To a Reason

(poem)
Arthur Rimbaud (1854 – 1891)

I. ESSAY

Arthur Rimbaud is a French poet. In this “prose poem”, ‘To a Reason’, he questions the
concept of a single reason. It acknowledges the simultaneity of all life. The poem follows the
theme of Rimbaud’s philosophy that “the self is obsolete”, that is, “I is someone else”. The “I’
can be an individual, a consciousness, race, gender, nation or a thousand other things.
The poem was written at a time when slave trade was common in the West. The poem
questions the boundaries and the conventions of a rigid feudal logic. It questions the influence
of the western world order on the modern thought and its impact on the “others” of the world.
This “prose poem” reminds us of the Pied Piper and the children. It addresses someone
who can create a new world order with a rap of the finger on the drum. The rap can start a new
harmony. Children will willingly follow him as they followed the Pied Piper. They beg to
change their fates. They want to save themselves from the plague which has been in the minds
of people since time immemorial. It is with this plague that people read “the others”.
The children are not silent; they sing and beg. There is a possibility of a new world
order to which the children/men are 'marching'. They look away into the possibilities, and find
a new love, a love for something new. Only children have this potential to look at the world
from an unprejudiced and uncorrupted point of view.
The poet becomes optimistic that the movement can reach anywhere or everywhere.
The possibilities are innumerable when one doesn't abide by a single reason. The poet says how
music can create a new harmony which can lead to an army of `marching' men. The same
children who 'sing' later 'beg' to 'shoot down the plagues'. The poem captures the attention of
the reader for a long time.

II. Answer the following questions in a sentence or two:

1. According to the poet, what brings a new world order?

A touch of your finger on the drum brings a new world order, according to the poet.

2. Why do the children beg?

The children beg because they want to save themselves from the plague; the plague which was
in the thoughts of the people from the beginning of time.

3. Is there a reference to the historical context of European colonisation in this poem?

There is a reference to the historical context of European colonisation in this poem. “Change
our lots, confound the plagues” clearly refers to this. The poem was written at a time when
slavery was rampant.

4. Can you associate this poem with any other text that you are familiar with?
This poem reminds us of the story of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech, ‘I Have a
Dream’.

III. Answer in a paragraph:

1. Explain how the poet uses "You" as a metaphor in the poem.

In the poem, ‘To a Reason’, Rimbaud addresses someone who can create a new world
order with a rap of the finger on the drum. "You" is the metaphor for that person who can make
things new. The drummer can start a new harmony. The children will willingly follow him.
The children are not silent. They even beg him to change their fates. They want him to save
them from the plague that had been with them from the beginning. They look away into the
possibilities, and find a new love. Only children have the potential to look at the world from an
unprejudiced and uncorrupted point of view.

2. Does the phrase "fires all the sounds" stand for multiplicity?
The phrase "fires all the sounds" stands for multiplicity. The poem questions the
concept of a single reason. It acknowledges the simultaneity of all life. A rap of the finger on
the drum produces all sorts of sounds. The richness of life consists in its variety. It is this variety
that makes life interesting. The possibilities are innumerable when one doesn't abide by a single
reason. The poet says how music can create a new harmony which can lead to an army of
`marching' men. The same children who 'sing' later 'beg' to 'shoot down the plagues'.
Multiplicity is the essence of joy

3. ‘To a Reason’ addresses someone who can create a new world order. Comment.
The poem, ‘To a Reason’ addresses someone who can create a new world order. It was
written at a time when slave trade was common in the West. The poem questions the boundaries
and the conventions of a rigid feudal logic. A rap of the finger on the drum starts a new
harmony. Children will willingly follow him as they followed the Pied Piper. They beg to
change their fates. They want to save themselves from the plague which has been in the minds
of the people since time immemorial. It is with this plague that people read “the others”. The
children are eager to see the dawn of a brave new world.