POETIC VIEWS BY WILLIAMSJI MAVELI

POETIC VIEWS
-Williamsji Maveli
Poet:
Mridula Menon
Poem
 OH! TO BE A FLOWER.
She wished
she was a flower
soft and sweet scented
dancing in the wind
with its fragrance floating
passersby eyes widening
smiles beguiling
a sight so alluring
if only for a day
lavishly spreading joy
the flower
and here she was
with her bag full of sorrows
her heart weighed down by worries
persevering in real earnest
to create a life of worthy semblance
every time she struggled
into her mind wafted
the picture of the lovely flower
happy and carefree
be it rain or shine
making her resolve to rise
and strive hard
for her life to be like the flower
always sparkling and smiling
whatever the vicissitudes in life.
Mridula menon.

Analysis
"OH! TO BE A FLOWER" is a poem that explores themes of aspiration, resilience, and the desire for simplicity and joy in life. Through the metaphor of a flower, the poet contrasts the fleeting beauty and carefree nature of a flower with the burdens and challenges of human existence. The poem conveys a yearning for the lightness and grace of a flower, while ultimately expressing a resolve to embody these qualities despite life's hardships.
The central theme of the poem revolves around the longing for a life of ease and beauty, akin to that of a flower. The flower is depicted as "soft and sweet scented," "dancing in the wind," and "lavishly spreading joy," symbolizing a state of existence that is effortlessly beautiful and untroubled. This imagery suggests a contrast between the natural grace and carefree existence of the flower and the poet's own life, which is filled with "sorrows" and "worries." The flower becomes a symbol of idealized happiness and contentment, a state the poet wishes to attain.
The poem presents a stark contrast between the flower's existence and the poet's reality. While the flower is "happy and carefree," the poet describes herself as having a "bag full of sorrows" and a heart "weighed down by worries." This depiction emphasizes the poet's inner conflict and desire for a life that is less burdened by hardship and more aligned with the flower's carefree nature. The poet's yearning is not just for the aesthetic qualities of the flower but for its ability to remain "sparkling and smiling" regardless of external circumstances.
Despite the initial longing for a life as a flower, the poem shifts toward a message of resilience and determination. The poet reflects on her struggles, yet finds inspiration in the image of the flower to "rise and strive hard." This shift signifies a transformation in perspective—from desiring to be a flower to embracing its qualities as a guiding metaphor for her own life. The flower's ability to remain beautiful "be it rain or shine" becomes a source of motivation for the poet to navigate life's challenges with a similar spirit of resilience and grace.-Author Williamsji Maveli