THE POETRY OF NISSIM EZEKIEL
Author(s): Chetan Karnani
Source: Journal of South Asian Literature, Vol. 11, No. 3/4, NISSIM EZEKIEL ISSUE (Spring,
Summer 1976), pp. 223-228
Published by: Asian Studies Center, Michigan State University
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40873473
Accessed: 27-02-2016 08:34 UTC
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Chetan Karnani
THEPOETRY
OF NISSIMEZEKIEL
A brief overview
FormostIndo-Anglian
poets, poetrytendsto go to twoextremes. Either
it is bourgeoisedreamor bohemian
practice.! Ezekiel has avoidedbothextremes
a full-time
or bybecoming
by refusingeither to wallowin sloppysentiment
poet in the art for art's sake tradition. Instead, he has followeda healthy
meanbetween
these twoextremes.
As an urbanpoet, he has successfullytranslatedBombay's
bogushurlyburlyinto his poetry. He does this withdevastatingironyin TheUnfinished
and
movement
Man. Thecity-dwellerfindsa fine imagefor his mechanical
habitualactions: "Heknowsthe brokenroadsandmoves/ In circles tracked
he exploresthe widechasm
withinhis head."2 In termsof Gestalt psychology,
his geographicaland perceptualenvironment.
Thecitizen artist feels
between
his
in
actual...