Adelaide Owusu
I Am Pale With Longing For My Beloved by Mirabai
People believe I am ill.
Seizing on every possible pretext,
I try to meet him 'by accident.'
They have sent for a country doctor;
He grabs my arm and prods it;
How can he diagnose my pain?
It's in my heart that I am afflicted.
Go home, country doctor,
Don't address me by my name;
It's the name of God that has wounded me,
Don't force your medicines on me.
The sweetness of his lips is a pot of nectar,
That's the only curd for which I crave;
Mira's Lord is Giridhar Naagar.
He will feed me nectar again and again.
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Image
This image of a half heart represents the unrequited love that the speaker feels like she's receiving from someone that's not giving the same amount of love, and affection that she's giving to them.
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Who is Mirabai?
- Mirabai was a Brahmin princess of Merta.
- born in 1498
- Focused on music
- Very devoted to, and in love with Lord Krishna(a Hindu God)
- When she was a child she was given a small idol of Krishna, and she always worshiped it. This was what started her devotion to Lord Krishna.
- Wrote and, sang devotional bhajans to Lord Krishna.
- Lord Krishna was the inspiration for most of her literary works.
www.biographyonline.net
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Poem Analysis
Paraphrase: People think that the speaker is crazy for falling in love with someone that doesn't show her the same love, and affection that she shows them. She longs for her lover to give her the same love, and affection that she gives to them.
Speaker: The speaker seems to be desperate to be with her lover, but she also seems to be angry and frustrated with others because they seem to be preventing her from being with lover.
Figurative Language: Figurative language is shown within the poem the poet writes "The sweetness of his lips is a pot of nectar"(13)this line shows that desire,and affection that the speaker wants from her lover. There is also figurative language in the poem when the poet writes "He will feed me nectar again and again" (16) this line shows the satisfaction that the speaker seems to wait for her lover. The figurative language that is expressed within the poem shows the desires that the speaker has for her lover,and shows the affection the speaker expects from her lover.The figurative language within this poem causes the speaker to easily express her feelings towards her lover.
Form:The stanza division within the poem are expressing the different emotions,and feelings that the speaker experiences while she awaits her lover. The rhyme within the poem easily points out her emotions within the poem.
Tone: The speakers desperate tone for her lover is displayed throughout the poem,and the speakers affectionate tone for her lover is also displayed throughout the poem. There also seems to be an angry,and frustrated tone that the speaker displays towards the begging of the poem when certain situations seem to be preventing the speaker from being with her lover.A demanding tone from the speaker is seen at the end of the poem when the speaker ensures herself that her lover will satisfy her.
Theme: Unrequited love can cause one to be desperate,and to show much affection.
Form:The stanza division within the poem are expressing the different emotions,and feelings that the speaker experiences while she awaits her lover. The rhyme within the poem easily points out her emotions within the poem.
Tone: The speakers desperate tone for her lover is displayed throughout the poem,and the speakers affectionate tone for her lover is also displayed throughout the poem. There also seems to be an angry,and frustrated tone that the speaker displays towards the begging of the poem when certain situations seem to be preventing the speaker from being with her lover.A demanding tone from the speaker is seen at the end of the poem when the speaker ensures herself that her lover will satisfy her.
Theme: Unrequited love can cause one to be desperate,and to show much affection.
I personally agree that the poem discuss the frustration between what she should do about her love life. I feel as though there might be more of a religious conundrum as well. Because, in the poem she mentions God, do you think it could possibly referring her devotion of Lord Krishna? You mentioned in her bio that she was a true devotee to Lord Krishna. Maybe, she can't decide who her love should be devoted to, her Lord Krishna or her lover.
ReplyDeleteI think another important message the poem is trying to convey is that love can't be explained. In the beginning of the poem the speaker goes on about how no one can understand what she's feeling. The pain isn't tangible, it can't be cured by medicine or a doctor. Ari also has a point that the speaker goes from switching from God to her lover. That part is a bit confusing as it becomes unclear if she is referring to Lord Krishna or her lover, or if it's a conflict between both. I do agree with your analysis of the tone as the speaker seems utterly desperate with an intense longing to satisfy this craving she has.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that unrequited love causes someone to be desperate. In the poem it says that people actually think she is ill so it can also portrayed as in she is really crazy on this unrequited love. Not only that but it also says that she tries to meet him 'by accident.' I also agree with Ari that God in the poem can be referred to Lord Krishna. There does seem to be conflict with devoting her love to Lord Krishna or her lover.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the paraphrase portion since it explains how the speaker is crazy for falling in love with someone that doesn't show her the same love.Also the tone analysis makes sense. Since that I couldn't really think of another tone that best fits this poem. The figurative language portion of the analysis was very well detailed and not to long.
ReplyDeleteThey did a very good job on analyzing this poem.