Lament by Gillian Clarke
Stanza 1
1. There are two ‘Fors’ in the first stanza. What are they?
2. Comment on the “pulsing burden”.
3. Comment on the metaphor: “their nest of sickness”. What words do we usually associate with the idea of a nest?
4. Summarise Clarke’s focus in this first stanza. Why might she have begun the poem like this?
Stanza 2
5. The cormorant is described as being covered in oil. Comment on the words that Gillian Clarke uses to describe this. Would you characterise this description as ironic in any way?
6. Pick out two more ways that the oil is described in this stanza and comment on them. Which one could not be termed ironic?
Stanza 3
7. What does the word lap mean here? Look at the following definitions and choose the best one:
a. The front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person. (noun)
b. To wash against something with soft liquid sounds. (verb)
c. (of small waves) to wash against (the shore or a boat) with light splashing sounds
d. (often foll. by up)(esp. of animals) to scoop (a liquid) into the mouth with the tongue
8. Look at the meanings of the word stain:
a. A discolored or soiled spot or smudge.
b. A blemish on one's moral character or reputation.
Which one best suits the meaning in the poem?
Why do you think the stain is described as mortal?
9. Now Clarke shifts the focus of the poem from nature to humanity. Who is Ahmed and why has she chosen this name?
10. What do you think the “closed border” refers to? (Is it significant that the wording here now focuses on the idea of manmade separation, of man’s attempt to impose structure on nature, and that the adjective “closed” immediately characterises this manmade separation as negative?)
11. Comment on the image of “his uniform of fire”.
Stanza 4
12. What different jobs are mentioned here?
13. What do you think they have “joined”?
14. Why have these men “joined”? What do you think of their reasons for joining?
Stanza 5
15. Which animals are listed in this stanza? What do you think has happened to them?
16. How is the sound of the missile described?
Stanza 6
17. Why do you think the sun is described as ‘veiled’? Where else is the word ‘veiled’ used?
18. Why might this recurring motif of a “veil” be significant in this poem?
19. Which three birds are mentioned in this stanza? What happens to them at the end of their long journey?
20. Comment on the final words of the stanza: “the stink of anger”.
Stanza 7
21. Look at the adjectives used to describe what has happened to nature:
Adjectives / Natureearth
ocean
well
Comment on the choice of adjectives.
22. What has happened to the sun? Why do you think we can no longer see the sun?
23. Comment on the final line. Try to sum up in your own words what you think the poet means?
General Comments
Now that you have looked closely at the poem, think and comment about the following things:
20. Look at the structure of the poem – what can you say about it and why has Clarke chosen this particular structure?
21. Why does she repeat the word “For” throughout the poem?
22. What is the tone of the poem? Is it sad or angry or does it change as the poem progresses? Choose particular words to justify your choice of tone.