Select Poems Research Articles

Voices From the Fringes: The Eco-Poetics of Niger Delta Women

To say that the Niger Delta literature or the poetics of extraction in the Delta has attracted numerous scholarly engagements is an understatement. However, most of the critical works written about the Niger Delta have been by male writers such as Gabriel Okara, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Tanure Ojaide, Ogaga Ifowodo, Nnimmo Bassey and others who are known for drawing attention to the environmental despoilment and the suffering of the various Indigenous communities of the Delta. In this article, I am interested in the framing of the Delta by female poets from the region. Building on Gayatri Spivak’s concept of the subaltern, I ask, are Niger Delta women writing? And if so, how do they contextualise women and nature in their poetic imagination? Mindful of the complexities in the region, what literary devices do they employ to aid their navigation of the murky confluence of state power, multinational corporations, and environmental degradation that abounds in the region unabated? This work applies the theoretical positions of ecofeminist scholars to the close reading of select poems from Sophia Obi’s Tears in a Basket (2005), Ekaete George’s Saints and Scoundrels (2018), and Iquo DianaAbasi’s Coming Undone as Stitches Tighten (2021).

Text and Intertextuality in Modern Arabic Poetry of Yoruba Scholars

Objectives: This paper examines Arabic poetic texts produced by modern Yoruba scholars, to study how they inter-textualize with poetic texts of classical and early modern poets in Arabic. It does a critical reading of select poems from the corpus of Isa Abu-Bakre (b.1953), and Afis Ayinde Oladosu (b.1967). Whereas the former follows the traditional system in the composition of his poems, the latter writes his collections in free verse. Methods: The paper adopts a method of historicizing the annals of intertextuality, before proceeding to exposit, closely read, and analyze intertextuality cues in the poetry of Yoruba scholars. It hinges its discussions on the works of Julia Kristeva, Roland Barthes, James Porter, Lev Vygotsky, Graham Allen, Ahmad Az-Zoubi, and Muhahammad Miftah among others. Conclusions: The study shows that Arabic poetical compositions of modern Yoruba scholars often intersect, not only with poetical texts of classical and early modern poets in Arabic, but also, they inter-textualize with texts from the primary sources of Arabic literary tradition- the Glorious Qur'an and Hadith.

Donyi Polo and Ecocriticism in Select Poems of Midsummer Survival Lyrics by Mamang Dai

Donyi Polo and Ecocriticism in Select Poems of Midsummer Survival Lyrics by Mamang Dai

Subverting Anthropocentric Mythic Elements: Animal Representations in the Select Poems of Louise Glück and Mary Oliver

The representation of animals in literature has long been dominated by anthropocentric perspectives that prioritize human experiences and values. Animals were relegated to metaphors and narrative accessories, neglecting their inherent rights and treating them primarily as reflections of human qualities. This paper examines the works of contemporary American poets Louise Glück and Mary Oliver, focusing on how their selected poems reconsider conventional anthropocentric patterns of animal representations in poetry. The analysis centers on the poets’ strategies to blur rigid boundaries between the human-animal divide by challenging conventional depictions where animals are frequently assigned peripheral roles. The study explores how these poems cultivate powerful connections with the natural world, fostering a sense of communion and interconnectedness with nature. Additionally, the research highlights the deliberate efforts by the poets to reconfigure hierarchies, challenge value dualisms, and question anthropocentric narratives that sanction oppression. Lastly, the paper contributes to the broader discourse on ecocritical thought, enriching discussions on literature and environmental activism.

From the Cradle to the Grave: A Feminist Stylistic Reading of Select Poems from Juka Jabang’s The Phoenix

This study examines the use of poetic artistry as a contribution to social reformation in Juka Jabang’s The Phoenix to highlight the cultural and social tendencies that contribute to the oppression of women in the Gambian context. It draws attention to the oppression of Gambian women not just as a general societal predisposition, but as a phenomenon deeply rooted in the most fundamental unit of the family. Using Sarah Mills’ model of feminist stylistics, the article aims to explore the use of point of view, agency, metaphor, and transitivity to expose the socio-cultural beliefs and practices that perpetuate the oppression of women in Gambian society. The study adopts a qualitative, linguistic-cum-literary analysis based on four poems purposively selected from the collection on the basis of their thematic preoccupation with the plight of women in a male-dominated society. The analysis also pays attention to the literary devices appropriated by the poet in a bid to poeticize the experience of Gambian women at the hands of an unrelenting male hegemony. The analysis reveals that cultural beliefs in the so-called superiority of the male child, the ostensible impurity of uncircumcised women, the submissiveness of women particularly in marriage, and the professed right to multiple wives as major factors that legitimize the oppression of women in Gambian society.

ETHNOCULTURAL VALUES IN CONTEMPORARY KAZAKH POETRY: (based on the work by poet A. Shegebay)

This article delves into an examination of the ethnocultural values prevalent among Kazakh people, drawing insights from the corpus of modern Kazakh poetry. Specifically, the works of the esteemed poet A. Shegebay are scrutinized within the context of ethnocultural values. The significance of investigating national values and ethnocultural worldviews through the lens of poetry is paramount. The phenomenon of globalization and the political transformations witnessed in modern Kazakh history have left an indelible mark on the nation's culture, spirituality, and, notably, its poetry. Embedded within the fabric of Kazakh society are enduring moral precepts, transmitted across generations, which constitute the bedrock of national values. The language, mindset, customs, literature, and artistic expressions of v collectively represent a reservoir of spiritual wealth that has been meticulously preserved through the ages. It is through these spiritual moorings that the national and cultural identity of the Kazakh populace finds its enduring anchor. Against this backdrop, this article undertakes a meticulous analysis of select poems by A. Shegebay, namely "Besik," "Kara Shanyrak," "Kokpar," and "Taba Nan," from the vantage point of ethnocultural values. It is recognized that the essence of any people and their worldview are inexorably shaped by national and cultural constructs, finding eloquent expression in poetry as the quintessential vehicle for the collective consciousness of a people. Through empirical investigation, this study identifies and delineates the national-cultural concepts embedded within contemporary Kazakh poetry. Moreover, it discerns that the character of the ethnocultural worldview articulated in Kazakh poetry is a product of historical, social, and individual factors. The ideological and thematic contours of Kazakh poetry in the age of globalization are thus discerned to be intricately entwined with ethnocultural values and the collective identity of the nation.

Representation of Forest in the Poems of Jacinta Kerketta: An Ecocritical Perspective

Representation of Forest in the Poems of Jacinta Kerketta: An Ecocritical Perspective

Advaita Vedānta and the Poetic Exploration of Transcendence in W.B. Yeats’ Poetry

This paper delves into the intricate interplay between Vedānta philosophy and the pursuit of universality in select poems by the esteemed Irish poet, W.B. Yeats. Drawing upon the philosophical tenets of Vedānta, which emphasize the inherent unity of all existence, this study examines how Yeats, a poet deeply influenced by the Eastern thought, grapples with and explores these profound ideas in his poetic oeuvre. Through an in-depth analysis of select poems, I aim to unravel the nuanced ways Yeats engages with Vedānta philosophy, seeking to transcend cultural and temporal boundaries in his quest for a universal poetic vision. Furthermore, the paper endeavours to elucidate why it is imperative to comprehend World Literature through Indic perspectives, challenging the foreign origins of the term. The argument posits the need to develop a theoretical framework rooted in the Indian viewpoint to comprehend literature from diverse global traditions.

Socialist Feminism in the Select Poems of Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is one of the most inspirational African-American poets, novelists, activists, and feminists, who has also been recognized as a prominent and influential voice in literature. This study aimed to engage in an analytical investigation of socialist feminism in the select poems of Maya Angelou using biographical approach and Johannna Brenner’s socialist feminism perspective. The select poems included Woman Work, Alone, On Working White Liberals, When You Come to Me, When I Think about Myself and Caged Bird. The research method of textual analysis was used in the literary investigation of the select poems. The study revealed that Maya Angelou had a challenging and colorful life. Her range of experiences from childhood to adulthood had influenced how she wrote. Her vision and legacy as mirrored in her works especially in her poetry continue to inspire others to fight for equality of all forms in the society. It was also found out that there are a number of significant factors that aided in the development of her work as a writer and a poet. Her life experiences along with her education recreated the way she saw the world. The sociocultural environment in Arkansas during her period also contributed to her profound writings. The salient characteristics of socialist feminism of Brenner such as representation of women, images of women at home and in the workplace and role of women in the society are highly evident in her body of work. As a socialist feminist, Brenner yearns to end the exploitation of women at home, in the workplace, and in the community. Since this research found out that Angelou is regarded a socialist feminist, it is recommended to analyze other types of feminism such as eco-feminism, liberal, and radical feminism to explore other salient characteristics of feminism embedded in Angelou’s works.

Factors Influencing Quiet Quitting and Employee Commitment in Casino Gaming Workplaces: Implications for Employee Retention Strategies

Maya Angelou is one of the most inspirational African-American poets, novelists, activists, and feminists, who has also been recognized as a prominent and influential voice in literature. This study aimed to engage in an analytical investigation of socialist feminism in the select poems of Maya Angelou using biographical approach and Johannna Brenner’s socialist feminism perspective. The select poems included Woman Work, Alone, On Working White Liberals, When You Come to Me, When I Think about Myself and Caged Bird. The research method of textual analysis was used in the literary investigation of the select poems. The study revealed that Maya Angelou had a challenging and colorful life. Her range of experiences from childhood to adulthood had influenced how she wrote. Her vision and legacy as mirrored in her works especially in her poetry continue to inspire others to fight for equality of all forms in the society. It was also found out that there are a number of significant factors that aided in the development of her work as a writer and a poet. Her life experiences along with her education recreated the way she saw the world. The sociocultural environment in Arkansas during her period also contributed to her profound writings. The salient characteristics of socialist feminism of Brenner such as representation of women, images of women at home and in the workplace and role of women in the society are highly evident in her body of work. As a socialist feminist, Brenner yearns to end the exploitation of women at home, in the workplace, and in the community. Since this research found out that Angelou is regarded a socialist feminist, it is recommended to analyze other types of feminism such as eco-feminism, liberal, and radical feminism to explore other salient characteristics of feminism embedded in Angelou’s works.

Deciphering the Politics of Language in Select Poems: A Contemplation

Language and the issues related with the language, have always been relevant in the history and contemporary times. Language is not merely a method of communication but rather an epitome of existence, identity and culture. While language and culture are interdependent, all the aspects connected to language pave a trajectory for the growth and death of a particular language. Language is a social, political and psychological construct. Today, though the world is still struggling hard to cope with the language of power and politics, English, we are witnessing the language debates persistent in countries of diversity and vernacularity. In the history, though English was introduced as a colonial weapon, today it has transformed as a language of survival, status and hegemony. Language has a wide scope of introspecting itself through the lens of caste, identity and hybridity. The mother tongue and the other tongue have always been in rivalry signifying the fight for existence. This paper will discuss the different debates on language, politics of language constructed in the Indian society on different platforms of culture. In order to present the vivid dimensions, the poems “Which Language should I Speak?” by Arun Kamble, “Language” by Sananta Tanty and “Search for my Tongue” by Sujata Bhatt are chosen.

Morals Imparted for Children in three Select Poems Featured in "Poetry for Children: Consisting of Short Pieces to be Committed to Memory" by Lucy Aikin

Morals Imparted for Children in three Select Poems Featured in "Poetry for Children: Consisting of Short Pieces to be Committed to Memory" by Lucy Aikin

Mapping the Cultural Landscape of the Homeland: A Semiotic Analysis of Agha Shahid Ali’s Poetry Collection

The widely renowned and exhaustively researched Kashmiri-American diasporic poet, Agha Shahid Ali, has received acclaim for his portrayal of themes such as loss, longing for the homeland, nostalgia, hyphenated identity, hybridity, and dislocation, among others. However, within the purview of new historicism, this paper intends to examine the interplay of literature, culture, and history. Using Clifford Geertz's framework of "thick description," the paper analyzes Agha's poetry as a cultural artifact with ethnographic value. Through a semiotic analysis of select poems based on Bakhtin's notion of chronotopes, the paper aims to unravel themes of fragmented identity, cultural memorialization, and the preservation of imaginary homelands. The paper also attempts to explore that Agha Shahid Ali, actively engaged with the socio-political turmoil in his homeland. He sought to reconcile the tensions between different traditions and religious communities, envisioning a personal utopia rooted in his privileged position. His poetry reflects his historical context, facilitating a symbolic exchange between the fragments of Kashmiri culture. Through intertextual references, religious symbols, and social emblems, Ali constructs a significant and experimental narrative about Kashmir.

A Gynocritical Reading of Carol Ann Duffy’s The World’s Wife

Carol Ann Duffy is an award-winning Scottish poet who mainly talks about women in her poetry. Her poetry also engages such topics as gender and oppression, expressing them in familiar, conversational language that made her work accessible to a variety of readers. The collection where her feministic approach becomes clearer is The World's Wife (1999), where she destabilizes myth and history by giving women their own voice. In this piece of writing, she destabilizes the phallocentric tradition of writing. In this particular poetry collection, she gives voice to the overlooked female figures. In this particular poetry collection, Duffy uses the original story lines, but the messages are changed. In Duffy’s version the portrayal of women is quite different. In the original version, women were stereotypically described as always being weak, ignorant and incapable. Duffy’s version is totally contrary to the original one. The purpose of this paper is to subject select poems of Carol Ann Duffy to a gynocritical study and to present a fascinating glimpse of the feminist perspectives.

Medical Humanities: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Health and Disease in Select Poems of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton

Medical Humanities: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Health and Disease in Select Poems of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton

Exploring Ecological Consciousness: An Ecocritical Analysis of Marjorie Evasco's Poetry through Commoner’s Ecological Laws

This study critically examined the textuality of select poems by Marjorie Evasco using ecocriticism theory based on Commoner's (1991) ecological principles: Everything Is Connected, Everything Must Go Somewhere, and Nature Knows Best. The research aimed to depict Evasco's writings' ecological messages and themes by line-by-line coding. Data were sourced from Evasco's book "Dreamweavers" and various theoretical texts. Findings revealed that Evasco’s poems reflect Commoner's (1991) ecological laws, portraying them figuratively and literally. The analysis highlights themes such as nature as a teacher, nature’s intrinsic value, hope in nature, conflicts with modernization, and human impacts on nature. The study recommends further analysis of Evasco’s work through ecofeminism and suggests including her poems in literature classes to serve as a platform for environmental awareness. Future research should explore other works of Evasco and similar authors.

Oh Pengdorje: The Voice of Margin for Liberation

This article aims to establish connections between the Tamang community, the Tamang people, and the poet's introspective observations of his own circumstances. It provides a comprehensive exploration of this concept and its application to the communal perception within the Tamang community. The poet achieves a heightened level of imagination, thanks to his Marxist outlook and ideology, gaining recognition in both political and cultural spheres. Furthermore, the article delves into the role of class within the literary work, examining characters, and battling oppression. The poet's discussion on oppression as a pervasive societal issue takes center stage in this paper.The reviewed collection of poems establishes a powerful link between subjective experiences and an objective world, serving as a conduit to engage readers in societal reflections. Writing, as emphasized by many previous authors in this series, serves as a means to explore, learn, and contribute. While the desire to become a writer may carry a scent of vanity and ambition, this particular writing style stands out for its focus on compassion and inquiry. The poet Raju Syangtan elaborates on his personal journey towards adopting this distinctive writing style.The narrative style in his writing revolves around themes of family, history, class struggle, departure from home, the quest for truth, return from fighting, forging a unique path, and embracing compassion and curiosity from the past to the present. The Marxist school of literary criticism serves as the guiding principle in the investigation of select poems within this framework.

Keeping the Pursuit of Innocence in Experience: The Analysis of the Image of Children in William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience

The works of William Blake, an iconic figure in English Romanticism, are epitomized by "Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience," wherein 'children' hold significant symbolic value. Blake delves into the essence of childhood, adopting their perspective and employing their voices to convey nuanced narratives. This approach serves as a vehicle for his profound exploration of humanity, social critique, and quest for innocence. Through an analysis of select poems featuring children in these two collections, this study juxtaposes the contrasting portrayals of children in these distinct realms while unearthing their shared characteristics. It investigates the dichotomy and harmony between innocence and experience in Blake's poetry. Remarkably, Blake's writing evolves from an emphasis on "innocence" to a recognition of "experience." However, even amidst this transformation, he steadfastly clings to the aspiration for innocence, albeit within the context of a more sober and rational world of experience. This evolution underscores Blake's intricate exploration of the human condition, wherein the pursuit of innocence endures as a central theme throughout his work.

Bored to Death: A Critical Exploration into Boredom during the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Select Poems of Steeve Wheeler and Jane Marla Robbins

More than a health crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic turned out to be a major disruptive factor influencing the psychological well-being of the survivors. The Covid lockdown, thus provided the recent global brush with boredom, with boredom assuming different faces and persona. The stay-at-home orders had not accounted for this complimentary disease of a phenomenon initially. The confinement for uncertain periods of time proved to be mentally extolling as much as it was anything else. This essay tries to look into the psychological and physiological manifestations of Covid induced boredom as reflected in the select poems of Steeve Wheeler’s Ellipsis and Jane Marla Robbins’ Poems of Covid-19: Stuck in Lockdown: The First Three Months.

“Robert Frost: The Voice Of Nature’s Whispers”

The aim of present research paper is to explore the prominent role of nature in the poetry of renowned American poet Robert Frost. Frost's poetic repertoire is characterized by a profound appreciation for the natural world, as he skillfully weaves nature's beauty, symbolism, and inherent contradictions into the fabric of his verses. Through a close analysis of select poems, this abstract elucidates the ways in which Frost uses nature as a multifaceted backdrop to convey deeper philosophical themes and reflect on the human experience. Drawing inspiration from the New England landscape, Frost's poetry often portrays the serene, idyllic scenery of rural life while delving into the complexity of human emotions and decisions. The natural world in Frost's poems serves as both a soothing sanctuary and a challenging domain where human struggles and dilemmas unfold. Frost's adept use of metaphors and symbols drawn from nature adds layers of depth and universality to his poetry. His observations of the seasons, weather patterns, and landscapes mirror the intricacies of human emotions, relationships, and the complexities of life itself.