Reproductions by Daud Kamal, Theme, Summary and Analysis

Text of the Poem:

 Reproductions 

Of Mogul miniatures 

Cut out 

From last year’s calendar 

And fragments Of Gandhara sculpture 

Bought for a song 

Prince Siddhartha

Gone into the night 

With Channa, 

And old Tajiks 

In their tents 

Drinking China tea

 

 Almond-blossoms 

Fall 

And a crow---- 

Carved out of ebony---- 

Pushes itself through the rain,

 I sit scraping 

The rust off my ancient coins. --------------

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Introduction

This poem was written by a Pakistani poet Daud Kamal. Kamal in this poem points out the importance of cultural heritage, art, and immortality of art with the use of Mughal miniatures and Gandhara sculpture. The poet while observing the miniatures, paintings, and sculptures in the Gandhara museum is transported back into time. He is taken over by the nostalgia of the glorious past and emphasizes the point that one cannot succeed if he has forgotten his roots.  

Summary and Analysis of the Poem Stanza wise:

Stanza: 1 

The poem starts with the poet observing the Mughal miniatures and Gandhara sculptures. These miniatures were cut out last year and were displayed last year along with the Gandhara sculptures. The poet further explains that these pieces of cultural heritage were only bought and placed for making a song. One can interpret that the poet criticizes the system in which these pieces of cultural heritage are only bought and displayed by the people to make songs.  

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Stanza: 2 

In the second stanza, the poet observes many other different miniatures and sculptures. Upon seeing a miniature the poet remembers the adventure of Prince Siddharta later known as Buddha, who at the time of night with his royal servant and head charioteer, Channa saw the four sights. They both traveled past the old Tajiks who at that time were enjoying their tea in the tent. This historic allusion is employed by the poet to emphasize the quest of Prince Siddhartha Gautama who from a very early age was isolated by his father in their house. He with his head charioteer, Channa, for the first time at the age of 29 traveled out of his house and saw the four sights which were symbolic of human suffering i.e. an old man (symbolic of aging), a sick person (symbolic of disease), a corpse being carried to cremation (symbolic of death) and a monk in meditation beneath a tree. 

Stanza 3:

In the last stanza, the poet sees a painting of almond blossoms and a crow that was carved out of ebony (dark wood) pushing itself through the rain. Upon seeing these paintings which present a story of their won the poet points out that he can only observe these miniatures, paintings, and sculptures and remember the glorious past. Lastly, the poet points out how he is sitting alone and scratching the rust off the coin. This scratching off the rust is significant as it is a metaphor employed by the poet. The poet by observing these pieces of cultural heritage is in fact scratching the rust off from these glorious stories of the past. 

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Themes of the Poem: 

1.     Cultural Heritage: 

The poem “Reproduction” by Daud Kamal is an excellent poem about the reminiscence of the past through cultural heritage. The poet remembers the glorious past through these miniatures, paintings, and sculptures. He through observing these pieces is transported back into the time of Prince Siddhartha Gautama and observes how the Prince with his servant, Channa traveled past the Tajiks.  

2.      Nostalgia 

The poet in this poem at numerous times taken back by the nostalgia of the past. He reminiscences the past by remembering how Prince Siddhartha Gautama witnessed the four sights, the symbols of human sufferings. He observes the Mughal miniatures and Gandhara sculptures and remembers the glorious past of the Muslims of the subcontinent. 

3.     Appreciation and immortality of Art 

The poet in this poem appreciates art that has connected him with the glorious past. These sculptures, paintings, and miniatures according to the poet have preserved the memories of the past. In doing so these pieces of art have attained immortality. Even the almond blossoms and a crow pushing himself through the rain, which are, in fact, everyday manifestations of nature are well captured by the painter through art. The poet in this poem is all praise for art that preserves the past. 

Stylistic Analysis of the Poem: 

• Structure of the poem: The poem is an imagist and fragmented poem that was written in free verse with no proper rhyming scheme and metrical pattern. 
• Tone: The poem is a simple nostalgic poem pointing out the importance of cultural heritage as well as praising the “Glorious Past”. 

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The poem is interpreted by Syeda Areeba Fatima, one of the permanent contributors to the SOL Community.