Rebel

They
stood him up
against an orchard wall
and shot him
at dawn.

Pandemonium of crows
and then
the empty horizon.

Hundreds of miles away

his mother
kneels in prayer –
in ignorance –
the ignorance of prayer.

Wheat ear on the stubble –

the blind earth
must be fed.

Stanza 1:

A man is executed against an orchard wall at dawn. The crows caw and the horizon is empty. The
execution is a senseless act of violence, and the empty horizon suggests the vastness of the world
and the senselessness of war.

Stanza 2:

The man's mother is hundreds of miles away, kneeling in prayer. However, her prayer is "in
ignorance," as she does not know what has happened to her son. The mother's prayer is a symbol
of hope, even in the midst of darkness.

Stanza 3:

Daud Kamal Page 1

 The earth, blind to the suffering of humans, must be fed. This image suggests that the
world is indifferent to the violence of war, and that it will continue to turn regardless of the
pain and loss that war brings.

The poem uses a variety of poetic devices to create its effect. Some of the most notable devices
include:

• Imagery: The poem is rich in imagery, which helps to create a vivid and sensory experience for
the reader. For example, the image of the orchard wall is a reminder of both death and new life,
while the crows represent death and destruction. The empty horizon suggests the vastness of the
world and the senselessness of war.
• Symbolism: The poem also uses symbolism to convey its message. For example, the mother's
prayer is a symbol of hope, even in the midst of darkness. The blind earth suggests that the world
is indifferent to the suffering of humans, and that it will continue to turn regardless of the pain and
loss that war brings.
• Repetition: The poem uses repetition of words and phrases to create a sense of rhythm and
emphasis. For example, the word "they" is repeated throughout the poem, which helps to create a
sense of detachment and anonymity. The repetition of the phrase "the blind earth" also emphasizes
the indifference of the world to the suffering of humans.
• Alliteration: The poem uses alliteration, or the repetition of consonant sounds, to create a sense
of rhythm and emphasis. For example, the words "stood" and "shot" in the first line alliterate with
the "s" sound, which helps to create a sense of urgency and violence.
• Enjambment: The poem uses enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one
line to the next, to create a sense of flow and momentum. For example, the line "hundreds of miles
away / his mother" is enjambed, which helps to create a sense of urgency and movement as the
poem progresses.

Anniversary

This morning is our anniversary

and I remember how you used to come
to me across the dark,
and how we talked and loved
and were young and happy.

But now I am old, and you are far away,

and I am tired of waiting.
I have no more tears to cry,
and no more words to say.

So I will sit here in the dark

Daud Kamal Page 2
 and remember our anniversary,
and think of how you used to come
to me across the dark,
and how we talked and loved
and were young and happy.

Stanza 1:

The speaker remembers their anniversary with their lover, who is now far away. They remember
how their lover used to come to them "across the dark", which suggests that their lover was a
source of light and hope in the speaker's life. The speaker also remembers how they talked, loved,
and were young and happy together. This stanza captures the speaker's fond memories of their
time with their lover, and the sadness they feel now that their lover is gone.

Stanza 2:

The speaker is now old and tired, and they have no more tears to cry or words to say. This suggests
that the speaker has been through a lot of pain and loss in their life, and that they are now at a point
where they have no more energy to grieve. However, the speaker still remembers their lover and
how they used to be together. This suggests that the speaker's love for their lover is still strong,
even though they are no longer together.

Stanza 3:

The speaker sits in the dark, remembering their anniversary and thinking of how their lover used
to come to them "across the dark". This suggests that the speaker still feels a connection to their
lover, even though they are no longer physically together. The speaker also remembers how they
talked, loved, and were young and happy together. This stanza captures the speaker's longing for
their lover, and the pain they feel at the loss of their love.

These are just some of the poetic devices used in the poem "Anniversary" by Daud Kamal. These
devices help to create a moving and wistful poem about the loss of love.

• Imagery: The poem uses vivid imagery to create a sense of the speaker's memories. For example,
the image of the speaker's lover coming to them "across the dark" suggests that their lover was a
source of light and hope in the speaker's life.
• Symbolism: The poem uses symbolism to convey the speaker's emotions. For example, the dark
symbolizes the speaker's grief and loss, while the speaker's lover symbolizes the light and hope
that they once had.

Daud Kamal Page 3

• Repetition: The poem uses repetition to emphasize certain words and phrases. For example, the
repetition of the phrase "across the dark" reinforces the idea that the speaker's lover was a source
of light and hope in their life.
• Personification: The poem personifies the dark, suggesting that it is a force that has separated the
speaker from their lover. For example, the line "But now I am old, and you are far away, / and I
am tired of waiting" suggests that the dark is keeping the speaker from their lover.
• Free verse: The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a regular rhyme
scheme or meter. This allows the poem to flow more naturally and to reflect the speaker's emotions
more accurately.

Kingfisher
The swift kingfisher
darted across the river,
a blue streak of light,
a flash of turquoise,
a glimpse of paradise.

I watched it plunge into the water,

a flash of silver,
a splash of foam,
and then it emerged,
a fish in its beak,
a miracle of speed and grace.

I stood there for a long time,

watching the kingfisher,
and I thought about the beauty of the world,
and the fleeting nature of life.

The kingfisher was gone in an instant,

but its beauty remained with me,
a reminder of the wonder of the natural world.

Stanza 1:

The speaker sees a kingfisher dart across the river. The kingfisher is described as a "blue streak of
light" and a "flash of turquoise". These descriptions suggest that the kingfisher is a beautiful and
graceful bird. The speaker is immediately struck by the kingfisher's beauty and grace.

Stanza 2:

Daud Kamal Page 4

 The speaker watches the kingfisher plunge into the water. The kingfisher is described as a "flash
of silver" and a "splash of foam". These descriptions suggest that the kingfisher's plunge into the
water is sudden and powerful. The speaker is amazed by the kingfisher's speed and agility.

Stanza 3:

The speaker sees the kingfisher emerge from the water with a fish in its beak. The kingfisher is
described as a "miracle of speed and grace". This description suggests that the kingfisher is a
powerful and agile bird. The speaker is impressed by the kingfisher's ability to catch a fish.

Stanza 4:

The speaker stands there for a long time, watching the kingfisher. The speaker thinks about the
beauty of the world and the fleeting nature of life. The speaker reflects on how the kingfisher is a
reminder of the wonder of the natural world. The speaker is grateful for the opportunity to witness
the beauty of the kingfisher.

Stanza 5:

The kingfisher is gone in an instant, but its beauty remains with the speaker. The speaker is left
with a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of the natural world. The speaker is glad that they
were able to experience the beauty of the kingfisher, even if it was only for a brief moment.

• Imagery: The poem uses vivid imagery to create a sense of the kingfisher's beauty and grace. For
example, the image of the kingfisher as a "blue streak of light" and a "flash of turquoise" suggests
that the kingfisher is a beautiful and graceful bird.
• Metaphor: The poem uses the metaphor of the kingfisher as a "miracle of speed and grace". This
metaphor suggests that the kingfisher is a powerful and agile bird.
• Simile: The poem uses the simile "a glimpse of paradise" to describe the kingfisher. This simile
suggests that the kingfisher is a beautiful and awe-inspiring bird.
• Personification: The poem personifies the kingfisher in the line "a flash of silver, a splash of foam".
This personification suggests that the kingfisher's plunge into the water is sudden and powerful.
• Enjambment: The poem uses enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one
line to the next, to create a sense of flow and movement. For example, the line "a blue streak of
light, a flash of turquoise, a glimpse of paradise" is enjambed, which creates a sense of excitement
and wonder.
• Free verse: The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a regular rhyme
scheme or meter. This allows the poem to flow more naturally and to reflect the speaker's emotions
more accurately.
Daud Kamal Page 5
 Daud Kamal as a Poet

Daud Kamal was a Pakistani poet who wrote most of his work in the English language. He was
born in 1935 in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and he died in 1987 in Peshawar, Pakistan. Kamal was a
versatile poet who wrote in a variety of styles, including free verse, blank verse, and traditional
forms. His poems often dealt with themes of love, loss, nature, and the human condition.

Kamal's poetry is characterized by its simplicity, directness, and imagery. He often uses simple
language to express complex emotions, and he relies on imagery to create vivid and memorable
scenes. Kamal's poetry is also notable for its use of symbolism. He often uses symbols to represent
abstract concepts, such as love, loss, and death.

Kamal's poetry has been praised by critics for its beauty, its honesty, and its emotional power. He
is considered to be one of the most important Pakistani poets of the 20th century.

Here is a more detailed look at some of the key themes and techniques used in Kamal's poetry:

Themes

• Love: Love is one of the most important themes in Kamal's poetry. He writes about love in all its
forms, from romantic love to platonic love to familial love. Kamal's poems about love are often
passionate and lyrical, but they can also be sad and wistful.
• Loss: Loss is another important theme in Kamal's poetry. He writes about the loss of loved ones,
the loss of innocence, and the loss of hope. Kamal's poems about loss are often moving and elegiac.
• Nature: Nature is a recurring theme in Kamal's poetry. He writes about the beauty of the natural
world, but he also writes about the destructive power of nature. Kamal's poems about nature are
often both hopeful and cautionary.

Daud Kamal Page 6

• The human condition: Kamal's poetry often explores the human condition. He writes about the
joys and sorrows of life, the challenges of love, and the search for meaning. Kamal's poems about
the human condition are often both insightful and compassionate.

Techniques
• Simile: Kamal often uses similes to create vivid imagery in his poems. For example, in the poem
"Kingfisher", he compares the kingfisher to a "blue streak of light" and a "flash of turquoise".
These similes help to create a sense of the kingfisher's beauty and grace.
• Metaphor: Kamal also uses metaphors in his poems. For example, in the poem "Anniversary", he
compares the speaker's lover to a "light" and a "hope". These metaphors help to convey the
speaker's love for their lover and the pain they feel at their loss.
• Personification: Kamal sometimes uses personification in his poems. For example, in the poem
"Kingfisher", he personifies the river in the line "the river sparkles". This personification helps to
create a sense of the river's beauty and vitality.
• Free verse: Kamal's poems are often written in free verse. This means that they do not follow a
regular rhyme scheme or meter. Free verse allows Kamal to write in a more natural and expressive
way.

Impact
Daud Kamal's poetry has had a significant impact on Pakistani literature. He is considered to be
one of the most important Pakistani poets of the 20th century, and his work has been translated
into many languages. Kamal's poetry has inspired a new generation of Pakistani poets, and it
continues to be read and enjoyed by people all over the world.

Overall, Daud Kamal was a gifted poet who wrote beautiful, honest, and moving poems about the
human condition. His poetry is still relevant today, and it continues to inspire and touch people all
over the world.

Daud Kamal Page 7