Without watching the sky standing on the roof of an attic,
Heart does not become like the sky;
Thinking it, once I used to stand on the roof of an attic
And stared at the sky with open mouth
And, like a hungry duck, swallowing fully the sky-snail,
I kept hands on my bosom and thought:
Now the sky is this bosom,
The sky this heart.
Without watching the wavy ocean going very close to her,
Heart does not become like the ocean;
Thinking it, once I used to go near the ocean
And stared at her with open mouth
And all on a sudden, like the miraculous crocodile
Of Khan Jahan Ali’s legendary pond, swallowing fully
The ocean-cock, I kept hands on my bosom and thought:
Now the ocean is this bosom,
The ocean this heart.
Then one day I visited the love-theatre
And saw there your two trembling eyes;
And keeping my youth on the fire of your bosom,
I saw the burning fire of love.
Watching your two trembling eyes,
My heart became the ocean bottomless;
And watching the burning fire,
My heart became the sky unbounded.
Now I tell the world:
Go to a woman;
Without watching the love-flooded two eyes of a woman,
A heart does not become like the ocean;
Keeping the fuel-youth on her bosom’s fire,
Without watching the burning fire of love,
A heart does not become like the sky.
"Poem of the Sky and the Ocean" by Sayeed Abubakar is a contemplative and metaphorical poem that explores the dynamic relationship between the sky and the ocean. Through its vivid imagery and symbolic language, the poem delves into themes of unity, separation, and the enduring connection between natural elements.
The poem opens with a description of the "sky's blue tear" falling into the ocean, creating ripples and waves. This image immediately establishes the connection between the sky and the ocean and hints at a sense of longing or separation.
Abubakar employs sensory and visual imagery to evoke a vivid picture of the sky and the ocean. The "whispers of the ocean" and the "sighs of the sky" create a sense of movement and interaction between these two elemental forces.
The poem's central metaphor portrays the sky and the ocean as lovers who are separated by an "endless desert of sand." This metaphorical desert represents the vast expanse that separates the sky and the ocean, emphasizing their physical and spatial distance.
The poem explores the idea that despite this physical separation, the sky and the ocean remain connected through their shared experiences. They are described as having "dreams of union" and "pangs of separation," highlighting the emotional depth of their connection.
The poem concludes with a reflection on the enduring nature of this connection. Despite the distance, the sky and the ocean continue to influence each other, and their love remains undiminished.
"Poem of the Sky and the Ocean" is a metaphorical exploration of the interconnectedness of nature and the enduring bond between the sky and the ocean. It invites readers to contemplate the profound relationship between natural elements and to consider how even in the face of physical separation, there can be a deep and lasting connection. The poem's imagery and metaphorical language create a sense of unity and harmony within the natural world, encouraging reflection on the broader themes of unity and separation in the human experience.
