Blessing and War Photographer Analysis
Compare the ways the writers present hope and hopelessness in the poem Blessing and the poem War Photographer
In the poem “Blessing,” the speaker observes a group of children who are playing in a polluted stream. Despite the harsh conditions, the children are filled with joy and hope. While the water is not enough, sometimes the municipal pipe bursts and there is enough water for the children as well as the entire community. This is well demonstrated in the second stanza through lines 2 and 3: 1. The municipal pipe bursts, silver crashes to the ground and the flow has found a roar of tongues. 2. From the huts, a congregation: every man woman child for streets around butts in, with pots, brass, copper, aluminum, plastic buckets, frantic hands. It is hope to the children and community members that it is possible to overcome water challenges in future. Perhaps there is enough water, but the poorly managed municipal cannot let them enjoy. The children seems to enjoy whether there is no enough water or the municipal pipe bursts. In contrast, “War Photographer” is a poem that presents a sense of hopelessness. The speaker is a war photographer who is reflecting on the violence and atrocities he has witnessed. “In his dark room he is finally alone” (Stanza 1, Line 1) He feels a sense of disconnection from the people he photographs, and is consumed by feelings of guilt and helplessness. ” He remembers the cries of this man’s wife” (Stanza 3, Lines 3-4) He cannot escape the brutal images he has seen and the people he has photographed. “A hundred agonies in black and white” Stanza 4, Line 1) He is unable to process the horrors he has seen and can not communicate them to the public effectively.
“Blessing” presents hope through the resilience and joy of the children, while “War Photographer” presents hopelessness through the disconnection and trauma experienced by the photographer.