Review of 'from “Flight and Metamorphosis” -German poet Nelly Sachs’ poem'

 from “Flight and Metamorphosis”

-German poet Nelly Sachs’ poem

I request readers to read the poem first from the above link and then only my review. Thanks.

The poem is on a universal routine, sunset –night –dawn. But happier days pass relatively without notice of this routine, whereas stressful days or dead ends make each passing day longer and intimidating. During a typical business time – day time- what is the business is all about? Fair play? Opportunity for the right minded? Co-operation and coexistence? Inclusiveness and empathy? We all are aware of the cut throat competition in commercial world and struggle for survival and progress in careers. We feel the stress of a sensitive mind (from the relief expressed) during day time in the following lines:

So far out, in the open,

cushioned in sleep.

In flight from the land

with love’s heavy luggage.

Love burdens the lover and the loved. The flight is only from the stressful situation and the burden of love follows like a shadow. The lover burdens the loved with expectations and vice versa. But in spite of the entire burden the escapade finds the destination congenial:

A butterfly-zone of dreams

like an open parasol

held up against the truth.

In the ending lines the poem moves to the metamorphosis smoothly. The flight was for the sensitive. But the metamorphosis of night into day is inevitable. The very last line only indicates how cruel the days are for a sensitive person:

Sea

with prophetic tongues of spray

rolls

over the death shroud

till sun again sows

each second’s blaze of pain.

Sea doesn’t rest even during night and keeps expressing prophesy of the next day’s demands. Here the poet is very sure. Each second of day time is painful. The poem stands out on simplicity of the theme and it’s relatable for any modern youth.