„Blessing‟ by Imtiaz Dharker
„Blessing‟ is a poem about a society that does not have enough water.
The poem is set in Dharavi, which is on the outskirts of Mumbai.
Dharavi is a place of temporary housing and as it is an unofficial
settlement, water is always scarce.
The skin cracks like a pod.
There is never enough water. Simile – shows
how dry the
environment is.
Lack of water
is a constant
problem. This
is what the
poem is about.
Imagine the drip of it,
the small splash, echo
in a tin mug,
the voice of a kindly god.
Water is personified.
Sometimes, the sudden rush
of fortune. The municipal pipe bursts,
silver crashes to the ground
Water is described as
being precious and
valuable.
Roar = loud sound vs “drip” in line 3.
and the flow has found
a roar of tongues. From the huts,
a congregation: every man woman
child for streets around
The word “congregation”
emphasises that this is a
religious society.
butts in, with pots,
brass, copper, aluminium,
plastic buckets,
frantic hands,
They are
desperat
e for
water.
and naked children
screaming in the liquid sun,
their highlights polished to
perfection,
flashing light,
as the blessing sings
over their small bones.