Arrival of the Monsoon

In this poem, Taufiq Rafat expressed his views in an energetic and light- hearted way. The
poem’s composition is based on love of nature and also describes the beautiful weather
condition. It can also refer to critical condition of liberty in Pakistan. It is written cheerfully so
the readers can visualize themselves as the part of the scenario.
Based on the metaphor and personifications used by the poet, there are two different
interpretations of the poem;

 Weather Condition
 The freedom movement of the subcontinent in 1947.

Line 1-3
 “Before the thrust of his liberating wind
 Whatever is not fixed, has a place to go,
 Strains northwards to the coniferous land.”
In the first stanza, the poet used exceptional techniques to define the pleasure of blowing
wind after a chaotic summer. Everything that was ruthless and unstable before this season is
now well-adjusted and established.

An alternative way to illuminate this line is that before 1947, the entirety was jumbled up, and
every single person faced excessive complications in all aspects of life. Individuals with no
identity before freedom will have their state in the form of PAKISTAN. Every person will carry
equal rights in their coniferous (independent) land. All things will be in appropriate ordered
position. The brutality of messy weather is transformed due to the pleasing and refreshing
wind. The amusing breeze started moving from the Northern area, rich with conifer trees,
which generates a lovely environment for the people.

The metaphor and personification “Liberating Wind” refers to the freedom movement of
subcontinent in 1947. According to the poet, before 1947 migration for rights and freedom
everything was messed up and nothing was in appropriate position. But now it was the time for
messy conditions to settle down. Poet points out that things which were unknown before 1947
are now going to have their own identity and he relate this identity with “northwards to the
coniferous lands” which means that “Pakistan”, new homeland, is going to give their identity.
These lines not only focus on before migration scenario but also on the loss of identity whose
regain is assigned with new homeland, Pakistan.

Another interpretation of these lines can be that the direction of “liberating wind” is
towards “northwards to the coniferous lands” of Pakistan. This interpretation holds the idea
that in this new land, everyone will be free and carry equal rights. And also that Pakistan and
independence will place the things in order.
Lines 4-6
 “And drunk with motion, clothes on the washing line
 Are raised above themselves; a flapping sheet
 Turns a roof corner into a battlement.”
The second stanza summarized the most common culture of Pakistan in Monsoon
conditions. When abrupt air stream knock-backs, the clothes on the washing strip, leave the
boundaries of the house and start waving in the air. The unusual fluctuating sound of clothes
striking the wind converts the region into a battle scene.

These three lines explained the whole dangerous situation of the 1947 war. The part of the land
was full of violence and bloodshed. Kit and kin were killing each other, and there was more
blood than human beings. Even home, which is considered the utmost harmless and safest
place, was obeying the rules of battle land.

There is painful and destructive imagery of 1947 war. These three lines are summarizing
the whole condition of 1947 when “liberating wind” was in its full “thrust” and whole piece of
land was disturbed with bloodshed, killings, riots and violence. Taufiq Rafat points out the war
imagery when “roof corners” became “battlements”. This shows the extremity of war that even
in homes no one was safe and homes which are considered as security places were then in
danger. “Washing line” may refer to bloodshed which has now crossed its limits and one can
see more blood than human beings. Through this harsh imagery, Taufiq Rafat is trying his hard
to make feel the importance of freedom which he named as “liberating winds”.

Lines 7-9
 “Gliding days are over. The birds are tossed
 Sideways are back, and lifted against their will.
 They may struggle to achieve their direction.”
These lines show efforts made by birds and people to move in a blowy climate as the
calmness of wind is ended, so the whole thing in such circumstances is losing its path.
Everything is stirring in the desired direction. To accomplish the accurate course, they must
struggle to get their destiny.

First discussing the significance of 1947 war and then moving towards the violence as a result of
that war, now Taufiq Rafat suddenly shifts to beautiful imagery of consequence of after war.
Poet says that violence days are gone now. Now its peace and everything which was “not fixed”
is placed in its position. “Birds” can be interpreted as metaphor for diasporic people who are
nostalgic about their past and who were “lifted against their will”. These are immigrants who
were forced to leave their places back in India hence they are tossing “sideways and back” and
expressing their grief. But in the very next line, poet gives them advice to “struggle to achieve
direction”. Poet is now hopping for good things and also that he and the nation is going to have
his identity now so they must struggle with their past and memories so that they can pay
attention to new life and achieve their goal.

Line 10-12
 A welcome darkness descends. Harsh contours
 Dissolve, lose their prosaic condition.
 All the sounds we have loved are restored.
These lines throw light on love which is given by new homeland, Pakistan. The harsh and
dark darkness which was there in sub-continent and in people’s lives was now descending. New
homeland was like a candle which brought light into their lives. Harsh realities were now
dissolved and they lost their fanciful and imaginative covering which was produced by
politicians. There is another nostalgic note when the past “sounds” which were “loved” are
mentioned and thus are “restored”. These sounds refers to the sounds of love, harmony, unity,
discipline, manners and feelings and most important to relationships which were lost during
1947 war. These sounds are not only back but also are more powerful now.

Line 13-15

 And now the rain! In sudden squalls

 it sweeps the street, and equally sudden
 are the naked boys paddling in ditches.
And here comes the first rain of Monsoon and first blessing from Allah Almighty. This
rain is really very important in the role it plays. In sudden violent winds, it comes and sweep
away every bad thing with itself. This rain washed the wounds of people and cleared the streets
which were bloody before because of independence war. Furthermore, this rain not only
cleaned external wounds but also internal ones as well, the wounds which are on heart because
of losing home and relatives. And everything now is cheering up that even the boys are
splashing around in rain. This shows the extreme excitement and happiness of immigrants and
new nation.

Line 16-18

 Alice, alive, everything is alive again.

 Savour the rain’s coolness on lips and eyes.
 How madly the electric wire is swinging!

And now because of “liberating wind” and “rain”, “everything is alive”. Because of
violence, brutality and destruction everything was so dead and horrible. This independence war
not only killed peoples but also nature and physical world surrounding those people. So the rain
which came suddenly washed away all those elements of darkness and gave life to everything
again. This rain also had a soothing effect for people and it soothed their senses. Not only were
these but even material things swinging because of freedom. This personification explains the
very happiness of everything which was now free.

“Everything is alive again” is very important if it is taken on more symbolic grounds. It can also
refer to those people who gave their life for freedom. Hence, by this we can say that those
people who sacrificed are not dead anymore, rather, they are” alive again” in the form of this
new homeland and independence. While “electric wire is swinging” can also show the zeal and
zest of new nation that now they are so much enthusiastic and mad of happiness. So in these
lines, we can see an image of rebirth and new life everywhere.

Line 19-21

 From brown waters eddying round their hooves

 the drenched trees rise and shake themselves
 And summer ends in a flurry of drops.
The rain not only sweeps away everything and gave life but also is a reason for
vegetation and plantation. “Round their hooves” is actually a reference towards the roots of
tress. Water is very much associated with roots of trees because roots get nourishment throw
water and thus produces flower and later fruits. Thus the rain gave rise to food as well. And not
only had this but it also made the trees to shed off every dust and drop of violence and blood.
Symbolically, it states that envy was removed and there was harmony and unity for they have
to work shelters and peace in new land. Trees removed every single dust of hate, violence,
brutality and riots and also shed off all the sorrows that everything seemed new and fresh now.
The poem ends at contrast with previous summer, that summer which was producing and
providing weeds back in other land before migration was now falling snow. Snow have smooth,
calm and peaceful effect. Hence, the poem ends at a very beautiful and calm imagery of
brightness.