IMTIAZ DHARKER:I lived for many years in Bombay which has been renamed Mumbai. So it's really a city with two names and two faces. There's the supposed economic miracle of Mumbai but there's also more than 50% of Bombay that's slums. The people who run the city don't think it's worth spending the money to
IMTIAZ DHARKER:put the right amount of water into the slums so there might be just one tap for hundreds of people. But one day I was filming for UNICEF in the slums when an accident happened but it was a welcome accident. Blessing. "The skin cracks like a pod. There never is enough water. Imagine the drip of it, the small splash, echo in a tin mug,
IMTIAZ DHARKER:the voice of a kindly god. Sometimes, the sudden rush of fortune. The municipal pipe bursts, silver crashes to the ground and the flow has found a roar of tongues. From the huts, a congregation: every man woman child for streets around butts in, with pots, brass, copper, aluminium, plastic buckets, frantic hands,
IMTIAZ DHARKER:and naked children screaming in the liquid sun, Their highlights polished to perfection, flashing light, as the blessing sings over their small bones."
Imtiaz Dharker performs and describes her poem Blessing.
She discusses how the poem is inspired by a burst water main in a slum in the city of Mumbai, and how the daily grind is interrupted by the happy accident.
This clip is from the series Contains Strong Language.
Teacher Notes
Pupils could create a chart of themes they think the poem covers, and how Imtiaz’ use of language and pace supports or enables this.
As a vocal exercise, pupils could look at whether the meaning of the poem changes from being read on the page to being read aloud. Does anything else jump out at them which they hadn't previously noticed?
Curriculum Notes
This topic is relevant for teaching English Literature at KS4 & GCSE/National 4 & 5.
More from the series: Contains Strong Language
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Imtiaz Dharker performs and describes her poem This Tide of Humber.
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Imtiaz Dharker performs The Right Word. video
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Imtiaz Dharker performs poem Honour Killing. video
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Imtiaz Dharker performs This Room. video
Imtiaz Dharker performs and describes her poem This Room.
Daljit Nagra performs his poem Singh Song! video
Daljit Nagra performs his poem Singh Song!, and gives insight into the background of the poem.
Daljit Nagra performs his poem X. video
Daljit Nagra performs his short poem X, and gives insight into the background of the poem.
Daljit Nagra performs In a White Town. video
Daljit Nagra performs his poem In a White Town, and gives insight into the background of the poem.
Daljit Nagra performs Darling and Me. video
Daljit Nagra performs his poem Darling and Me, and gives insight into the background of the poem
