ALL TOGETHER

Literary insight by Kujtim Hajdari

The symbolism in the poem ”THE BURNING BOAT” written by the author Perwaiz Shaharyar

Editor, NCERT, New Delhi

“The Burning Boat” is a poem rich in symbolism and emotional depth, exploring themes of loss, longing, and the struggle for healing. In this poem, the author employs numerous symbols to convey messages to readers in a powerful and literary manner.

Let’s look at some of them:

– ”The Burning Boat,” in this phrase, we see a powerful and expressive symbol that originates from a historical fact; burning boats or ships was a wartime strategy to ensure soldiers fought with full commitment. For example, Hernán Cortés, a Spanish colonel in Mexico in 1519, burned his boats upon arrival, forcing his men to fully commit to the conquest of the Aztec Empire.

– The boat in this poem symbolizes the speaker’s heart and emotional state. Burning the boat signifies a point of no return, meaning the speaker has made a significant sacrifice or decision that results in isolation and pain. It represents the destruction of a way to escape or connect, leaving the speaker vulnerable and alone.

– The Sea is another powerful symbol representing the vastness of the speaker’s emotions and experiences. It signifies both the depth of their sorrow and the hope for healing. The sea’s efforts to put out the fire of the burning boat mirror the speaker’s wish for relief from their emotional pain, but also highlight the futility of that hope, as the sea cannot erase the scars of loss.

  

– The Shadow is a symbol that creates the image of the speaker’s state. The shadow witnessing the burning boat symbolizes solitude and the speaker’s internal struggle. It suggests that although others may not see or comprehend the pain, the speaker is deeply aware of their suffering.

– The phrase ”Sparks in Their Eyes” probably refers to those who are passionate or deeply understand the speaker’s situation. It suggests that only those who have gone through similar pain can truly grasp the meaning of the burning boat.

– Another powerful symbol is ”The High Tide,” which represents moments of hope or potential healing, but it ultimately cannot put out the fire. This illustrates that external circumstances cannot ease internal suffering.

– Also, ”The Heart and Separation” is another meaningful figure: The burning heart represents intense emotional pain, particularly the anguish of separation from a beloved. The heart’s burning signifies longing and the struggle to cope with that absence—the separation.

– The inadequate ”blanket” symbolizes the speaker’s inability to find comfort or solace. It suggests that no external comfort can truly extinguish the internal fire of grief and longing.

– The call of “The Lord” signifies the invocation of a higher power at the end of the poem, indicating a plea for understanding, relief, or intervention. It reflects the speaker’s desperation and longing for connection, both with their beloved and with a sense of peace.

   

And finally, the author transmits the overall message, with these captivating figures, to readers, conveying a profound sense of loss and the emotional turmoil that accompanies separation from a loved one. The symbol of the burning boat serves as a powerful metaphor for the speaker’s heartache and the irreversible choices made in the face of love and loss. The poem explores the themes of isolation, the struggle for healing, and the longing for reunion, ultimately expressing a deep yearning for understanding and relief from the pain of separation. The imagery of fire and water highlights the conflict between destruction and the desire for renewal, emphasizing the complexity of human emotions in the face of love and loss.

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Poem by:

Perwaiz Shaharyar

Editor, NCERT, New Delhi

THE BURNING BOAT

I had burnt my boat

When I crossed the sea

I was then alone

Only my shadow witnessed it

Now, the stink of burning only I can smell

The burnt mark is visible to those,

Those who have sparks in their eyes

I am carrying the sea and the burnt boat within me

My boat was burning

There on the sands of the seashore

Since then, with every tide

Sea attempts to put out the fire and

Wash off my burnt boat

Even for the high tide, it’s not possible to do so

My heart is burning with the separation from my beloved

Its pangs are too intense

My blanket cannot properly cover my body

To extinguish the fire

The sea is nothing but my vast body

My toes are touching the seabed

My boat is my heart within – the Sun on the sky

Smokes come out all over in my mind

My hair turned into ashes, grey

By the heat of my burning heart

It seems my heart can’t meet.

Can’t make a reunion with my beloved

Till the sea of my body gets dried out

O, my Lord!

How long will I have to wait

To show you my burning heart

Alas…!

Perwaiz Shaharyar

Editor, NCERT, New Delhi