Readings of ‘Catrin’ by Gillian Clarke and ‘The Deliverer’ by Tishani Doshi: The Use of Poetic Technique to Address the Impact of Childbirth THOMAS ROBERT GARDNER 12th Grade

Doshi's ‘The Deliverer’ is set in Kerala in a centre designed to help the children that have been rejected by society due to their gender, deformities and skin. The immorality of the scene depicted by the description of ‘naked in the streets’ and ‘stuffed’ into bags (referring to children) creates the semantic field of carelessness. These terms insinuate children are regarded as property not a living being deserving of care and love. This is reinforced by the dog that thinks the children are ‘bone or wood’ implying children are seen as an expendable and useless resource by parents unless they provide financial or societal benefit (male or fully able). A contrasting tone is shown within ‘Caitrin’ as the metaphor of ‘tight red rope of love’ (actually an umbilical cord) is used to convey the immediate and vehement emotional connection between the mother and the child. The use of ‘tight’ suggests the mother is immediately protective over her child, and Clarke uses enjambment in order to isolate this word at the end of a line emphasising its emotive impact. This contrasts with the objectification of children within ‘The Deliverer’ highlighting the social differences how the value of life is considered.

The fact the child was buried...