Gaia

-                                                                                                                                                                          -   Shreedhar Lohani, Nepal (1944- )

I. Literal Comprehension

            Context: This poem is written by Shreedhar Lohani, Nepal (1944- ), one of the editors of Flax Golden Tales and renowned Professor. The poet has depicted the condition of mother Earth in this poem.

            The air is so hot that the trees and plants are dead and dry. The rain that would help them be alive again is destructive instead, and is causing havoc everywhere. The usual calmness of the sea is gone and it has been changed into a demon with a mouth agape. The mountain looks like a bird of prey with a crooked beak. It also refers to the condition in which the mountain is shaken badly due to earthquake. Time itself is a destructive and skinny bird of prey that pulls the life from the living beings on earth. The house or the shelter is so old and murky that it is covered with the stench and squalor. There is restlessness everywhere. Though mother Earth is suffering so much because of human beings’ greed and hunger, she is patient and enduring.

II. Interpretation

            This poem has depicted Earth as a gentle, feminine and nurturing mother figure. She is patient and enduring despite the fact that human beings are greedy and are rampantly using the natural resources without considering the need of future generation. This poem has presented the horrifying picture of the world as full of danger and threat for the humanity. There is also an implicit message in the poem that anytime mother Earth can react violently and become ruthlessly cruel to those who are transgressing.

III. Critical Thinking

            The poet has rightly depicted the world as a dangerous place to live because of the human transgressions. The poet has indicated that the bleak future is waiting ahead for the world humanity. But is the reality so much depressing? Certainly, we are having many consequences of the past transgressions by the human beings. But aren’t there many people who are worried about the world environment and are working to save the world ecosystem?

IV. Assimilation

            After reading the poem, I have been more conscious about the possible harm of human behaviors toward the environment. I wish I could make everybody in the world understand this issue, and they would take it seriously. Alas, most of them never realize or understand it in their lifetime.