Soft Storm by Abhi Subedi
Summary
The poem "Soft Storm" by Abhi Subedi is a powerful and moving exploration of the themes of social injustice, violence, and the power of the human spirit. The poem is written in free verse, which allows the poet to express his thoughts and feelings in a more fluid and natural way.
In the poem, the poet describes how he became "soft" after witnessing a variety of events, both natural and social. These events include "growing like crocuses over stones," "the moon skidding down your walls," "homeless children crying in the streets," and "a man being beaten for no reason."
The poet's response to the violence and chaos is to become a "soft storm". This "soft storm" is a metaphor for the poet's own compassion and empathy for the victims of injustice. The poet knows that he cannot change the world on his own, but he can at least use his words to speak out against injustice and to offer comfort to those who are suffering.
The poem ends with the poet expressing his hope that the "soft storm" will eventually dissipate and that the world will be a more just and peaceful place. However, the poet also acknowledges that the "soft storm" will always be there, as a reminder of the human capacity for both good and evil.
The poem "Soft Storm" is a powerful and important work of art that speaks to the universal human experience of suffering and hope. The poem is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always light to be found.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. When does the speaker grow soft? Enlist the occasions when he grows soft?
- The speaker grows soft when
- He hears the tumult.
-The sky grew like crocuses.
-The moon skids down.
- The softness rises like a gale.
-The moon sang of lampposts and gutters in this seamless city, and so on.
b. What do you understand by ‘this seamless city’?
The phrase "this seamless city" likely refers to the urban environment. The term "seamless" suggests that the city is interconnected, continuous, and without clear divisions or boundaries. It may symbolize the unity and complexity of the city, where different elements of society, history, and nature converge and interact.
c. Describe the poor children portrayed in the poem.
The poor children portrayed in the poem are poor and without home. They can be found in the Thamel area. They cry due to hunger under the bat-bearing trees of Kesharmahal.
d. What do you understand by ‘the unwedded gardens of history’?
The phrase "The unwedded gardens of history" refers to the parts of history that have been neglected or forgotten. It suggests that these parts of history have been left to grow wild and unkempt, like untended gardens.
e. Why was the forlorn child wailing?
The forlorn child was wailing because he is desperately searching for his mother in the corridors of violent history.
f. What do you understand by ‘soft storm’?
"Soft storm" in the poem is a metaphorical expression that represents the speaker's emotional and psychological response to the disorder and suffering in their surroundings. It signifies a deep inner turmoil, emotional sensitivity, and a potential for positive change and activism in response to societal issues.
g. Why does the speaker call our time ‘mad time’?
The speaker calls our time "mad time" because he sees the world around him as being in a state of chaos and disorder. The speaker uses a number of images to convey this sense of madness, such as stone growing in flower, the moon humming melodies, history rushing under the lamppost and over deforested land, birds singing of bizarre journeys over the warming earth, rhododendron blooming in winter, and mother earth telling of the tumults in the songs of the sad birds.
h. What does the speaker want to do in “hard times”?
In "hard times," the speaker wants to melt like a rainbow. This implies that during challenging or difficult periods, the speaker wishes to maintain his emotional sensitivity and capacity for empathy. He wants to preserve his inner softness and continues to respond with kindness and compassion, even in the face of adversity.
Reference to the context
a. The poet uses the word ‘soft’ with the words like ‘storm’ and ‘gale’, which generally refer to disorder and violence. What effect does the poet achieve through the use of such anomolous expressions?
Anamolous expressions are the expressions which are syntactically well formed but semantically meaningless. In the poem, the expressions ‘soft storm’ and ‘softness rose like a gale’ are unusual and paradoxical in nature. Through these expressions the poet achieves psychological effect. Connecting two contrasting ideas, he is able to express his disturbed inner experience.
b. What is the speaker’s attitude towards the time he describes in the poem?
The speaker’s attitude towards the time is not positive. He considers the time to be mad as he experiences several unusual things happening around him. Since the society is in complete disorder and out of control, he is having hard times.
c. What is the speaker like? Is he a rebel? Why? Why not?
The poet finds the society in complete disorder. People are suffering from poverty, hunger and corruption. He sees homeless children who cry with hunger. He witnesses people ignoring the history. They are treating one another inhumanely. He seems to challenge all these things. Though he is like a rebel, his rebellious nature is not directly presented in the poem.
d. Explain the stanza below in your own words:
I became soft
when I saw
a blood-stained shirt
speaking in the earth’s ears
with bruised human lips
in the far corner
under the moon
of history and dreams
playing hide and seek
in open museums
In these lines, the poet conveys a profound emotional response to a distressing scene. When he encounters a person wearing a blood-stained shirt, who lies unconscious on the ground, he feels a deep sense of empathy and sorrow. This emotional reaction occurs during a moonlit night, symbolizing the intersection of history and dreams.
The given lines describe the poet's reaction to seeing a blood-stained shirt in a far corner of a city. The shirt is "speaking in the earth's ears" with "bruised human lips," suggesting that it is a symbol of the suffering of the poor and marginalized. The moon is described as the "moon of history and dreams," which could be interpreted as a reference to the hopes and aspirations of humanity. However, the moon is "playing hide and seek" in the open museums, suggesting that these hopes and aspirations are being ignored or forgotten.
In essence, the poet is highlighting the stark contrast between the beauty and significance of human history and the indifference of individuals when confronted with someone in dire need.
Summary
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