Blissing

Imtiaz Dharker's poem can be read in two ways. A straightforward reading might suggest that the poem is simply a description of an incident when a pipe bursts and people run excitedly for the water.

A more considered reading, however, would see the poem as being more ominous and disturbing.

Under the apparent good fortune and excitement of the scene are darker ideas about the poverty and superstition of the people in the poet's native country.

It is the second reading we will be exploring in this revision programme.

Either way, the attitude to water in the poem should make us in the West wonder at how much we all take for granted, and how too often we squander the earth's resources.

Dharker paints for the reader a vivid scene using visual and aural imagery.

For instance, after opening with a powerful visual image, the poet goes on to make us hear the smallest noise 'echo/ in a tin mug', before upping the sound level with the 'roar of tongues' as people descend on the pipe.

The title of the poem appears to be ironic.

These people are not blessed - they have little water of their own. Only superstition could lead them to count this 'municipal pipe' burst as a blessing.

In reality, it shows the poor state of the pipes, part of the city's basic infrastructure, pipes that should be carrying water to the people. The fact that the people live in 'huts', that the children are 'naked' and that everyone is 'frantic' for the water tell us a lot about the living conditions.

Revision

There is a lot of sensual imagery in this poem. Mainly we hear and see the unfolding scene.

These details show us what the people's lives are like. In the following table are some of the visual details with explanations of what they tell us about the lives of the people, and some analysis of the effect of the lines.

However, the analysis only offers a mostly 'positive' reading of the poem: That the burst pipe is a stroke of good fortune.

Quote: What it tells us: Effect:

The skin cracks like a pod That there is very little water, and that the burst pipe is therefore a bit of luck. The skin could refer metaphorically to the earth. In this case an image of broken drought stricken land comes to mind.

Imagine the drip of it . . . the voice of a kindly god. The people are devout and religious, appreciating what's given to them. We are made to see something we think of as ordinary as something precious.

Silver crashes to the ground The water is precious The water is seen as being very positive - it is like winning the lottery.

From the huts,/ a congregation The people are orderly and religious They appreciate what God has done for them

Naked children The society is not embarrassed by nudity The children are excited, exuberant and are enjoying the water

Highlights polished to perfection The children have expensive hair-cuts This is an image of brightness and energy

As the blessing sings/ over their small bones The people are happy and singing. Children are small They need the water and count it as a blessing.

Frantic hands They all want the water They are all excited

The poem is like one of those pictures you can see in two different ways.

Perhaps the best way to write about the poem is to say that at first it appears 'positive', but below the surface are some more disturbing ideas.

Form

Notice how the poem builds