Tangi
By Hone Tuwhare
The poem ‘Tangi’ is written by Hone Tuwhare and is about his personal feelings at a European funeral for a loved one and then his feelings at a traditional tangi for the same person. The main idea in this poem is how different cultures deal with death and grief. Tuwhare shows us this by using negatives and the contrast between his feelings at the two different funerals.
One of the techniques Tuwhare uses in this poem is the uses if negatives. Tuwhare uses negatives to show the central idea of this poem by using words like, “I did not meet her on the boarded path” and “nor detect her fragrance in the frolic of violets and carnations.” This shows us the central idea of the poem by showing his feelings at the European funeral and how he could not truly grieve. We can tell it is a European funeral because of the references to violets and carnations which are typical English flowers and also the words “boarded path” shows us it is a very formal occasion. Also in the first half of the poem we can tell he does not feel comfortable at the English funeral. This is shown by the second stanser, “She did not” to “of green pathos.”
The second technique Tuwhare uses in the poem ‘Tangi’ is contrast. He uses the contrast between his feelings at the two different funerals to help show the main idea. Tuwhare uses the words, “violets and carnations” specifically because they are traditional English flowers so therefore representing a foreign culture to his. He also uses the line, “I did not meet her on the boarded path” to show that it is a very formal occasion. Also the use of “not” and “nor” show us that Tuwhare does not feel comfortable grieving in a foreign and formal environment. In the second half of ‘Tangi’ Tuwhare uses the words “but I heard her crooning in the hung wires” and “in the calm vigil of hands” to show that he feels comfortable grieving in this more familiar setting gaining closure that was not found at the formal European funeral. We can tell Tuwhare is talking about a tangi because he uses the words, “green leaved anguish” and “of the bowed heads of old women.” The green leaved anguish relates to the wreaths they wear at a tangi and the bowed heads of old women relates to the traditional old women of a tangi.
Tuwhare used negatives and contrast in this poem to show the central idea skilfully and efficiently. In my opinion, ‘Tangi’ is a well written and enjoyable poem.
By Aidan Purves
By Hone Tuwhare
The poem ‘Tangi’ is written by Hone Tuwhare and is about his personal feelings at a European funeral for a loved one and then his feelings at a traditional tangi for the same person. The main idea in this poem is how different cultures deal with death and grief. Tuwhare shows us this by using negatives and the contrast between his feelings at the two different funerals.
One of the techniques Tuwhare uses in this poem is the uses if negatives. Tuwhare uses negatives to show the central idea of this poem by using words like, “I did not meet her on the boarded path” and “nor detect her fragrance in the frolic of violets and carnations.” This shows us the central idea of the poem by showing his feelings at the European funeral and how he could not truly grieve. We can tell it is a European funeral because of the references to violets and carnations which are typical English flowers and also the words “boarded path” shows us it is a very formal occasion. Also in the first half of the poem we can tell he does not feel comfortable at the English funeral. This is shown by the second stanser, “She did not” to “of green pathos.”
The second technique Tuwhare uses in the poem ‘Tangi’ is contrast. He uses the contrast between his feelings at the two different funerals to help show the main idea. Tuwhare uses the words, “violets and carnations” specifically because they are traditional English flowers so therefore representing a foreign culture to his. He also uses the line, “I did not meet her on the boarded path” to show that it is a very formal occasion. Also the use of “not” and “nor” show us that Tuwhare does not feel comfortable grieving in a foreign and formal environment. In the second half of ‘Tangi’ Tuwhare uses the words “but I heard her crooning in the hung wires” and “in the calm vigil of hands” to show that he feels comfortable grieving in this more familiar setting gaining closure that was not found at the formal European funeral. We can tell Tuwhare is talking about a tangi because he uses the words, “green leaved anguish” and “of the bowed heads of old women.” The green leaved anguish relates to the wreaths they wear at a tangi and the bowed heads of old women relates to the traditional old women of a tangi.
Tuwhare used negatives and contrast in this poem to show the central idea skilfully and efficiently. In my opinion, ‘Tangi’ is a well written and enjoyable poem.
By Aidan Purves
‘An examination of her body after death’
By Glen Colquhoun
In the poem ‘An examination of her body after death’, Doctor Glen Colquhoun is confronted in a morgue with the body of a dead friend. He uses negatives and metaphors to express the two main ideas of this poem, denial and remembering.
One of the main techniques in the poem ‘Examination’ is denial. Colquhoun uses a lot of negatives to show this. At the beginning of every stanser he uses the phrase, “You are not her shoulders!” or “You are not her face!” stating different parts of her body and why they are not from the person lying in front of him. This clearly shows that he is in denial and is not excepting that the body in front of him is the person he once new. It helps the reader understand the main ideas of this poem. The repeated use of the negative, “You are not…” helps the reader know more of what Colquhoun is feeling and helps the reader to get more engaged in the poem especially if they have had a loved one pass away. Also the use of exclamation marks shows he is angry and exasperated.
Another main idea in the poem ‘Examination’, is remembering. In this poem Colquhoun is lovingly remembering what his deceased friend was like. he shows this by using metaphors such as, “These are broken headlights on a car. Lock all the doors. Who has escaped with the shining of the sun?” This shows that Colquhoun is remembering that her eyes used to shine brightly and beautifully but now are colourless, dull and, they resemble broken headlights on a car. it is also accusatory with the words, “Lock all the doors...” saying someone has changed her eyes and he wants them back to the way they once were when she was alive.
The negatives and metaphors served the authors purpose by showing the main techniques of this poem, denial and remembering, making them well shown to the reader in a way that draws them into the poem and lets them feel what Colquhoun feels. In my opinion it was a good and well written poem.
By Aidan Purves
By Glen Colquhoun
In the poem ‘An examination of her body after death’, Doctor Glen Colquhoun is confronted in a morgue with the body of a dead friend. He uses negatives and metaphors to express the two main ideas of this poem, denial and remembering.
One of the main techniques in the poem ‘Examination’ is denial. Colquhoun uses a lot of negatives to show this. At the beginning of every stanser he uses the phrase, “You are not her shoulders!” or “You are not her face!” stating different parts of her body and why they are not from the person lying in front of him. This clearly shows that he is in denial and is not excepting that the body in front of him is the person he once new. It helps the reader understand the main ideas of this poem. The repeated use of the negative, “You are not…” helps the reader know more of what Colquhoun is feeling and helps the reader to get more engaged in the poem especially if they have had a loved one pass away. Also the use of exclamation marks shows he is angry and exasperated.
Another main idea in the poem ‘Examination’, is remembering. In this poem Colquhoun is lovingly remembering what his deceased friend was like. he shows this by using metaphors such as, “These are broken headlights on a car. Lock all the doors. Who has escaped with the shining of the sun?” This shows that Colquhoun is remembering that her eyes used to shine brightly and beautifully but now are colourless, dull and, they resemble broken headlights on a car. it is also accusatory with the words, “Lock all the doors...” saying someone has changed her eyes and he wants them back to the way they once were when she was alive.
The negatives and metaphors served the authors purpose by showing the main techniques of this poem, denial and remembering, making them well shown to the reader in a way that draws them into the poem and lets them feel what Colquhoun feels. In my opinion it was a good and well written poem.
By Aidan Purves
