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Parrot: by Alan Brownjohn

The poem "Parrot" by Alan Brownjohn is narrated from the perspective of a caged parrot. It humorously depicts the parrot's inner thoughts about its cruel treatment by its human owners. While the family sees the parrot as a showpiece and tries to train it, the parrot resents its loss of freedom. It plans a verbal attack to embarrass the family and take revenge for being caged against its will. Through this ironic first-person narration, the poet draws attention to the sad plight of caged animals and criticizes humans who restrict animals' freedom for their own pleasure.

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PADUMI SASIKALA
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2K views

Parrot: by Alan Brownjohn

The poem "Parrot" by Alan Brownjohn is narrated from the perspective of a caged parrot. It humorously depicts the parrot's inner thoughts about its cruel treatment by its human owners. While the family sees the parrot as a showpiece and tries to train it, the parrot resents its loss of freedom. It plans a verbal attack to embarrass the family and take revenge for being caged against its will. Through this ironic first-person narration, the poet draws attention to the sad plight of caged animals and criticizes humans who restrict animals' freedom for their own pleasure.

Uploaded by

PADUMI SASIKALA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Parrot

by Alan Brownjohn

Alan Brownjohn is a popular poet who admired nature and its creations. The poem
‘parrot’ is a humorous poem which brings out the thoughts of a bird with a humorous
touch but at the same time it invites care and attention of human beings towards less
fortunate things as it reveals the cruelty of human actions that restrict the freedom of
animals.
In the poem, the bird understands the humans but the humans around him fail to
understand the parrot. This is ironic and depicts the sad picture of the situation. The poet
is able to ridicule the humans for their boastful nature. They capture a bird and cage him to
use it as a show piece to show off. They also try to train him to imitate them but when
they fail, they try to show him as a thinking bird; “He won't talk because he is a thinking
bird.”
The first person narration in the second stanza; "I'm olive green and sulky" portrays the
parrot physically appears to be fine but it is not the reality in terms of its thoughts as it does
not cooperate and remains to be silent. It is ironic to see how man misunderstands nature;
"He's silent but he is listening, he thinks more than he says".
The owner shows his pride by saying that he owns a bird which is philosophical and
intelligent; "He ponders on the things he hears, preferring not to chatter" but this reflects
the inner feelings of the caged bird. Further, the poet conveys the frustrated behaviour
pattern of the innocent bird inspiring the readers to form their own judgement; ".... Why it
is true is quite another matter."
Fourth and fifth stanzas show the peak of the parrot's agony and how much it is
deprived of its freedom; ".... When my thoughts are ready, I'll certainly not disguise
them" but it is ironic as the thoughts of the parrot are not what the family expects it to
think. The parrot's thoughts are full of plans against the family; "I'm working on some
shocking things in order to surprise them."
The last two stanzas elevate the irony and humour as the readers know that the bird is
planning a verbal attack on the family because he is angry but still the irrational humans
around him are unaware of this and continue to boast. This invites the attention of the
readers about the caged bird's pathetic situation as it is the only thing it could do to seek
its freedom.
It is impossible to believe that a parrot would plan such an attack and illogical to say
that he waits for the right moment to speak out; "I'll wait and choose a time" This unreal
element creates the humor in the poem but the poet uses this technique of a first person
narration to make the reader to focus on the plight of a caged bird. The poem allows us to
imagine the desperate feelings of a caged bird. Alan Browniohn is able to show the
callous treatment of animals by humans. Though the poem is humorous, he makes us to
understand that the parrot is not happy. He is sulky as he is caged. The humans derive
pleasure from this unfortunate creature.
The poem reaches its climax when the parrot is going to reveal all the secrets of the
family Infront of all as it hated the remarks of family members who forgot or ignored
the sensitivity of a bird and the freedom loved by a bird. The embarrassment the family
is going to fee1 is the only punishment the bird could think of for everything it has lost
over the period of time it was caged.
Alan Brownjohn is successful in drawing the attention of the reader to realize the
pathetic situation of the bird and it acts as an eye opener for all the human beings who treat
animals in a cruel manner by caging them without any respect for its freedom to satisfy
their emotions at the expense of minor living beings. Thus, the poet is able to convey his
message with the touch of humor.

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