Text of the
Poem
There was a time
when all the doors opened outwards
into the sun and the wind
and I rushed out regardless
into yards of surprise.
Now I open the door
an inch at a time
expecting darkness outside
or a creditor.
Taufiq Rafat
Lahore
17 May 1981
Introduction
Taufiq Rafat is
considered to be one of the most distinguished Pakistani diasporic English
writers who is credited with introducing Pakistani Idiom in English literature.
He presents nature with a reflection of Pakistani culture in his poems and his
unique style of writing influences many other South Asian writers.
The poem, Then and Now is a part of Half Moon, a collection of Rafat's poems, he wrote between 1979 and 1983. Half Moon is like a continuous time traveling between emotions, feelings, and earthiness that creates a discourse of its own. Then and Now carries readers from past to present, from their early experiences to present existence, and from imagination to reality.
Summary of the Poem
Then and Now is a short poem that consists of two stanzas. Taufiq Rafat in this poem displays two pages of life. The first stanza presents the past when the poet used to spend his time in open playgrounds under the sunlight. He loved to enjoy nature and found himself always near and dear to natural beauty.
The change of weather had
always amazed the poet and welcomed each change with open arms. Whereas the
second stanza describes the presence of the poet when he feels alone
and confined. He does not have opportunities to enjoy nature as he had in the past.
He remembers those days when he was not surrounded by modern development.
Critical Analysis
1st Stanza
In the first stanza, the speaker is talking about rural life, where all the houses have access to sunlight. People in rural areas have an opportunity to enjoy nature. The poet remembers those days when he was living somewhere in the countryside and studying its beauty. On the other hand, the poet is talking about childhood. When he states, When all the doors opened outwards, then it means a child has a world to explore and can be taken in the right or wrong direction just with a small decision.
A child is always curious about new
things and whenever he finds a new thing to explore, he never misses that
chance. The sun means hope, a beginning, or a new
orientation. Childhood is a time of full energy and a kid can easily aspire
toward successful outcomes with just some bolster effort. Sun and wind are
juxtaposing each other as the sun is opening new ways whereas wind is presented
as a barrier towards a life full of new surprises. But a child crosses all the
barriers instead make them bridges to open closed windows.
2nd Stanza
The first word of the
second stanza "Now" shows that the speaker is
talking about the present. He is living in an urban setting now where tall
buildings are wedded with each other as it makes breathing a struggle. "An
inch at a time" shows how difficult is to live away from
nature. Poet feels hopeless here where nothing progressive can be done. In the
city, nobody does anything free of cost. If one has done something good for you
he will ask your favor and he calls that person a creditor.
On the other side of
the coin, the poet is talking about old age when a person is imprisoned in his
room because of severe diseases or inability to walk too long. He has lived his
enthusiastic and athletic life and now no new opportunity is awaiting him. The
children, for whom he earned, are now busy in their lives. He does not have any
positive hope and is waiting for his last breath to meet his creditor who has
given him such an incredible life.
Themes of the Poem
1. Love of Nature
Nature always has a healing
power that takes you away from your worries. In the first stanza of the poem,
the poet expresses his love for nature. The natural sunlight and wind always
mesmerize the poet and every time he gets hypnotized by the new surprises of
nature. It sounds rhythmic and pleasant when Rafat talks about nature and it
ever takes Rafat's poetry at the highest peak.
2. Present vs Past
Past vs present is the
dominant theme in the poem, Then and Now. Poet is recalling his
beautiful carefree past where he had the freedom to dwell among nature. When he
was young and had the energy to run and have fun. Now he is old and has become
weak. His illness does not allow him to move freely. Now open door does not
fascinate him instead the darkness outside frightens the poet.
3. Old vs New
When the poet discusses
the past he laments over the technology that has ruined all-natural beauties.
The old world had beautiful vast land areas which have been occupied by tall
buildings, smoking factories, petite compartments, and sluggish roads. The
advanced new technology has badly reshaped the entire world that does not allow
people to take even a single step freely.
This article is written by Tabassum Shahzad, one of the contributors at the School of Literature.
