The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt — Analysis & Translation

Original Poem

The Peacock Sujata Bhatt His loud sharp call seems to come from nowhere. Then, a flash of turquoise in the pipal tree The slender neck arched away from you as he descends, and as he darts away, a glimpse of the very end of his tail. I was told that you have to sit in the veranda And read a book, preferably one of your favourites with great concentration.. The moment you begin to live inside the book A blue shadow will fall over you. The wind will change direction, The steady hum of bees In the bushes nearby will stop. The cat will awaken and stretch. Something has broken your attention; And if you look up in time You might see the peacock turning away as he gathers his tail To shut those dark glowing eyes, Violet fringed with golden amber. It is the tail that has to blink For eyes that are always open.

Translation (English)

The Peacock Sujata Bhatt His loud, sharp call seems to come from nowhere. Then, a flash of bright blue-green in the pipal tree The thin neck bends away from you as he comes down, and as he quickly moves away, you see just the end of his tail. I was told that you have to sit on the porch And read a book, one of your favorites with deep focus. When you start to get lost in the book A blue shadow will cover you. The wind will change direction, The constant buzzing of bees In the nearby bushes will stop. The cat will wake up and stretch. Something has interrupted your focus; And if you look up quickly You might see the peacock turning away as he gathers his tail To close those dark glowing eyes, Purple edged with golden yellow. It is the tail that must blink For eyes that are always open.

About the Poet

Sujata Bhatt (Contemporary)

Sujata Bhatt, born on May 6, 1956, is an acclaimed Indian poet known for her evocative and culturally rich works. Her poetry often explores themes of identity, language, and cultural intricacies, influenced by her global travels and diverse cultural exposures.

Historical Context

Literary Form: Free verse
When Written: 1988
Background: The poem reflects Bhatt's exploration of cultural identity and memory, drawing on her childhood experiences and the symbolic presence of the peacock in Indian culture.

Sources: https://poemanalysis.com/sujata-bhatt/the-peacock/, https://www.literpretation.com/post/the-peacock-poem-summary

Detailed Explanation

Sujata Bhatt's poem 'The Peacock' captures the elusive beauty and mystery of the peacock, a bird deeply symbolic in Indian culture. The poem begins with the sudden, piercing call of the peacock, which seems to come from nowhere, followed by a vivid image of its turquoise plumage in a pipal tree. The peacock's graceful movements are described as it descends and darts away, leaving only a fleeting glimpse of its tail. The speaker reflects on a childhood belief that deep concentration while reading a favorite book can summon the peacock's presence. This belief is portrayed as a magical moment where nature responds to human focus: the wind shifts, bees stop buzzing, and even a cat stirs. The poem concludes with the peacock's tail, described as having eyes that must blink, suggesting a mystical quality to the bird's presence. Bhatt's use of vivid imagery and cultural references creates a rich tapestry of memory and identity, inviting readers to experience the wonder and transience of such encounters.

Themes

Literary Devices

Word Dictionary

Word	Meaning	Translation	Transliteration
turquoise	a bright blue-green color	a color that is a mix of blue and green	tur-kwoyz
pipal	a type of fig tree	a type of tree found in India	pee-puhl
veranda	a porch	a porch attached to a house	vuh-ran-duh
concentration	deep focus	focusing completely	kon-suhn-tray-shun
amber	a golden yellow color	a yellowish color	am-ber
gathers	collects	brings things together	gath-erz
fringed	bordered	having a border	frinjd
violet	a purple color	a type of purple	vy-uh-let