The skin cracks like a pod.
The poem 'Blessing' by Imtiaz Dharker explores the theme of water scarcity and its sudden abundance in a poor community. The opening lines describe the dry, cracked skin, symbolizing the parched land and people. The imagery of water dripping and echoing in a tin mug evokes the preciousness of each drop. The poem then shifts to a moment of unexpected fortune when a municipal pipe bursts, releasing a torrent of water. This event is depicted as a divine blessing, drawing people from all around to collect the precious liquid. The children, naked and joyful, play in the water, their skin gleaming in the sunlight. The poem captures the desperation and joy of a community for whom water is a rare and life-giving blessing. Dharker uses vivid imagery and sound to convey the contrast between scarcity and abundance, highlighting the socio-economic realities faced by many communities.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| cracks | splits | breaks open | kraks |
| pod | seed case | a shell that holds seeds | pod |
| municipal | city | related to the city or town | myoo-nis-i-pal |
| congregation | gathering | a group of people assembled | kon-gri-gey-shun |
| frantic | desperate | wild with excitement or worry | fran-tik |
| highlights | bright spots | areas that reflect light | hai-laits |
| polished | shiny | made smooth and glossy | pol-isht |
| blessing | gift | a beneficial thing | bles-ing |
| echo | reverberation | a sound that is reflected back | ek-oh |
| fortune | luck | chance or good luck | for-chun |
| aluminium | metal | a lightweight metal | al-yoo-min-ee-um |
| liquid | fluid | a substance that flows | lik-wid |
Imtiaz Dharker is a Pakistani-British poet, artist, and filmmaker, born on January 31, 1954. She is known for her English poetry and was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. Dharker has served as Chancellor of Newcastle University since January 2020.
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