

• Repetition : ' I am not yet born.' ( It works like an incantation, of a prayer.  ) 

• Alliteration :

~ Blood - Sucking bat 

~ drugs dope 

~ lies lure 

~ blood baths 

• Irony : 

~ Waves are white ( It represents the peace but here it leads towards the evils.) 

• Metaphor : 

~ 'Cog in a machine.'  

( Further Reading : Prayer Before Birth. ) 

  Click on it.  

          Our true prayer is to reflect on what we have learnt so far. Your task is to appear in the Quiz and to compete the Thinking Activity. Here it is suggested to go through this blog before starting your both tasks.  Remember one thing,  reflective learning is our strength.....

• Quiz. ( Click On It.)  

• Thinking Activity.  

1. Justify your understanding of the poem Prayer Before Birth.  

2. Why does the unborn child plea for a strength?  ( You can take help of stanza 7)  

3. What is the role of natural elements in this poem? 

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'Virtue' by George Herbert

 

                       The poem 'Virtue' was written by George Herbert. While reading about the author we come to know that he was born into a wealthy and prestigious family. In his poetry there is an eternal sense of spirituality. Most of the reader consider him as a religious poet. Moreover, he was associated with the Metaphysical Group of Poets. That we can see in his choice of words. 

                        'The Temple' is the main collection of his poems. The titled poem is the part of this collection. There are total four quatrains in this poem. The major theme of the poem is formed on the transience of beauty and life. Here we will see the whole poem in details.

 Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,
 
   The bridal of the earth and sky;
 
   The dew shall weep thy fall tonight,
 
   For thou must die.

                            The poet begins the poem with the use of personification. As he attaches the humanly emotions to the inanimate objects. In the very beginning, the day has been described as something 'Sweet', 'Cool', 'Calm' and 'Bright.' At the next moment, there is 'bridal' depiction of the earth and sky. Thus, it provides one static image, which is of a serene day. Here we can say that narrator has compared the day as bright as the day of marriage. Not only that, the partner, earth and sky, both are happy too. Then poet moves to the more realistic fantasy. In the next line, narrator shows that the night has fallen and the eyes are full of tears. Here, for tears, writer has used the metaphor of dew. Along with this, there is clear emphasis on the idea of mortality. The narrator tries to say that, nothing is permanent. Therefore, one should better focus on present and make most of it. 

        Sweet rose, whose hue, angry and brave,           5

   Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye;
   Thy root is ever in its grave,
 
   And thou must die.

       In the second stanza, there is depiction of ' Sweet Rose.' But when we proceed further, we meet with the juxtaposition of  a two different characteristics. The rose is the symbol of passion, romance and beauty. Again, the hue of the rose is not the simple one, it is scarlet red. Suddenly the narrator reminds us that the color is angry and brave. Therefore it becomes the reason of tears, as it is unbearable for the person to face its intensive rays. The another symbol rose provides is of death and rebirth. Which we see in a next line. Because at the end, the grave is the shelter for everyone.

 

          Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses,

   A box where sweets compacted lie;               10
   My music shows ye have your closes,

   And all must die.

                  The third stanza begins with the season of spring. It leads to the sweet days. It is like a unveiling the covered box. Our imagination might lead us to think that the box is covered due to heavy winter. The winter depicts the harshness and solitude of life. Not only that,  after facing tremendous pain one experiences the hope and tranquility of life. To this spot, Herbert shows the earthly beauty and its temporariness. Even this song itself is not eternal. 

  Only a sweet and virtuous soul
 
   Like seasoned timber, never gives;
 
   But though the whole world turn to coal,
           15
 
   Then chiefly lives.

            So far we have seen that how it becomes vital to live life fully at its own disposal. However, in the last stanza we see change in the narrative tone. Which sounds more puritan. But yes, remember one thing that puritan does not stand for conservatism, or for rigidity. As we can't forget Milton's epic poem, 'Paradise Lost.' The fourth quatrain speaks about the 'virtuous soul.' The narrator makes emphasis on the better 'karmas' of an individual person. As person's virtues are like timber which will last long. Apart from this, everything will turn into ash. 
   The entire poem warns us of the evident death. However, at the end, Herbert, reveals to the readers that, the humble, transient life and etc., these "Virtues" can help to embrace better eternal life. 


                        
 Rhyming scheme : The poem is written in Iambic Tetrameter. It consists ABAB rhyme scheme. 

Other reading source. ( click on it.)      
 

         See to reflect on our learning is one of the best virtue! Let your imagination fly...
 
     Here, your first task is to appear in the Quiz. The second task is to complete the Thinking Activity.  

1. Quiz ( Click on it )                 

        2. Thinking Activity ( These questions are based on your own thoughts. ) 

1. Justify your understanding of the poem 'Virtue.'

2. What is the symbolic meaning of the season Spring ?

3. What is your basic understanding of the word 'virtuous soul?'

4. What are the most corrupt sectors/ organisations  in India?  What will you do to prevent the corruption ?

5. What is your idea of 'honesty?' Share some of the experiences of your own life.  

'Joy and Woe are Woven Fine' by William Blake

          The poem 'Joy and Woe are Woven Fine' was written by William Blake.  He was a poet, painter and printmaker during  the romantic era of England.

         The central theme of the poem is about the vicissitudes of the life. From which one can't escape as both are part and parcel of the wonderful life. 

                Joy and woe are woven fine,
             A clothing for the soul divine;
                Under every grief and pine
              Runs a joy with silken twine,
                  It is right it should be so;
           Man was made for joy and woe;
           And when this we rightly know,
           Safely through the world we go.  

          In this short poem, poet compares joy and woe with the woven cloth. Same way in life also these both things are necessary as both are dependent on each other ! Because in life everything is temporary, nothing is permanent.  That's why poet calls it as the cloth of eternal soul. Which has the divine power.

        There is uncertainties in the life. As we know that everything is going to vanish in the dust,  same way, at one level, there might be full grief, here grief helps person to listen his conscience, which ultimately turns into motivation and leads towards the happiness. For that poet gives the symbol of silken twine. 

       At the end of the poem, poet convinces the reader that and that's how life is all about.  Once person understands the path of a life, he never gets frustrated with the life.  Which helps him in living the better, simple life.
      Thus in conclusion we can say that poet tries to provide the philosophical meaning of the life. One should prepare himself for the every situation,  which is going to come in his life. Many times people just keep thinking about the worst situations,  but rather he or she should have started finding the root of a problem. As Every Cloud has a silver lining !

     
       
     

         

'The Character of a Happy Life' by Henry Wotton

      'The Character of a Happy Life' is a poem written by the English author and diplomat Sir Henry Wotton. 

     This poem is about the character of a happy life. Where poet gives the example or we can say provides the lessons which can be considered as the character of a happy life.

          How happy is he born or taught,
           That serveth not another's will;
      Whose armour is his honest thought,
          And simple truth his highest skill;

        In first stanza poet says that, a person who is free to do anything in his or her life are the most happiest people in the world. Because they don't have to worry about others's opinion.  Here we can sense that, may be the narrator is not happy with his life.  In addition, narrator makes a strong statement by saying that, that person doesn't need any armour as his honest thoughts and simple truth stands like a mountain against the enemy. Even we can say that these are the virtues which makes the person happy in his life.

       Whose passions not his masters are;
      Whose soul is still prepar'd for death
           Untied unto the world with care
       Of princes's grace or vulgar breath;

        In the next stanza, narrator describes the good characteristics of a happy man by giving the example of the word 'passion'. Because it leads towards the success as well as to the failure.  But the happy people never get affected by the anger, he handles his emotions with great respect.  However, to fulfill the dreams his soul is ready to die.  Besides all these, the happy person remains aloof from worldly possessions. Even he doesn't crave for the praise, but gives way to the criticism, as it helps in looking one's own self.

 Who envies none whom chance doth raise,
          Or vice; who never understood
    The deepest wounds are given by praise,
            By rule of state,  but not of good;

    In this stanza poet talks about the relationship of a happy person. A happy person never gets envious for the others,  whether they are successful or not,  even they are, by vice, then also, great man shows well state of behavior with everyone and this is what makes him happier than  the others.  We can interpret that the praise which are given by the 'state' are hardly recognizable, but happy man chooses his own rules to live this invaluable life.

     Who have his life from rumours freed;
     Whose conscience is his strong retreat;
       Whose state can neither flatters feed,
           Nor ruins make accuser great;

    As narrator has shown the way of a happy life, in preceding stanza he gives the reasons behind the happy life of a person.  The happiest person keeps himself away from the rumors, because for him 'conscience' is the best guide. He knows about the sycophants ! and even bad wisher can't do anything to his soul.

        Who God doth late and early pray,
    More of his grace than goods to send,
         And entertains the harmless day
      With a well- chosen book or friend.

       Furthermore, narrator tells that happy man goes to pray everyday as it provides positive vibes in his life.  Though he never asks for the things in return,  what he wants is the grace only.  During his day the happy person entertains himself by enjoying the company of a book and friend. Eventually he enjoys the simple living which makes his life more beautiful and interesting. 

     This man is free from servile bands
            Of hope to rise or fear to fall;
     Lord of himself, though not of lands;
         And having nothing, yet hath all.

       In last stanza poet talks about the powerful mindset of a happy person.  They are more mature compare to other. The person is happy because he is free from every servile,  he has no fear of failure as well as he has accepted the reality with the help of his potentiality.  He considers himself as the master of his own fate,  but yes not to show the arrogance of the materialistic things,  but he has everything which has been attributed to the happiest life. 
          In short we can say that to become happy one needs honesty and truthfulness in their lives, the person should not think of own dreams by listening the own conscience. To reach at the pinnacle of the happiness one thinks of being free from every bonds.  And that's what makes life easier and happy too. 

           

"Fame and Friendship" by Henry Austin Dobson

 

   The poem "Fame and Friendship" was written by H. A. Dobson. The central theme of the poem is about the fame and friendship. Here poet describes the importance of fame and friendship as both things are important in our lives.  Here we will see it in detail that how poet criticises the 'Fame' over 'friendship'. Though, in modern time it sounds 'feel good' poem !

       Fame is A Food That Dead Men Eat

        Fame is a food that dead men eat, -
         I have no stomach for such meat.
          In little light and narrow room,
             They eat it in the silent tomb,
     With no kind voice of comrade near
          To bid the banquet be of cheer.

     In the first stanza poet tells that fame is the food that dead men eat, by this line poet tries to say that,  person should not crave for the fame,  which ultimately creates the loneliness in the life. After criticising the 'fame' poet shares his personal views by saying that he has no stomach for such meat. Whenever person becomes the looser,  he or she craves for the fame,  which is not wrong also,  but the important thing is, one needs to learn that how to digest that 'fame.' Moreover,  this fame which person enjoys,  it is temporary. For instance,  when person arranges the feast, the honor of success, but as time passes everything gets vanished.
            The another interpretation comes in our mind is that,  sometimes person works hard but doesn't get the reward while living, which demotivates the person.  But person gets the reward posthumously,  where nobody is with them to cheer.

          But friendship is a nobler thing,-
           Of friendship it is good to sing.
        For truly,  when a man shall end,
        He lives in memory of his friend,
          Who both his better part recall,
           And of his faults make funeral.

          It seems that poet has a full  experience of the long life,  may be he wants to live that moments again  ! In the preceding stanza poet provides the 'moral' but the true message of friendship.  He tells that friendship is nobler thing in the world.  Because in life,  at the certain stages we need some good friend who can guide us in every situation. Many times person can't discuss everything with their parents/ siblings, which he or she can do with their friends.  By concluding the poem,  poet becomes emotional, the mode of poetry gets change. Even after the death of a friend, best moments of life never dies, indirectly, the memory remains with the living one.  In addition poet gives the suggestion for better friendship. He tells that one should burn the past mistakes before he himself becomes the part of a funeral.  At the end of the poetry, the message poetry tries to give is,  recall the great memories which we lived with our friends,  and that memory will keep you alive during the worst time of our lives.

     The interesting thing about the 'friendship' is it is difficult to keep our friends happy at every moment, many times we think of competing with them,  and in that process we  become envious for them.  See, the competition should be their, but with ourselves rather than the others. That's why people often tell that one should not forget the humanity over friendship !

"Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley

         The 'Ozymandias' is a sonnet written by English Romantic writer P. B.  Shelley.  

         Ozymandias- Rameses-11 was a Greek pharaoh in Egypt.  He was famous for his statesmanship, architecture, military leadership,  administrative abilities and building activities.  

          The central theme of the poem is, inevitable decline of rulers with their pretensions to greatness.  Here poet describes a ruined statue, which is in desert, which shows the fragility of human power.

     I met a traveller from an antique land, 
       Who said - " Two vast and trunkless 
                                                     legs of stone 
       Stand in the desert. Near them, 
                                                     on the sand,
       Half sunk a shattered visage lies, 
                                                     whose frown, 
      And wrinkled lip, and sneer of 
                                                   cold command,
      Tell that its sculptor well those
                                                     passions read,
      Which yet survive, stamped on these 
                                                     lifeless things, 
      The hand that mocked them, and the 
                                                     heart that fed,
  And on the pedestal, these words appears :
      My name is Ozymandias, king of kings, 
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair !
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay 
       Of that colossal Wreck, 
                                          boundless and bare 
The lone and level sands stretch far away." 

    As we know that the main theme of the poem is about the decline of the arrogant king/person, here poet describes it by comparing it with the various metaphors.  

   In the beginning narrator meets to the traveller, somewhere on the antique land.  The word antique represents the Greek,  which has an old cultural value and great kings. Beside this, nothing remains permanent as now the statue of the king is barely standing,  and its part are ruined in the desert.  The poet tries to say that though it is vast but it has no upper body,  which signifies the fragility of human power. Furthermore, poet makes mockery of it by saying that, the face of the statue seems unhappy and unrecognizable, and with it, his fame also vanished in the desert.  

         Earlier king had a great tongue but nowadays no one hearing him as he lost his identity which was full of arrogance. As poem progresses, poet uses irony to make fun of it by taunting, for instance,  poet praises the sculptor because the carvings are yet clear on the face of a statue ! 
      
           The traveller, talks about the powerful hands and also about the heart of that dying statue, but everything is in a vain.  As traveller describes the situation of various parts of the body,  suddenly he sees the inscribed words written on the pedestal.  Which is written by Ozymandias and describes himself as the king of kings,  moreover it shows his pompous claim of mightiness. 

               However, as time passed nothing remained with him,  the only thing people see is the barely standing and half ruined,  boundless statue. Here poet tries to say that his ego has been buried into the sand. 

             In conclusion we can say that poet tries to awake the people who are suffering from the ego and who have full arrogance of their position,  but at the end of the day nothing is going to be permanent, thus,  people should keep themselves away from the so called stardom.  Because many times it becomes the reason of a fall.   

Rhyming Scheme : ( Iambic Pentameter)                                           ABABA CDCEDEFEF

'How Sleep the Brave' by William Collins

            The poem 'How Sleep the Brave' was written by the 18th century English writer William Collins. 

      This patriotic poem is about war and soldier. Where soldiers selflessly dies to free their countries from the enemies. The main focus is on the funeral procession of a soldier, because his pyre is now ready for the burial.  

           How sleep the brave who sink to rest
              By all their country’s wishes blest!
           When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
         Returns the deck their hallow’d mould,
           She there shall dress a sweeter sod
               Than Fancy’s feet have ever trod.

This whole poetry is in the ode form, with two stanzas, each containing of six lines.  In the first stanza,  poet praises the soldier who has been died for the country.  And for that, they are blessed by the country's people. Here poet pays homage to the soldiers by honoring them. As poem progresses, poet compares it with the spring,  as spring symbolizes the 'rise',  same way this holy soldiers are like a spring,  moreover poet considers them as a holy person who has sacrificed his life for the betterment of the country. As per our imagination power we can interpret that,  now poet talks about the cemetery, which  is more delightful than the feet of a fancy.

                 By fair hands their knell is rung,
            By forms unseen their dirge is sung;
            There Honour comes, a pilgrim grey,
           To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
                 And freedom shall a while repair
               To dwell a weeping hermit there. 

      
            In the second stanza, our imagination about the funeral pyre becomes more stronger as poet tells that the sound of the bell will be ring as never before, and that's also accompanied by the mournful song. In addition, poet seems inspiring others to be brave by saying that these soldiers, as they have got this honor, they are now more famous, and pilgrimages will come to their grey to pay their homage.  At the end, poet becomes more emotional by saying that, this freedom will repair the sorrow of the hermit.  

         By concluding the poem,  we can say that this poem is an elegy,  where poet laments for the soldier. In modern context,  it can be possible that, ultimately poet is not happy with the freedom which he got at the cost of his friend, who had been serving to the country.