Gul Mohar Edition 9 Orient Blackswan
Gul Mohar English Poem - The Lost Dances of Cranes
Writer of the poem - Juliet WilsonSummary
Juliet Wilson writes environmental poetry and had written over 50 poems which were published in UK poetry journals. She reviews poetry publications for New Hope International Online. This poem is a good example of her concern and anguish over the destruction of the environment.
Juliet Wilson mourns at the verge of extinction of the Cranes which were dancing gracefully near water bodies. The birds no longer do their elegant dance on their fields; only the memory of their graceful movements remain due the reduction of wet lands and human unlimited desire to expand the cities. She makes a sad comment about how a magnificent species of bird, the crane is dying out. Future generation will know only cranes of another kind in the newly built cities. It reflects on the evolution from the endangered species to the development of cities through the construction cranes.
The poem presents two contrasting images by punning on the word, ‘crane’. The first image is of a past when the birds used to arrive in due season to breed; to signify the beginning of a new cycle of life. Their dance was a symbol of procreative energy .The second image is of monstrous machine which is used in building construction; it destroys to create. It is not only lifeless but also death-dealing to the natural environment. The two cranes are symbols of everything that is life-giving being replaced by life-threatening.
The poem throws light on the changes over from the past that is no longer available in the present and focusses to depict a bleak future. The image of blurred video-clipping of the dance of the cranes is a sad reminder of the natural pattern of life that we are sacrificing to our misplaced zeal for urbanization. These grainy images will be evidence of what we have lost but by then the regret may be too late.
The irony is that people appreciate the dance of the cranes, watching videos and marveling at the wonders of the natural world, yet, are not conscious of the fact that they have been responsible for the destruction of the natural habitat. People do not realize the responsibility to restore nature, instead they cherish watching it on videos.
The poet sensitizes her readers to revive the lost natural habitat and further challenges all the readers to restore beauty of nature instead of being silent spectators in watching television.
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