blessing Flashcards
“the skin cracks like a pod”
-This opening simile vividly illustrates the extreme dryness and scarcity of water in the setting
-The harsh, plosive ‘k’ sounds in “cracks” and “like” create a sense of brittleness and discomfort, reinforcing the desperate need for water
-establishes theme of scarcity and hardship, desperate need for water
-contrasts later in the poem when water flows highlighting its miraculous nature
“there is never enough water”
-Emphasizes the constant struggle for this basic necessity
-Use of “never” creates a sense of absoluteness and hopelessness
-short and blunt sentence, desperation and finality of the situation
-evokes sympathy and awarness for global insecurity in resource distribution
“imagine the drip of it, the small splash, the echo in a tin mug.”
-the onomatopoeic words “drip” and “splash” create a sensory experience, while the “echo in a tin mug” emphasizes the scarcity of water
-The imperative “Imagine” invites the reader to engage directly with the scene, Creates a reverent, almost meditative atmosphere
-The gentleness of the imagery contrasts with the harshness of the drought, making the water seem even more precious
-The use of a “tin mug” suggests poverty and emphasizes the value of even a small amount of water
-Contrasts sharply with the often-taken-for-granted attitude towards water in developed countries
“Sometimes, the sudden rush / of fortune.”
-This line marks a turning point in the poem, juxtaposition, where scarcity suddenly turns to abundance
-The word “fortune” implies that the burst pipe is seen as a stroke of luck or blessing, rather than an infrastructure failure, This reflects the community’s desperation and their perception of water as a valuable resource
-sibilance, The soft, flowing sounds evoke both the gentleness and ferocity of water as it bursts forth. It contrasts with earlier descriptions of scarcity (e.g., “drip”) to emphasize the overwhelming abundance of this moment.
-caesura, aniticipates the burst of water from the pipe, The sibilance also conveys a sense of excitement and chaos as the community reacts to this unexpected blessing.
-metophor, Water is metaphorically described as “silver,” elevating its value and associating it with wealth or treasure, This reflects the community’s perception of water as precious, especially in their context of extreme poverty and scarcity.
“over their small bones”
-“Small bones” metaphorically represent the frailty of the children, not just physically but also socially and economically. They are exposed to the harsh realities of life in a slum, where survival is a constant struggle.
-Bones are often associated with mortality and permanence, yet describing them as “small” suggests youth and innocence. This juxtaposition reminds readers of the tragic vulnerability of children in impoverished settings.
structure
-The first two stanzas of the poem are the shortest, These stanzas may reflect the community’s deprivation and poverty, the scarcity of water and the residents’ dehydration
-The line lengths in each stanza are deliberately short, Short lines reflect the community’s deprivation and poverty and the scarcity of water, Longer lines reflect the pipe bursting and the abundance of the “blessing” that the water represents
-The third stanza of the poem is the longest, The length of the stanza reflects the “rush” of water and the blessing that the residents receive , It could also reflect the number of residents, the “congregation”, who rush to the water with their “buckets” and “frantic hands”
form
-free verse, no meter, Reflects the commotion around the pipe bursting and the movement of water, Mimics the unpredictable nature of the residents’ lives
-The poem uses deliberately short lines, with the longest line containing just six words, Creates a sense of urgency and desperation, Mimics the quick, frantic movements of people gathering water
-enjabment, Creates a sense of flowing water, Increases the poem’s pace, especially in the longer third stanza, Reflects the continuous movement of people and water
