Shiv critiques a poem by Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, ‘The Solitary Reaper – II’, the poet seems in sync with Wordsworth, whereas his thematic aspect reminds us of William Blake’s poems about the child labour. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Someone has pertinently articulated that literature is the mirror of a society. Depicting his times and surroundings (in the era of Romantic poetry), Wordsworth pens down his famous poem, The Solitary Reaper, in which he consummately depicts the image of a solitary girl, singing some plaintive notes and working in the salubrious fields. Her melancholic music is mellifluous to the ears of the poet and the readers.

Dr JS Anand has equally consummately delineated the poetic sketch of a solitary girl (who seems to be from a poor downtrodden labour class). Such heart-rending sights are not rare to find these days. Under the skin scalding sun in June and July, many little children are put to arduous menial labour out in the fields but such ghastly spectacles only rend a few hearts. (Dr Anand is one among that fast-extinct class). The poet of The Solitary Reaper (part two) is a true chronicle of his own contemporary times.

Unlike Wordsworth’s Solitary Reaper, this girl has no musical notes to sing. Her mind is burdened with the constant nagging worry of feeding her fledglings. She has only a few feeble sobs and sighs to exude, hearing which, the poet laments the loss of the bliss of childhood. In the structural formation, Dr Anand seems in sync with Wordsworth, whereas his thematic aspect reminds us of William Blake’s poems about the child labour. Putting aside, the canons of bygone Romantic period, the poet has his leanings towards the Progressive Movement of Literature. Solitary Reaper Part Two is loaded with more poignancy and the poet has also painfully taken a dig at certain social evils that permeates in every nook and cranny of our so called modern and civilised society.

The poem successfully qualifies the litmus test of modern-day quality literature and carves its niche into every sensitive heart. Really a soul stirring piece with immaculate literary accuracy. Here’s the poem:

The Solitary Reaper-II

Dr. Jernail Singh Anand

I see that lowland lass, in a park,
working alone,
at the weeds on the grassy floor
disturbed by memories mostly sour.

This lass was forced into marriage
When she knew nothing of motherhood.
Now she carries a load of four children
And a fifth perhaps in the row has stood.

She is doing her job, and remains underpaid.
And by the municipal men often waylaid.
Melancholic grind kills her blow by blow
Who bothers about battles long ago?

Her problems are very common,
Though endless is her pain.
Nor are her tears for some far-flung tragedy
Which had been or may be again.

I heard her at her work sighing
And moment by moment dying.
I listened emotionless and still
And then I mounted up the hill.

Her sighs in my heart I bore
Long after they were heard no more.

Photo from the Internet