Imtiaz Dharker

• Born in Pakistan, raised in Glasgow and now lives in India,

so work spans European and Indian cultures. In ‘Blessing’,
trying to show Westerners what it’s like to be short of water.
Writes in a free, speech-like style.
 Blessing is a poem by Imtiaz Dharker.
Set in a slum called Dharavi, in India. It describes the
pandemonium that would occur if a huge water tunnel were to
burst and shower the parched locals with water. The water is
described, as "the voice of a kindly god", "silver" and a
"blessing". Religious imagery is used throughout the poem,
including the description of the clamoring locals as a "
congregation".
The skin cracks like a pod DUAL MEANING: Skin /
ground
SIMILE: cracks - dryness

There is never enough water SIMPLE STATEMENT:

Sets the scene for what
follows

Imagine the drip of it, Can’t even remember water

The small splash, echo Even a little drop makes a

big impact. (in an empty
cup, in a barren land, in
their lives)

In a tin mug
RELIGIOUS LANGUAGE:

The voice of a kindly god The answer to their prayers

 Extended Metaphor: RUSH: rushing water,
rushing people, a feeling or
shows the value of water
a ‘rush’

Sometimes, the sudden rush

Of fortune. The municipal pipe bursts,
Silver crashes to the ground
And the flow has found
A roar of tongues.

Rhyme: irregular, creates a

feeling of chaos, or a rush
 Religious Language: a
From the huts, group in church – as if they
worship the water.

A congregation: every man woman

Short Lines: add to the
Child for streets around rushing feeling

RUSH: This stanza moves

Butts in, with pots, very quickly compared to
the imagining and
religious feelings in other
stanzas

Brass, copper, aluminium

Plastic buckets Frantic hands,

 Naked: feeling of purity, as
And naked children with the water.

IMAGERY: Brightness and

Screaming in the liquid sun, light… the water is like a
miracle.

Their highlights polished to ALLITERATION: brings

attention to this line.
perfection, Focuses on the life-giving
quality of water’

Flashing light,
BLESSING: water is seen
as a gift. Many take it for
As the blessing sings granted.

Reminds of first line:

Over their small bones. skin and bones
FIRST STANZA: SECOND STANZA: THIRD STANZA:
Focus on dryness Water pipe bursts Focus on Life
Dreaming / Rushing / Sense of Thankfulness /
Imagining Urgency Happiness
Desperation due Fast paced. People Light, Blessing,
to lack of water are delighted. Religious feelings
 Questions
• What is the meaning of the simile in line 1?
Is it effective and why?
• Look at the use of onomatopoeia in the poem.
How does the poem use them?
• The poet changes the rhythm in the third stanza.
How and why?
• How does the poet compare the children to the
water containers? Why?
• What is the poet saying about water and religion
by using so many religious terms?
• Compare the first and last stanzas: How many
differences can you spot? (Consider sound,
structure, word and sentence level features.)