The elephants are out. Last night they marched
gorgeous through streets, caparisoned like kings.
electric radiance shattering the night,
laden with relics, talismans and things.
Dawn came. And they were tethered in their stalls
(the back garages of an Institute of Education)
where they swayed and chafed.
had time for thought.
A notion then took root.
in the huge cerebellum that uncoils
behind the great. domed skull. '‘We are the lords
of open spaces. Great bucolic monarchs
of the land' ' The city's teeming hordes
hooted and jangled by beyond the walls
that prisoned and demanded patience from them.
With one accord they snapped their ankle chains
and lumbered forth towards the gates to storm them.
The city froze. Then birds sprang to the air
and men to trees. Vehicles clambered walls.
All order vanished as the blind grey surge
swept down the arcades and the trumpet calls
drowned klaxons, sirens, bells, horns, engines; swamped
the roaring of the bloodstream of Colombo
Quite suddenly it ended. Having made
his point. the pachyderm returned to jumbo
and plodded meekly home. The city now
knows behemoths, aroused, will rule by riot.
We bow the head and bend a loyal knee
to jungle law, in hope of peace and quiet.
Gajaga Vannama Elephant Dance - a traditional dance form)
Elephant Dance (a traditional dance). In February 1983, some elephants brought to Colombo for the Navam Perahera held by the Gangarama Temple broke free from the
make whiff stalls where they were tethered and ran through the streets of Colombo. The elephant is the symbol of the UNP the ruling party of Sri Lanka (from 1977 to 1994). UNP thugs , are believed to have been heavily involved in organising anti-Tamil violence in July 1983) Shortly before that poem and these troubles, Richard had already used the image of the elephant to convey what was building up, in 'Gajagavannama', his evocative account of an incident that occurred in February 1983. In an author's note he penned later for an anthology, he mentioned directly the connection with the July riots; but it should be noted that the poem had been written a couple of months earlier, being based on his awareness, from trying to help the ruling party with its 1982 referendum campaign to extend the life of Parliament, of how ruthless, albeit still on the surface restrained, that party had become. The use then of the riotous elephants of February to foreshadow an increasingly dominant fact of life in this country was immensely powerful.
Criticism
Gajagawannama is a musical recital by group of dances emulating the graceful demeanor (behavior) of elephants. It relates to an exclusively cultural pagents where elephants in large numbers take part. The poem at a superficial level can be related to a true happening of the era, where elephants rampage along the streets of Colombo causing a lot of destruction. (Ref; foot note in the poem)At a deeper level, the poem could be interpreted in a political rein. Symbolically, elephants signify a party symbol of a prominent group. Considering the size and other characteristics, they could be political thugs who ran the show in the turbulent time. They use their political and muscular power to quench any form of unrest uprising in the country. They were state sponsored and state acknowledged. They engage in extra judicial killings of their whim and fancy. The hand that maneuverer them are political manipulators. They oppressed the civilians and this era was advocating ruled by riot. The title is suggestive and ironic since a stark contrast between the behavioral patterns of the same themes of elephants in two occasions. This presents the duality of behavior in both elephants and politicians. Above political concern put up a pious image to the public while resort into violence in secrecy. The first stanza presents the glory, the glamour, the grace with which the elephants came hay-vive in the city. The element of humor is brought forth by attributing human characteristics to the animals. "the nation then take root domed skull".
Humor is created through diction.( use of words. EG; the pachyderm returned to Jumbo.... and the dramatic events that took place. Eg; birds sprang to the air and men to trees, vehicles climbed walls.
The abrupt beginning and end create humor as well. The diverse action of people, animals, vehicles create humor.
This poem is prophetic since it brings out uncanny (open, strange) predictors about events bound to happen a few months ahead. The comparison between the elephants and humans are satirical.
Despite the large size, elephants are gifted with meagre (small) brain. However, July 1983 this scene was realized. Tamils and other civilians ran mock in the streets while thirsty racists pursuit them.
The final point was driven home by the political though their antics people become submissive with the knowledge how destructive the political forces can be. Theme: How the breakdown of law and order is caused due to the excesses of corrupt politicians. The UNP is synonymous with corruption and violence under the cover ofgrace and free society. They opted to violence.
Title: Suggestive, deceptive, symbolical, cultural, allegorical, specific and parable. Narrative, documentary style is followed.
Symbols: elephant; Party symbol and thugs
Rhythm: Stanza 1-4 slow, 5-6 action packed to show drama and follows a quick rhythm Stanza 7, relatively calm and gradually coming to a close. This is the exact over all rhythm that Gajagawannama follows. There is a vibrant movement just before the end.
the roaring of the bloodstream of Colombo
Quite suddenly it ended. Having made
his point. the pachyderm returned to jumbo
and plodded meekly home. The city now
knows behemoths, aroused, will rule by riot.
We bow the head and bend a loyal knee
to jungle law, in hope of peace and quiet.
Gajaga Vannama Elephant Dance - a traditional dance form)
Elephant Dance (a traditional dance). In February 1983, some elephants brought to Colombo for the Navam Perahera held by the Gangarama Temple broke free from the
make whiff stalls where they were tethered and ran through the streets of Colombo. The elephant is the symbol of the UNP the ruling party of Sri Lanka (from 1977 to 1994). UNP thugs , are believed to have been heavily involved in organising anti-Tamil violence in July 1983) Shortly before that poem and these troubles, Richard had already used the image of the elephant to convey what was building up, in 'Gajagavannama', his evocative account of an incident that occurred in February 1983. In an author's note he penned later for an anthology, he mentioned directly the connection with the July riots; but it should be noted that the poem had been written a couple of months earlier, being based on his awareness, from trying to help the ruling party with its 1982 referendum campaign to extend the life of Parliament, of how ruthless, albeit still on the surface restrained, that party had become. The use then of the riotous elephants of February to foreshadow an increasingly dominant fact of life in this country was immensely powerful.
Criticism
Gajagawannama is a musical recital by group of dances emulating the graceful demeanor (behavior) of elephants. It relates to an exclusively cultural pagents where elephants in large numbers take part. The poem at a superficial level can be related to a true happening of the era, where elephants rampage along the streets of Colombo causing a lot of destruction. (Ref; foot note in the poem)At a deeper level, the poem could be interpreted in a political rein. Symbolically, elephants signify a party symbol of a prominent group. Considering the size and other characteristics, they could be political thugs who ran the show in the turbulent time. They use their political and muscular power to quench any form of unrest uprising in the country. They were state sponsored and state acknowledged. They engage in extra judicial killings of their whim and fancy. The hand that maneuverer them are political manipulators. They oppressed the civilians and this era was advocating ruled by riot. The title is suggestive and ironic since a stark contrast between the behavioral patterns of the same themes of elephants in two occasions. This presents the duality of behavior in both elephants and politicians. Above political concern put up a pious image to the public while resort into violence in secrecy. The first stanza presents the glory, the glamour, the grace with which the elephants came hay-vive in the city. The element of humor is brought forth by attributing human characteristics to the animals. "the nation then take root domed skull".
Humor is created through diction.( use of words. EG; the pachyderm returned to Jumbo.... and the dramatic events that took place. Eg; birds sprang to the air and men to trees, vehicles climbed walls.
The abrupt beginning and end create humor as well. The diverse action of people, animals, vehicles create humor.
This poem is prophetic since it brings out uncanny (open, strange) predictors about events bound to happen a few months ahead. The comparison between the elephants and humans are satirical.
Despite the large size, elephants are gifted with meagre (small) brain. However, July 1983 this scene was realized. Tamils and other civilians ran mock in the streets while thirsty racists pursuit them.
The final point was driven home by the political though their antics people become submissive with the knowledge how destructive the political forces can be. Theme: How the breakdown of law and order is caused due to the excesses of corrupt politicians. The UNP is synonymous with corruption and violence under the cover ofgrace and free society. They opted to violence.
Title: Suggestive, deceptive, symbolical, cultural, allegorical, specific and parable. Narrative, documentary style is followed.
Symbols: elephant; Party symbol and thugs
Rhythm: Stanza 1-4 slow, 5-6 action packed to show drama and follows a quick rhythm Stanza 7, relatively calm and gradually coming to a close. This is the exact over all rhythm that Gajagawannama follows. There is a vibrant movement just before the end.
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