The poem is extracted from Nissim Ezekiel’s forth volume of poems that appeared in 1965 under the name The Exact Name. Here, Ezekiel tries to analyze the creative process of the poet, and makes an attempt at defining it. He compares a poet in this sense, to a bird-watcher or lover. It is only perseverance and inspiration that results in a natural poem.

Ornithologists and lovers do not rush their way towards things, they rather wait for the apt moment .Likewise, the art of poetic diction does not result after much after-thought. It is rather a spontaneous process. The poet echoes Wordsworth’s definition of poetry a “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”. Just as an ornithologist waits for a bird in order to patiently identify its movements, and accurately classify and describe the bird, a lover waits patiently for his lady love to submit to him without much ado. Likewise, a poet must proceed with great resolve for his poetic consciousness to comply with him. The poet makes use of two apt metaphors, the first a bird for the ‘flight of imagination’ and, second-the ladylove as a source of inspiration.

Therefore, it is perfect endurance or slow movement that results in fruition. If the bird-watcher needs to watch stationary birds he has to go to a remote place, deserted lanes or near the river. He has to watch in silence at the desert or coastal areas. If a man anticipates a favorable reaction from his beloved, he has to wait till she is no longer “flesh and bone” and they are one in soul, till the beloved becomes a myth of light with darkness at the core. The lady’s beauty lies in her being an enigma. Poets are lost if they are reckless and twisted in their poetic flight. Poetry resulting from true poetic spirit, makes the blind see and the deaf hear.

Ezekiel’s stance echoes Philip Sidney’s definition of poetic creation that genuine inspiration comes from one’s heart and not from external considerations. Poetry need not always conform to existing standards, premises and diction. This forms the crux of his poetical theory.

I.N.Kher says:”But this slow movement of love and poetry, which sows irritable haste to arrive at meaning does not come by easily In order to possess vision of the rare birds of his psyche, the poet has to go through the deserted lanes of his solitary, private life, and has to walk along the primal rivers of his consciousness in silence, or travel to a far-off shore which is like “the heart’s dark floor”.

© Rukhaya MK 2010

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