Comparing three poems from different cultures :: English Literature

comparison three poems from different culturesIntroductionThe three poems that I will be comparing are Presents from my auntsin Pakistan by Moniza Alvi, Half-caste by John Agard and Island composition by Grace Nichols. All of these poets have mixed-race mainstaygroundsand all of these poems are link in with the difficulties arisingfrom having different cultural primings.Story/themePresents from my aunts in Pakistan is wistful of Moniza Alvischildhood and her experiences of being from two different backgroundsglass circles, disown the story how the three of us sailed to England.She tells the reader close her experiences in Pakistan, the jauntfrom Pakistan to England and about being in England. This shows thatalthough she is confused about her background, she rememberseverything from both cultures.Half-Caste, however, is a very confrontational poem and John Agardaddresses the reader personally. Excuse me beg off yuselfyu mustcome back Agard addresses the reader personally and c onfronts themabout their opinions or beliefs of Half-caste lot. He asks them totell him what they mean by the phrase half-caste, then gives heterogeneousscenarios about what they may mean which are incongruous. This putshis point across and makes people think about or change their beliefs.Conversely, Island Man is the story of a man that used to live on anisland, possibly the Caribbean, and then move to London. This poemdescribes his feelings as he wakes up for the first day back in LondonComes backto dull North Circular pathway This poem also shows that hewould much prefer to live on his emerald island than in London. Thisshows that the man has made a conscious decision about which part ofhis background he prefers and which part of his life he would wish tofulfil.Emotions expressedPresents from my aunts in Pakistan is a very sensitive poem and umpteenemotions are expressed throughout the poem. In the first stanza,Moniza Alvi expresses excitement as she lists all of the wonder fulthings that her aunts have sent her from Pakistan. In the secondstanza, she seems downwardly heartened about everything and says, never beas lovely as those clothes. For the dwell of the poem she seemsconfused about her background and indecisive about which backgroundshe prefers.Half-Caste, however, expresses a feeling of confrontation throughoutthe poem and it always seems as if John Agard wants the readers torespond to what he says but because of his hectoring tone the readerbelieves that they cannot.On the contrary, Island Man has a pessimistic feel to the poemthroughout. It seems as though the island man is constantly