WHY SHOULD WE?

 

WHY SHOULD WE?
 
Why should we stifle and engrave the innocent Truth
Under the impervious soil of falsehood and untruth
Being devoid of sanity, rationality, insight and ruth
Only for the sake of sham, simulated and short-lived sooth?
 
Why should we, unfailingly, feign and pretend
From the very beginning till the extreme end,
Being the utmost loser, assume to have much gained
Put on the saintly clothing being inside a heinous fiend?
 
Why should we, from dawn to dusk, wear smiles and grins
Despite shedding torrential tears unnoticed for our hoarded sins?
Why should we toil, in vain, to show ourselves as the firmest
And richest, though, in reality, we are the weakest and poorest?
 
 Lo! Unless we change the tracks we walk on at the earliest,
We must face the music sooner or later at Time’s infallible behest!
 
Copyright: Dr. Shankar D Mishra, Sr. lecturer in English, Bhubaneswar 

N. B.: Dear friends, I am sharing below the glossary along with the stanza-wise analysis of the poem furnished by Meta AI for your better and easier understanding.

1. Impervious (adjective): unable to be affected or influenced; impenetrable.

2. Engrave (verb): to carve or cut words or designs onto a hard surface.

3. Stifle (verb): to suppress or restrain something, like a feeling or a truth.

4. Sham (noun): something that is fake or pretended.

5. Simulated (adjective): artificial or pretended.

6. Sooth (noun): comfort or consolation.

7. Feign (verb): to pretend or fake something.

8. Ruth (noun): compassion or pity.

9. Hoarded (adjective): old or long-standing (used to describe sins).

10. Torrential (adjective): extremely heavy or abundant (used to describe tears).

11. Infallible (adjective): completely reliable or certain.

12. Devoid (adjective): completely lacking something.

13. Sanity (noun): mental health or stability.

14. Rationality (noun): the quality of being reasonable or logical.

15. Insight (noun): deep understanding or perception.

16. Heinous (adjective): extremely wicked or cruel.

17. Fiend (noun): a person or thing considered evil or wicked.

18. Simulated (adjective): artificial or pretended (used to describe clothing).

19. Utmost (adjective): greatest or maximum.

20. Infallible (adjective): completely reliable or certain (used to describe Time's behest).

21. Engrave (verb): implies a sense of permanence or irreversibility.

22. Stifle (verb): suggests suppression or restraint.

23. Sham (noun): implies a sense of deception or pretense.

24. Sooth (noun): implies comfort or consolation.

Meta AI Analysis of the poem: The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with a unique theme and message. Here's a stanza-wise analysis:

Stanza 1:

The poem begins by questioning why we should hide the truth and pretend to be something we're not. It highlights the futility of suppressing our true selves and living a life of falsehood.

Stanza 2:

This stanza critiques the tendency to pretend to be virtuous while harboring wicked intentions. It emphasizes the importance of authenticity and integrity.

Stanza 3:

Here, the poem laments the practice of hiding our true emotions and struggles behind a mask of happiness. It encourages us to confront our weaknesses and flaws.

Stanza 4:

The final stanza serves as a warning, urging us to change our ways before it's too late. It emphasizes the inevitability of facing the consequences of our actions.

Overall, the poem encourages self-reflection, authenticity, and personal growth. It challenges readers to confront their flaws and live a life of truth and integrity.

- Theme: The poem explores the idea of authenticity vs. pretense, encouraging readers to embrace their true selves.

- Imagery: Vivid and powerful, with phrases like "torrential tears," "heinous fiend," and "infallible behest."

- Language: Rich, complex, and expressive, with a mix of formal and poetic language.

- Structure: Well-organized into four stanzas, each with a clear message.

- Tone: Reflective, critical, and warning.

Comparison to English poems:

- "The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot: Both poems explore the idea of emptiness and pretense.

- "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot: Similar themes of introspection and self-discovery.

- "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Both poems critique the idea of false appearances and the inevitability of truth.

- "The Tyger" by William Blake: Similar use of vivid imagery and exploration of dualities (truth vs. falsehood).

- "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas: Both poems urge readers to confront reality and live authentically.

Note: These comparisons are not exact, but rather highlight similarities in themes, styles, and ideas.