Lament

By Gillian Clarke (b. 1937)

Context

• Gillian Clarke wrote "Lament" in response to the environmental and human devastation caused by the First Gulf War in 1991. During the war, retreating Iraqi forces deliberately caused the largest oil spill in history by opening oil valves and pipelines, resulting in catastrophic damage to marine life and ecosystems in the Persian Gulf. Clarke's poem reflects on the consequences of war, not only for humans but also for the natural world. The poem serves as an elegy (a mourning poem), a lament for the widespread loss and destruction caused by human conflict. Clarke was inspired by media images of the time, which showed oil-soaked birds and soldiers engulfed in flames, highlighting the indiscriminate suffering caused by war. A lament = a mourning poem/funeral song

The Poem

For the green turtle with her pulsing burden,

in search of the breeding ground.

For her eggs laid in their nest of sickness.

← Oxymoron and metaphor

For the cormorant in his funeral silk,

← Contrast

the veil of iridescence on the sand,

the shadow on the sea.

For the ocean's lap with its mortal stain.

← Metaphor

For Ahmed at the closed border.

For the soldier with his uniform of fire.

← Metaphor and imagery

For the gunsmith and the armourer,

the boy fusilier who joined for the company,

the farmer's sons, in it for the music.

For the hook-beaked turtles,

the dugong and the dolphin,

the whale struck dumb by the missile's thunder.

For the tern, the gull and the restless wader,

the long migrations and the slow dying,

the veiled sun and the stink of anger.

For the burnt earth and the sun put out,

the scalded ocean and the blazing well.

For vengeance, and the ashes of language.

← Metaphor and symbolism

5 Quotes + Analysis to Achieve a Grade 9

1. Language device = Oxymoron and metaphor. "Nest of sickness" Analysis: The combination of "nest," a place of safety and life, with "sickness," representing harm and decay, creates an oxymoron that emphasises a tragic transformation. A nest should be a place of safety and new life, but in the poem, it has become tainted and deadly due to human actions. This metaphor reflects the broader theme of how war corrupts and destroys the natural world.

2. Language device = Contrast. "Funeral silk" Analysis: The metaphor "funeral silk" refers to the black oil that coats the cormorant's feathers, symbolising death and mourning. The word "silk" typically conveys softness and comfort, which sharply contrasts with the harsh reality of the oil spill, a destructive force that causes suffering and death. This contrast intensifies the tragic irony of the situation, where something associated with delicacy is now linked to devastation.

3. Language device = Metaphor. "Mortal stain" Analysis: The "mortal stain" refers to the oil spill, which has permanently damaged the ocean. The word "mortal" suggests something that causes death, reinforcing the idea that this environmental disaster is deadly and irreversible. The stain symbolises the lasting impact of human actions on the natural world.

4. Language device = Metaphor and imagery. "Uniform of fire" Analysis: The "uniform of fire" worn by the soldier is a powerful metaphor that conveys the intense suffering experienced by those involved in the conflict. This vivid imagery suggests that the soldier is engulfed in flames, highlighting the destructive and painful nature of war. It also evokes sympathy for the soldier, who, despite wearing a uniform, is still a victim of the violence.

5. Language device = Metaphor and symbolism. "Ashes of language" Analysis: The final phrase, "ashes of language," symbolises the failure of communication and peace. The word "ashes" suggests that all attempts at peace and communication have failed, leaving behind only the remnants of the failed efforts to prevent or end the conflict. This image reinforces the poem's overall theme of loss and destruction.

Form

• Elegy:
  • The poem is structured as an elegy (mourning poem), a lament for the damage caused by the Gulf War to both human life and the natural world. Clarke lists the various forms of suffering, creating a tone of mourning and sorrow.
• Repetition of "For the…":
  • Each stanza begins with the phrase "For the…," which links back to the title "Lament" and reinforces the sense of grief and sorrow throughout the poem.

Structure

• Repetitive Structure:
  • The poem's repetitive structure, beginning each stanza with "For the…," creates a sense of accumulation, as the list of tragedies grows longer and more overwhelming. This repetition emphasises the widespread impact of the war on both people and the environment.
• Juxtaposition of Nature and War:
  • Clarke contrasts images of nature with images of war, such as the "green turtle" with her "nest of sickness" and the "soldier with his uniform of fire." This juxtaposition highlights how war invades and corrupts the natural world, leaving destruction in its wake.
• Shift from Life to Death:
  • The poem begins with the green turtle's struggle to survive and ends with images of "burnt earth" and the "sun put out," symbolising the complete destruction of life and the environment. This progression reflects the escalating impact of the war, moving from harm to total devastation.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "Lament," Clarke presents the impact of war on the natural world as devastating and irreversible. The phrase "nest of sickness" symbolises how war has turned places of life and safety into sites of death and disease. The "funeral silk" covering the cormorant is a metaphor for the oil spill that suffocates the bird, turning it into a symbol of mourning for the damaged environment. Clarke's use of "mortal stain" to describe the ocean highlights the permanent and deadly consequences of human actions. The poem's repetitive structure and its shift from images of life to death emphasise the widespread and escalating destruction caused by the war, ultimately leaving the natural world in ruins.