Living Space : Poem Anthology

“The problem..”

“The problem, nothing is flat.”

The slums aren’t structurally tradition which is seen as a problem for the Western upper class.

Daharker is showing the real problem is the wealth divide and fact people are subject to these living spaces.

“Nothing is flat,” shows the instability off the houses as safety is unobtainable here.

The houses depend on one another to stay up right as the community depends on one another.

“Balance crookedly…”

“Balanced crookedly on supports thrust off the vertical, nails clutch.”

Emphasises the dangerous living conditions that the people have to live in.

“Supports” references the strength of the people living in these spaces but also the lack of support that they receive from the wealthy.

“Nails clutch” emphasises the fragility of the houses and personifies those living in the slums as having to clutch onto each opportunity to survive.

‘Leans dangerously..”

“Leans dangerously toward the miraculous.”

STRUCTURE = dangerously leans across the page - a visual representation of the danger.

The miraculous could refer to the miracle that the structures are still to stand and the miracle that the people survive, live and stay optimistic despite the conditions they are subjected to.

Furthers Dharkers admiration for the people and their existence in the slums.

“Someone has…”

“Someone has squeezed a living space.”

Someone is a general term and suggested how the wealthy and western world dehumanise those in the slums rather than understanding their needs and helping them.

The anonymity of the word also suggests the isolation of the slums and how they are cut off from the western world - a mystery to the super rich.

“Squeezed” highlights the cramped and claustrophobic of the slums.

“Living space” is sued rather than home to highlight how the western world do not see them as houses as they are neither comfortable nor safe.

STRUCTURE = this is the smallest stanza within the poem ands is squeezed within the other longer stanzas making it a visual representation of the slums compared to the riches of Mumbai.

“Dark edge..”

“Dark edge of a slanted universe.”

The dark edge refers to the dangers of living in the slums and reinforces the idea that the people are on the verge of death.

“Slanted universe,” refers to a metaphor for the inequality of the rich and poor - they are not equal but slanted and divided.

A visual representation of what those living in the slums see was they look out: a universe of slanted structures and unsafe houses.

“Bright, thin..”

“Bright, thin walls of faith.”

The brightness could link to the symbolism of light giving the people hope.

The fact the walls are thin could reflect the fragility of their society living in the decrepit conditions.

Dharker leaves the poem on the word “faith” as this is the glue that holds the community together as they are able to withstand hard conditions and times because they have believed they are looked after by a higher power and will be rewarded eventually.

Dharker is full of admiration, respect and hope for the peoples fortitude and determination, restoring her faith in humanity as she sees the faith of the people.