Apprehending the ‘Waste Land’

Apprehending the ‘Waste Land’

—

”April is the cruelest month” was
An apprehension of Eliot so long,
Were there doubts and fears
Frustration of humanity prolong!

Deep concerns in “The Waste Land”
He’s so firm in his belief!
“And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief”

The hollowness inside, hollow outside
The ‘death in life’ in all tones!
“I think we are in rats’ alley
Where the dead men lost their bones.”

The life in death, the morbid depth
Had been swallowing present tense!
Living and dead, dead and living
As if similar in the truest sense:

“He who was living is now dead
We who were living are now dying
With a little patience”- was what Eliot says.

The hope retreats, dear one mal-treats
Greed and jealousy do prevail
Over the days, over the years
The degeneration, we hail!

The breeze is hot, the bridge is alarming
The bridge la of love and life fail
Optimism dies, worst tide does rise
Is there anyone who can sail?

Such was the yearnings Eliot had
Such are the dooms count down!
“Shall I at least set my lands in order?
London Bridge is falling down falling down falling down”.

Such is the lamentation, such, the horror
When regeneration dies in harness,
Let there be light again and again
Even amidst the “Heart of Darkness”…

—
Md Nazim Uddin
September 1, 2023