Compare and contrast the ways in the poets in Cluster 1 present ideas about religion.

        In contrast, the poem “Nothing’s Changed” expresses the inequality of people, “whites only inn”. It is clear that the poet, Afrika, does not believe all people follow God’s teaching that we are all equal. His anger is expressed throughout the poem, “anger of my eyes”. References to the treatment of black people, “soft labouring of my lungs,” and the contrasting indulgence of whites, “haute cuisine,” suggest the unfairness between people.

        As Afrika returns to where he once lived he is clearly still angry, as he exclaims, “Nothing’s changed”. Therefore, he still believes there is a barrier between the blacks and whites. Inequality of people is against the Christian religion.

        The poem “Night of the Scorpion” displays the benefits of religious belief as the women’s life is saved. Her fate is in the care of “the holy man”, a representative of God. “My father”, the priest, provides treatment for the mother which is described as a “blessing to “tame the poison”.

        The scorpion is “the Evil One”, a metaphor suggesting a representation of the devil. It appears to be an example of good over evil as it is thanks to God that she survives and a “thank God” that her children were spared.

        Similarly, in “Vultures” the idea of good and evil is developed. This can be compared with God and the devil. The idea of a vultures love is “other ways so particular” yet capable of a “cruel heart” displays natures complexity.

        In the same way the idea of good and evil is human nature is questioned as Ezekiel speaks of the “Commandant at Belsen Camp        “. He is a man who puts people to death (evil) and yet is still capable of going home and showing love (good) to his child, “tender offspring waiting at home for Daddy’s return”. This gives us hope that there is goodness in everyone “that grants even a ogre a tiny glow work tenderness encapsulated”. The poet still questions the strangeness of love, when it accommodates evil, “kindred love is lodges the perpetuity of evil”.

        The final verse in the poem once again expresses the greatness of God, “Praise, bounteous, providence” and suggests that although evil may be present in ourselves he grants us the mercy of love.

Overall, the poems can be seen to display a positive reflection on religion. We see how the greatness of God is displayed in “Blessing”, “Night of the Scorpion”, and “Vultures”. In all of these poems we see evidence of God granting mercy, in the provision of water, the survival of the woman, and the demonstration of love. Only in “Nothing’s Changed” does the poet seem to question followers of Christianity as not everyone sees people as equal and he clearly has only seen some improvement. It is evident in this poem that inequality still exists.