Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"When Autumn Came," by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, is a poignant poem that employs the imagery of autumn to convey a metaphorical depiction of oppression and despair. Faiz uses vivid and sorrowful imagery to portray the stripping away of life and spirit from the natural world, paralleling this to the experience of human suffering under tyranny. Despite the bleakness, the poem ends on a hopeful note, appealing to divine intervention for renewal and restoration.

The poem begins with a stark description of autumn's impact: "This is the way that autumn came to the trees: / it stripped them down to the skin, / left their ebony bodies naked." Here, autumn is personified as an oppressive force that brutally strips the trees, leaving them bare and vulnerable. The "ebony bodies" convey the elegance and strength of the trees, which are now "naked" and exposed, embodying the theme of desolation.

The next lines continue to elaborate on the devastation: "It shook out their hearts, the yellow leaves, / scattered them over the ground." The yellow leaves, representing the hearts of the trees, are scattered and trampled "undisturbed by a single moan of protest." This metaphor emphasizes the helplessness of the oppressed, who are left voiceless and unable to resist. The absence of a "moan of protest" further underscores the depth of despair and resignation.

Faiz then shifts to the imagery of birds, which symbolize hope and dreams: "The birds that herald dreams / were exiled from their song, / each voice torn out of its throat." The "birds that herald dreams" are exiled from their song, suggesting that even the symbols of hope and aspiration have been silenced. Their voices are "torn out," and they "dropped into the dust / even before the hunter strung his bow." This image depicts the premature death of dreams and aspirations, crushed even before they could fully manifest.

The plea for mercy begins with an invocation: "Oh, God of May have mercy." The speaker calls upon the "God of May," the month typically associated with spring and renewal, to intervene. The plea continues: "Bless these withered bodies / with the passion of your resurrection; / make their dead veins flow with blood again." The "withered bodies" represent the trees and, metaphorically, the people who have suffered under oppression. The "passion of your resurrection" is an appeal for the renewal of life and spirit, for the "dead veins" to once again "flow with blood."

Faiz concludes the poem with a hopeful appeal: "Give some tree the gift of green again. / Let one bird sing." The desire to see "some tree" regain its greenery and "one bird sing" expresses the longing for even a small sign of hope and renewal. This ending suggests that despite the overwhelming despair, even a single instance of regeneration can be enough to inspire faith in a better future.

Structurally, the poem is written in free verse, which allows Faiz to explore the themes fluidly and emphasize the stark imagery. The repetition of "autumn" and "naked" reinforces the sense of despair, while the concluding plea for renewal offers a glimmer of hope.

In "When Autumn Came," Faiz Ahmed Faiz uses the metaphor of autumn's devastation to depict the brutal effects of oppression on the spirit. The poem eloquently captures the helplessness of being stripped of hope and the struggle to find renewal amidst despair. Faiz's plea for mercy and resurrection reveals a resilient belief in the possibility of renewal and the power of even a small sign of hope to inspire change.

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