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IN MARBLE, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography


"In Marble" by Agha Shahid Ali is a ghazal, a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. This structure is evident in the repetition of the phrase "in marble" at the end of each couplet. Ali's poem is a rich tapestry of imagery and metaphor, exploring themes of beauty, loss, history, and the transient nature of human experience.

The poem opens with a playful and imaginative tone, suggesting a game of hide-and-seek in marble, an allusion perhaps to the enduring yet elusive quality of art and history. The reference to the absence of thyme or fenugreek in marble could symbolize the lack of life's flavor or essence in something as cold and unchanging as marble.

As the poem progresses, the imagery becomes more varied and profound. The mention of Kali, the Hindu goddess, and her tiger's stripes on the temple's walls, introduces themes of power, divinity, and the intertwining of beauty and terror. The line about justice being "radical chic in marble" is particularly poignant, suggesting the ways in which serious issues can be trivialized or aestheticized, losing their urgency and becoming mere trends.

The poet's mention of a lover visiting Chisti's tomb and the imagery of a shriek calligraphed in marble brings a personal, emotional depth to the poem. It hints at a longing for connection and understanding, a voice trying to be heard through the medium of stone.

The reference to God's tears and angels wailing "cheek-to-cheek in marble" further deepens the exploration of sorrow and the divine, suggesting a sense of shared grief or mourning that transcends human and heavenly realms.

Ali's mention of Rodin's lovers in a gift shop and the broken hand in plaster brings the focus back to art, its fragility, and its power to evoke emotion. The contrast between the living, breathing artist and the lifeless, yet emotive, art is striking.

The couplet about the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous marble structures in the world, is especially evocative. It captures the monument's beauty and its embodiment of love and loss, themes central to the poem.

In the final couplets, Ali contemplates the sky and the mountains, finding even nature to be reflected or captured in marble. The plea for a remembered god to breathe through someone's lips, even if the poet himself is left mute, is a powerful expression of the desire for art to convey and preserve human emotion and experience.

The closing lines bring a sense of closure and resignation. The poet acknowledges the limitations of human endeavors, including art, in capturing the essence of life and experience. Yet, there is also a sense of peace in this acceptance, as if the poet has found solace in the beauty and endurance of what is left behind in marble.

Overall, "In Marble" is a deeply reflective and beautifully crafted poem that weaves together personal, historical, and artistic themes to explore the nature of human expression and the enduring power of art.


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