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Introduction

Elements of the natural world play a large role in poetry. Select 2 of the poems you have studied and examine how the poets use nature to communicate their message The two poems I have chosen to write about are Report to Wordworth (RTW) by Boey Kim Cheng and Lament by Gillian Clarke; both poets extensively use elements of the natural world in order to communicate their message of humanities destructive actions and the consequential effects they have on Nature. Neither of the poets blame individuals instead suggests that it is the fault of humanity as a whole, and we should all bear the consequences. In Lament, Clarke describes the impact of Nature as a result of humanities conflicts and wars. Correspondingly in Cheng's RTW, Cheng describes the increasing abusive behavior of humanity and the effects it has on Nature. Both poems use the concept of time. Time is a concept which humans have created to benefit themselves, however without this concept time would still exist in its original form of seasons, death, rotations of the earth etc. ...read more.

Middle

Cheng adapts the romantic poet's involvement of Roman and Greek Gods as an illusion to nature. Gods such as the Greek god "Proteus" and the Roman God "Neptune" gods of the sea, which have now been "entombed in the waste we dump". Both these gods are from western culture, I believe with the use of western Gods, Cheng is implying western society was the first that began with industrialism more than a century ago. Gods are known be immortal whereas humans are not, although immortality may be one of the many ambitions man kind in in constant search to achieve. The comparison between mortality of humans and the immortality of the Gods is particularly effective in demonstrating the extent of human's destruction, however as Gods are immortal no matter how much "waste" we "entomb" them in, they will eventually break free and take revenge on humanity. As the Gods are immortal their life is endless thus with every destruction there is always rebirth, in comparison once humans face and end that is it, this conveys the concept on self-destruction that the humans are causing by destroying the environment. ...read more.

Conclusion

Finally these two images show how by we are not only destroying the earth but inadvertently destroying ourselves. Clarke refers to the Gulf War, a reasonably recent event that deals with modern problems, such as the fight for oil and the vast damages caused by the increasing sophistication of modern technology. Whereas Cheng refers to more abstract images, incorporating names of poets of the Romantic period, and classical Greek Gods, yet using those metaphors, he outlines many modern problems, implying that the damage that we are causing in our time is "smothering" humanities glorious past. The fact that Boey refers to Greek and Roman gods, and Clarke refers to the Gulf war, brings out the fact that both the West and the East are causing damage, by fighting internally and with each other. In my opinion both poems convey the impression that if humanity continues in its current state, the resolution of our global problem will not be found by simply expecting a natural resolution, instead we must take action for our mistakes in order to build a brighter future. ?? ?? ?? ?? H2SWH Henry Lin 1 ...read more.

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