Comparing three poems, discuss the theme of life in other cultures.

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Comparing three poems, discuss the theme of life in other cultures

Presents from my aunts in Pakistan

The poem “Presents from my aunts in Pakistan” is about a half English, half Pakistani Girl who was born in Pakistan and brought up in England. Her Aunts in Pakistan sent her some traditional Pakistani clothes. In private she loves the clothes but she doest what to show her friends because she thinks that her friend won’t like them.

The poets’ thoughts and feelings change throughout the poem. In lines 1-19 the girl is happy and grateful “glistening like an orange split open” (line 4) this is an optimistic image, the presents seem to be exhilarating, stunning and full of assurance. In lines 20-26 the girl feels she can’t wear these clothes because she is “half-English, unlike Aunt Jamila.”(Lines 25 and 26).

Lines 27-38 show two sides to her. One side by her saying “I wanted my parent’s camel skin lamp.” (Line 27) where she is attracted to but at the same time repelled from “to consider the cruelty” (line 29) but then in line 32 back to attracted to the lamp “to marvel at the colours” (line 32).

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Lines 40-44 is about her in her bed room trying to show off her clothes but her friend isn’t impressed “asked to see my weekend clothes.” (Line 42-43)

Lines 50-end are meant to be about the girl searching from somewhere she belongs “And I was there with no fixed nationality” she doesn’t believe that she belongs to any fixed nationality. “Staring through the fret work” (line 68) she is too far away from the re-establishing Pakistan.

There seems to be no set structural form to this poem. The stanzas are split up in which ever way the poet feels ...

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