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Essay / Comparative Analysis of Heaney's Blackberry Picking and Dharker's Blessing
“Blackberry Picking” by Seamus Heaney and “Blessing” by Imtiaz Dharker are the two poems that I have chosen for analysis. Poetry is an art form that people use to express important moments in their lives. However, the diversity of perspectives, techniques, and most importantly, experience allows each poem to stand out from one another. In "Blackberry Picking", Seamus Heaney describes a summer childhood memory of picking blackberries to symbolize the transition from childhood to adulthood. In 'Blessing', Imtiaz Dharker accentuates the value of water by reflecting desired expressions on people. In this essay, I will discuss the techniques they used to make the poems effective. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In “Blackberry Picking” by Seamus Heaney, the poet describes a childhood memory during the summer in Ireland. Heaney uses various similes to describe his enthusiasm for blackberry picking. “Like thickened wine; the blood of summer was in it,” in this sentence Heaney compared the ripe blackberry to “thickened wine” and “blood of summer.” I think the word “wine” illustrates the richness of blackberry juice and also how intensely desirable it is like wine. The idea of craving continues after the sentence, the next two lines say: "Leaving stains on the tongue and a desire to pick" and "Then the reds got inked and that hunger sent us out with cans of milk, cans of peas, jam. saucepans”. "Leaving stains on the tongue", vivid images are used to show the "desire to pick" after tasting the rich and juicy berries, and so they use all the containers to harvest the berries. I think the words “lust” and “hunger” are meaningful nouns that strongly emphasize their desires. In the second stanza, there is a change in the tone of the language. Heaney talks about how all the berries they keep in the barn start to ferment. "A rat-gray mushroom, gobbling on our cache", in this line Heaney used the rat to describe the gray color of the mushroom, this gives a disturbed vibe in the language as a rat is often associated with dirt and unpleasantness . In this stanza, the poet also uses contrast and alliteration to reinforce the change in tone of the language. “The fermented fruit, the sweet flesh would turn sour”, in this line alliteration is used on “fruit”, “fermented” and “sweet”, “sour”. I think they make clearer the overall expression that Heaney is trying to illustrate. “Sweet” and “sour” also contrast, which helps readers compare the first and second stanza. I think in "Blackberry Picking" Seamus Heaney is trying to convey a sense of disappointment by looking down on Heaney's efforts to keep them, knowing that they don't last. I think that as a reader, this poem also depicts a deeper message about the transition from a pure and joyful childhood to a cruel and depressing adulthood. Here the blackberry symbolizes childhood, it is full of pleasure and sweetness, however these berries do not last forever. "Every year I hope they stay, I know they won't" this shows that as Heaney grows he still hopes to remain a child even though he knows time never stops not. The other poem I chose is “Blessing.” by Imtiaz Dharker. The poet emphasizes the value of water around her house in India. In the first lines, Dharker opens by using simile to tell readers about the lack of water around where she lives: “The.