Project Submission Week 10

Imagery and Clarity 

Project Submission

Week 10

Imagery And Clarity 

Poetry is a form of writing that can be interpreted many different ways given the person reading the poem. Their could be a poem that talks about a bird but the next person might interpret that the poem is referring to a plane. And that's one of the confusing things about poems, the interpretation could be different which can begin to confuse readers on the topic or point of the poem. Although authors Walt Whitman and Ghalib both have poems that are up for interpretation but laced with imagery and clarity to keep readers intrigued with the meaning of the poem. Both authors use of detail create different images with different readers while allowing both to grasp a smilier message after reading. On the other hand the clarity of the writers also made understanding their message even more simple; their work could touch generations because the message was universal. Examining the work of Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" and Ghalib's "Couplets", will show a clear picture of the similarities in the use of imagery and clarity in message. In reality both poems also do have differences that are interesting. 

Ghalib is one of the most quoted poets in the nineteenth and twentieth century in Indian and Pakistan, where people remember his work by heart. Allowing his poetry to become apart of their everyday lives and routines. Ghalib's poetry was powerful enough to touch different generations as it says in his introduction "his words and emotions are on the lips of young and old lovers everywhere on the subcontinent". Ghalib used his poetry  to give wisdom to the lovers out there reading and this message was very clear in his poetry. First he begins the wisdom filled poem by saying "Ghalib, it's no use forcing your way with love"(pg.594,Couplets). Just by saying this Ghalib is telling readers love can not be forced and most important he uses his own name in the poem. Allowing readers to see the connection that even though he is the author he also needs the wisdom he is supplying. Showing that this advice of not forcing love is not only for readers but for him as an author as well. Ghalib continues his poem with imagery to drive home the message "it's a form of fire that doesn't catch when lit and doesn't die when doused"(pg.594). The image of love being a fire helps readers grasp further understand of the poem and promotes clarity. When you are reading and the message is clear the more you connect with that text and this is the style Ghalib used to gain his recognition.

Walt Whitman also was an accomplished writer that ushered in a new era in American poetry and created a new lane for poets similar to himself. His poetry was instrumental in giving a voice to those in writing that went unnoticed and his poetry cemented his astonishing legacy. Whitman was not a fan of politicians but President Lincoln was an exception from the dislike and evil feeling Whitman had of the others in the government. Whitman's poem "O Captain! My Captain!" he gives a short beautiful piece from an unknown character giving an ode to his dead Captain. Whitman say's "My Captain does not answer, his lips pale and still, My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will, The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done"(pg.465). The imagery Whitman uses in the poem gives clarity on the setting and even feeling of melancholy while reading. With the use of "The ship anchor'd safe and sound" makes you feel the true irony of the ship making it back safe but the Captain dies. Even in the poem it describes the voyage the ship made it through was not elementary instead it was an honors college course compared difficulty. Whitman explains "From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won". As the crew member states in the poem the voyage was fearful yet the ship was victorious against all odds. While gaining the victory you can read the anguish in his voice "But I with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead"(pg.465). Consequently, he should be happy to be safe back to shore but this character has to mourn his dead Captain leaving little room for celebration. 

To look more in depth at the differences of both poems each of the poems had different messages,Whitman's message was the Captain unexpectedly died after a long voyage and this was the crew members feelings. In the poem from that characters perspective he was safe with the ship and alive, yet his Captain dies. In addition Ghalib showed the same technique in his poem by giving advice about love while at the same time talking to himself since he was the character in the poem. As the character he explains the dangers of love and how to approach love but it turn into a prayer to God. Both poems have a message that is clear but they are different one is an ode to the dead, while the other is a self reflection of advice on love. The characters in both poems are quiet different, for example Whitman's poem the characters were unknown the crew member talking or the Captain who had died. Ironically the Captain was supposed to symbolize Abraham Lincoln because that was Whitman's only politician he approved of his work. If you just read his poem and instead made him the crew member and Lincoln the Captain the poem would make even more sense. On the other hand Ghalib's poem was more direct on the characters like Ghalib himself and the most known God. They continue being different in the way they both use their remarkable imagery gift in different ways. Ghalib uses his imagery to paint a picture of love as an object and Whitman is using his imagery to express the sorrow he has with his lost Captain. Briefly Whitman also does use imagery to explain the setting of this scene when the character is grieving his Captain. Finally both poems have even more differences but the similarities are superfluous when compared.

In closing, both poems are my favorite so far they are both laced with imagery and so clear that it relates to me even though it was written so long ago. I appreciate the riddle in Whitman's piece and how I had to read the text all the way check for clues after to even find out who the Captain was in the poem. And the advised laced poem of Ghalib telling me how I couldn't not force love. I understand why he is one of the most quoted of the ninetieth and twentieth century.