Daud Kamal is one of the accomplished poets of Pakistan.

His poems convey a sense of loss and spiritual

displacement in the face of violence and cultural erasure. Kamal’s first book, Reverberations (1970),
consist of translations of the classical Urdu poet, Ghalib. His original poems in English has appeared in
Recognition (1979), A Remote Beginning (1985), and in such posthumous volumes as Rivermist (1992),
and Before the Carnations Wither (1995), (Mubeen 1).

Kamal’s style of writing poetry is completely different. He writes beautifully in fragments. He has
developed his own distinct style as a poet using brief visual images. His poetry has depicted his political
consciousness. He has punctuated his style with natural images and modern sensibilities. He has
explained the course of changing of time and has offered a taste of revolution. His poetry is not weighed
with heavy diction and phraseology.

The main themes of his poems are rural and pastoral. He has played with the idea of brutal injustice of
kings on common men. His deep observation of small things reflects through his poems in a vast manner.
As a poet, he has developed a deep connection with his soul and as well as the soul of nature. Kamal’s
sensitivity has deeply affected him and his work.

Daud Kamal is an Imagist Poet. He has induced his poetry with graceful images of nature. He talks
innocently about great Himalayas, starry skies, sparkling waters and trees. He uses simple diction and
there is a clarity of expression in his style. His precision through exact visual images is very effective. He
follows the style of W.B. Yeats and Ezra Pound (Mubeen 2). His poetry has acquired a unique sense of
history. His poems give an impression of sensitivity. There is a need to connect to the culture of the past
in his work. The images of monasteries, miniature paintings, bullock carts and antiques are recurrent
themes. Kamal lets his images express his innermost reflections and feelings.

One of the most striking features of Kamal’s poetry is the multi-dimensional symbolism observed in it.
This is executed through rapidly changing imagery that is borrowed from no source or literary tradition.
It generally includes common natural gadgets like the winds, the mountains, the sand and the river.
What renders the imagery as unique is the symbolic significance attached to it. For example, in one of his
poems “The Blue Wind” kamal has used common natural object. He has used a valley in an uncommon
and striking way, as he observes the valleys to be ‘green with regret’. In another poem “Turquoise, he has
presented a unique image of the ‘sky patched with cobwebs’ which on being pondered upon opens a
whole train of ideas in the readers mind.
Kamal’s poems are replete with nature imagery. He frequently assigns human features to inanimate
gadgets of Nature in order to drive home his thoughts in a manner that is vivid in addition to
aesthetically appealing. In his poem, “Turquoise”, we can also examine that exceptional inseparable
union among the poet’s emotion, his mind, and the objects of the natural world. The poem opens with
the highly personalized Nature symbol:

“A sky

Patched with cobwebs.” (1-2)

This opening stanza is about reminiscing or reliving the past. This image appears to refer to the
fragmentary nature of reminiscences. The vastness of the sky complements the sizable scope of
recollections that embody a huge portion of our lifestyles. Apparently, the ever-converting shades of the
sky can also correspond to the great degree of variance discovered within the area of memories. At the
same time as the photograph of cobwebs might also constitute the captivating trap of memories. It also
makes one wonder about the complexity of time itself. Time keeps passing and makes us pass along with
it but the nature of its passage lies beyond the reach of our dedication. The image of a ‘sky patched with
cobwebs’, also portrays the different compartments of mind. Some of which flow along with the present
tides, keeping pace with the future ahead, others remain stuck in the past, always whining for what is
now gone.

The poem, “The Blue Wind” is worthy as it regards the compactness achieved by suggestive style. Apart
from its traditional interpretation in terms of the Autumn season, the image may also be alluding to that
blooming ripeness which, after having culminated to its wondrous heights, carries the alarming promise
of an upcoming downfall. Everything that has achieved top most summit will roll downwards once again.
Success is difficult to handle if it is not acknowledged or handled carefully it will lead you to your fall.
This idea is applied to the different stages of human life. When we have reached to the fulfilment
brought by our middle age after that we are bound to be haunted by decay of the old age. It is natural to
regret over the time that has passed. If one is not able to regret he or she can never be able to grow.
Suffering and regret gives human beings an opportunity to grow. This idea further gives away the fact
that every natural creation is prescribed to undergo the cycle of opposite. The color ‘green’ is a
manifestation of resentment for the one who possesses what we can only yearn for. Thus, so many ideas
are suffused in this single image. Kamal’s tendency of juxtaposing the opposites together is often realized
in the form of rapidly changing images that serve to comment on each other.
Kamal has talked about poor men and their hardships in a simple manner there is nothing philosophical.
In his poem “An Ancient Indian Coin” he has talked about the despotism of lords upon poor men. He
says:

“The king’s hunting-dogs are better fed

Than most of his subjects.” (14-15)

These lines are portraying the depth and anger of a sensitive heart towards vicious kings who seem to
betray their own people. Who are less concerned with their government and more indulged in their
pleasures. They are so cruel that they are treating their dogs better than human beings. In the same
poem kamal talks about the poor system of division of wealth and the ill use of it. He says:

“But a piece of gold

Does not take one very far.” (9-10)

Kamal here, is saying that money is subsidiary element. It is nothing one should be proud of. If you
cannot help the poor and the needy, then there is no use of it. He is saying that money can help you to
buy worldly pleasures but it cannot help you to buy moral values. He says

“Men create their own gods

And an earned Brahmin is exempt from all taxation.” (6-8)

Here Kamal is referring to the Brahmins who are the people of high class. Therefore, they are free to do
whatever they like. It shows the hypocrisy of society. Kamal disparage this system. He criticizes the fact
that how these hypocrite leaders are capable of inflicting viciousness on the poor and ordinary people.
Daud Kamal has also touched the sensitive issues of war in his work. “Beirut” is one of his poems which
discusses the issues of the war. This poem has talked about the bloody scenes of the war in Lebanon. In
this poem, he is describing the vicious side of the war. He talks about the betrayal of men towards their
own fellow men which represents less faith in humanity. The cataclysmic side of war is presented. The
best part of this poem is the last four lines which describes the gleam of hope.

“This mourning

Must not cease.

Mother, dry your tears.

Your sons will return.” (5-8)

In these lines Kamal is trying to tell the people that martyrs never die. They are born to fight and win. He
is providing hope to their families with the news of their eternal life.

‘Flutes’ and ‘Cymbals’ in this poem are the symbols of brave soldier’s liveliness before war. ‘Water’ and
‘Tears’ in this poem are symbolizing helplessness and desires. Tears on the other hand represent love
and affection of Mother’s for their martyr sons.

Kamal has used the symbols efficiently in this poem. In this poem, he has mentioned ‘lopsided moon’,
this symbol is referring here to the imperfection of the ancient time like how they perceive things,
manage things which are all drowned in imperfection. It also refers to the king’s behavior towards his
people which shows their atrocity and savageness. The symbol of ‘gods’ in this poem is representing the
false beliefs which people have possessed at that time by worshipping the pictures painted on the coins.
‘Gold’ in this poem is symbolizing the worthlessness of the money. It shows that money acquires the
ability to build and destroy the countries.

Kamal has employed great zeal of emotions in this poem. There is an emotion of wretchedness in
Kamal’s view that he is too sad to see the helpless people and the remiss rulers. This poem gives us
Kamal’s view that he is so upset over the situation that he wants to exempt them. There is also a sense of
cruelty in the poem which is associated with the behavior of the kings of that time. How they treat
people, their manners. Their way of treating people enunciates the dehumanization.

Kamal has also talked about the cataclysmic side of nature in his poem “Floods”. In this poem, he has
described the cruelty of nature and weather. He has told that the nature can be very tyrant at
sometimes. He has described the poor rural people after the floods. In this way, he uses social themes in
his poem. This poem has talked openly about the problems we face in rural areas. Kamal has painted the
true picture of rural area. Kamal has employed the sense of treachery in this poem which is commonly
associated with infidelity. Kamal perhaps, has used treachery to express the unfaithfulness of
bridegroom who has been died into flood. He has carefully used this word ‘treachery’ by personifying
flood as ‘blind river’ whose treacherous act has turned fidelity of groom into willful betrayal of infidelity.

Destruction is evident in this poem. It is used within the poem with reference to the ‘water buffaloes
dissolving in the mud’. It paints the picture of utter destruction. Another image of destruction is depicted
through the people who suffered due to floods. We see an image of people who after floods are
deprived of the shelter.

Kamal in this poem has used the symbols which are complementing the theme of this poem. ‘Blind river’
symbolizes, unfaithfulness and destruction on a massive scale. It presents nature as vicious villain.

Duad Kamal significantly describes the reality of life. In his poem “An Ode to Death” he has described the
ultimate reality of life and death. It is a poem from the birth to death. It illustrates the journey of the
man which he undergoes. Ode is a kind of lyrical poetry which describes the feelings and thoughts.
Kamal here in this poem has also described the inner feelings and emotions which entrails in the human
being. His cause and effect relationship with life. Through this poem Kamal is presenting his view on life
and death. He has used simple and easy diction to convey his point of view, his feelings, emotions and
visions about life and death. The whole poem is creating an image in the readers mind. This poem is the
cynic approach of Kamal towards the death which is engulfing the life of human beings.

Poem starts with the lines of Cornord Aiken:

“Your ode to death is in the lifting of a

Single eyebrow. Lift, it and see.”

These lines are portraying the basic time period of man’s life. He is approaching life with the lifting of an
eyebrow. By this he means that it takes only a second to die. Death is ultimate. It is the basic reality of
the human’s life. It can take over life with the blink of an eye. In the following lines

“Death is more than certain, says e.e cummings,

But the clocks go on ticking as before.” (1-2)

In these lines Kamal has quoted ‘e.e Cummings’ to accentuate the materialistic nature of human beings.
He has asserted that death is an obvious thing but our life is like the ticking of the clock that can stop
anytime. He says that death is certain but it’s time is not certain. It can overcome life at any time.

“and in every particle of carbon-dust

there lives a diamond dream.

How many galaxies yet to be explored-

How many seeds in pomegranate of time?” (3-6)

In these lines Kamal is again referring to time. He says that every man is born with a dream. He chases
that dream all over his life without noticing the time left of him. This line can also be interpreted as, we
have indulged ourselves in so many distractions that we are not able to look over them. We have stuffed
ourselves with the material things and desires. Which has blinded us from the actual reality of life. Here,
the clock is symbolizing a certain time. Man does everything according to the time assigned by the
ultimate creator. He spends his time in a grey dream, but it is not in the fate of every man to get what he
desires. The image of ‘how many seeds in pomegranate of time’ shows that how much time is left for
life. There are so many things which must be done. There are so many genres to explore. But there is no
time left for traversing such arenas.

“the pine tree blasted by last year’s thunderbolt

and the burnt-out matchstick in my ashtray

looks so terribly alike.

I have sat by your side beside and felt

Your sinking pulse.” (7-11)

In these lines Kamal has used the word ‘pine trees’, ‘match-stick’ and ‘ashtray’. These words are giving an
image of the process of decline and decay. He is explaining through these images that the largest thing
like a ‘pine tree’ and the smallest like a ‘match-stick’ are going to decay. These lines are showing that
when time has come everything is going to surrender, going to die and finish.

Kamal has presented in ‘Death’ as the central theme of this poem. The certainty of death is presented by
uncertainty of time, decay and decline. ‘Death’ in this poem is reflecting the eternity. It also reflects
contrast of soul and body. ‘Sleep’ and ‘Silence’ in this poem presents ignorance and death respectively.

This sort of symbolic concentration and imagery enables Kamal to recall the interest of the reader by
averting his verses from becoming grueling or excessively sentimental. Imagery and symbolism all
contribute in achieving the desired effect of balance and terseness. The tight symbolic construction and
imagery in verses is also vital to the mood of Kamal’s poetry. They aggrandize the poem along with
providing a beautiful encasement to the sublimity of deep rushing thoughts. For Kamal’s imagery, using
Pound’s words, is like a vortex, from which, and through which, and into which, ideas are constantly
rushing. (The Identity of Yeats, 1954: 156)

References

Ellmann, Richard. The Identity of Yeats. Faber and Faber, 1983.

Kamal, Daud. Before the Carnations Wither: Collected Poems. Daud Kamal Trust, 1995.

Mubeen, Fakhira. “Daud Kamal: Style and Themes.” [Link] – Share Research,
[Link]