Summary and analysis of the poem The Eye of Poetry by Lilian Aujo

 

                                                           The Eye of Poetry

About the Author:

                Lilian Aujo is a Ugandan writer who was born in Kambola, Uganda.  She is the member of Femrite Uganda WomenWriter’s Association founded in 1995.  She was influenced by Arundhathi Roy, Zakiswa Warner, Chimmanan da Ngozi Adichie and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  Her works have appeared in anthologies by Femrite, “Talking Tales” and “Summoning the Rains”.  She was the first winner of the first BN poetry prize from Bibishai Niwe (BN) foundation in 2009.

Introduction:

                The poem “The Eye of Poetry” was published in the Sucibi collection in 2013.  This poem describes the power and depth of poetry.  This poem analyse the subtleness of poetry.  It considers poetry as an eye of which is hypnotically beautiful with all kinds of inherited natural magic. 

Usage of words:

                The poem is in first person narrative and the poet says that the poetry is a school from where she may never be graduated.  It is very hard to identify the secret ways of a poem patterns itself.  The poet is astonished to see the usage of the same letters to form different syllables and different words. 

Poetical language:

                The words are arranged in such a way to create a whole story which is exclusively the ability of the poet.  She states the usage of beautiful poetical language by the poets.  The poetic lines express the emotions that run high, low calm and at times very vivacious.

                “It is how emotions run

                 High-low-calm-serene

                Vivacious, like the Sun at noon surreal like the fantasy it promises”

A reader cannot identify when a poem will become subtle or quiet.

Comparison of poetry:

                The poet compares poetry with the river.  Though the poetry is seem to be silent it will grow like a river that will wet the dry land.  On reading certain poetry, the reader wil get a solace (comfort/console) from the confused state of mine.  Then Aujo compares poetry to the song of a bird which she is unable to articulate.  She says that like a trickle in a porcelain sink the whoosh of mind,

                “The trickle of the tap in a porcelain sink

                The whoosh of the wind that makes my skin stand on end”

the creativity knocks the breath of the lungs to produce poetry.  As the creature talent is in born the creature writers will be prompted to produce the work of art.  Eventhough the readers try to understand the hidden meanings of the poetry nothing can be seen but it says much more that what is exposed. 

Contrast in the poetry:

                “The music in you, unsung, yet so fervent you tingle within

                The notes in the air unwritten, on sheets Tangible, intangible whatever you please”

Though it is hard to get the hidden meaning of the poem, it will make the readers to read again and stick to the mind as a child clings to stay and like walking through the spider web which is not seen.  Poetry is a confusion between fantasy and realism, abstructions and concern and the birth and death.  These contrast and the birth and death.  These contrast and disorders bring out the eminent beauty. 

                “See, there is disorder exists the some beauty eminent in order

                I have come to learn”

Different forms of poetry:

                The poet compares the different forms of poetry like free verse, sonnet, haiku and lyrics t the different music from violin.  She calls the poet as a violin which produces different music as a poet produce different forms of poetry.  As a poet is with a poetic mind,  she is willing to tell all the complexity prevailing in poetry.  According to the poet, stories are spun like the silky strands of Ananse’s tale and are like a great excitement or adventure.

Beauty of poetry:

                The poet says that she had learned the lessons which are unlearned.  The idea of subject of poetry is with more twists and turns which makes he eyes fill with tears.  Like the loose wheel or like rain drops the poetry is also not able to find its mark.  The poetry is meld in such a way like water in the lake flows in itself and never knows where it begins or ends.  The sublimity and the divinity of the poetry cannot be explained but it can be felt.  Words are always inept to describe the beauty of poetry.

Conclusion:

                Thus poetry is existent in many exquisite and intrinsic patterns.  When peacock dances with its beautiful tail, we see the magical charm of its beauty.  In the same way when we read the lines of poetry we can feel the magical charm of poetry.