Introduction of the Poem:
The poem "The Wild Bougainvillea" by Kamala Das, featured in the collection "Summer in Calcutta" (1965), serves as a form of 'psychic striptease,' reflecting Kamala Das' own life experiences. It delves into a profound exploration of true love and philosophically contemplates life's continuation beyond death. The poem concludes on an optimistic note, emphasizing the affirmation of life despite its inherent limitations.
Critical Analysis:
The poem's title, "The Wild Bougainvillea," aptly captures its essence, celebrating life amidst constraints and portraying vitality in the face of decay and death. Despite the relentless march of time, the poem conveys the resilience of regeneration, reinforcing the idea that death is an integral part of life that must be courageously confronted. The title also hints at the philosophy of life's uninterrupted flow.
In "The Wild Bougainvillea," Kamala Das shares a personal episode from her time in Calcutta during a disheartening summer. Struggling with sadness and grief, she found no solace in rest, feeling as if she were mournfully following a bier. Her emotional turmoil was exacerbated by a longing for connection with a man from another town.
The poet reflects on this challenging period, marked by emotional upheaval and romantic anticipation. Despite her destabilized state, she adopted a strategy of mobility, engaging in walks, observing new faces, and acknowledging the distractions that life offers to alleviate suffering.
The poem vividly depicts the deteriorating state of Calcutta, highlighting its loss of past glory and ethical values. The city's decay and vulgarity, manifested in rotting ships, garbage, and the presence of prostitutes, underscore the moral decline and seedy atmosphere that pervade its streets.
Notably, the graveyard scene in the poem illustrates the visible decay and death wrought by time. Tombstones, discoloured and neglected, symbolize the erasure of sympathy for the departed. The poet emphasizes the impact of time's destructive force on the fabric of society and human relationships.
Amidst the grim portrayal, the poem takes an unexpected turn as the poet discovers symbols of life—blooming marigolds and wild red bougainvillea—among the decaying tombstones. This revelation transforms the poet's perspective, making the city seem familiar and hospitable. This newfound familiarity helps her detach emotionally from the distant man, symbolized by sending him roses. As a result, she experiences a peaceful sleep, awakening free from dreams and longings.
Critical Summary:
The poet, when she was in Calcutta, had fallen in love with a man from whom she got separated. But she was not able to forget him. In order to find some comfort and solace, she took long walks; she walked on the roads she had never seen before, seeing faces she liked for their charm. She then came to the conclusion that the world was a good place to live in; it was packed with distractions. As she walked through the streets, she saw boats sailing on the river nearby and their undersides rolling. She also saw the rotting garbage and the dead fish there. She also saw harlots walking through the streets, looking at passing men and smiling at them to lure them. Then the poet visited a cemetery, where she saw tombs and tombstones. She also saw some marigolds blooming and wild red bougainvillea climbing up the minarets of old tombs.
The poet had by now walked through the streets; she had seen sickening sights and heard varied sounds; she had visited a quiet cemetery. All this consoled and comforted her; she no longer craved for the lover she had been seeking and longing for. Consequently, she was able to sleep soundly that night and woke up calm, distressed and fresh the next morning. The poet's reflections on love and death impart a philosophical depth to the poem. Her yearning for her lover ends in her visit to a cemetery as death has a sobering and chastening effect on her.
A depressing poem, The Wild Bougainvillea ends on a happy note. The imagery of decay and death is vivid and realistic, the notable one being of harlots walking in the streets of Calcutta:
I walked on the streets where the night - girls with sham
Obtrusive breasts sauntered
And under yellow - lamps, up - and - down wandered
Beaming their sickly smiles
At men …
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