|
|
|
| Sunday, 2 October 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
A/L English Literature Made Easy - Poetry
From the life of the Folk poet, Ysinno - Lakdasa Wickramasinghe Lakdasa Wickramasinghe seems to use the narrative style based on his own native style. He uses the names, characters and idiomatic phrases common in the local spoken language pattern prevalent in the narration of a folktale in the rural areas of Sri Lankan Society, has been used by him. In this poem; verse one familiarises the readers inviting their attention to the HUT of Ysinno and its pathetic condition. Ysinno had cut the bamboo near Haniketta and from the wattle made his hut. and had nothing to cover it with, nothing like a hundred and sixty bales of straw. To thatch his hut he needs a hundred and sixty bales of straw. Ysinno being a shrewd man and aware of the kindness of the Menike of Iddamalgoda Walawwa, visited her and made his most humble request - a hundred and sixty bales of straw. The short description of the Menike of Iddamalgoda Walawwa reveals her kind nature along with her authoritative attitude of Walawwa folk. So she said, wait for the Yala harvest and take the straw. But Ysinno's shrewd nature overpowered Menike's attitude. Ysinno stressed on the fact that ... o the rains are coming near, my woman fretting her kid will get wet. Then Menike is moved and feels really sorry for Ysinno's pathetic state and permits him to take what ever straw he needs, from the shed, to cover his roof. You take what straw you need from the behind shed. And Ysinno being a folk poet and his lines being not at all dead, the benison of the Menike of Iddamalgoda lives even today. Menike's typical attitude to Ysinno on the first hearing of his appeal, displaying her authority typical of the Walawwa crowd and how her sympathy was aroused by the words of Ysinno referring to the pathetic situation of his hut and his wife and his babe. Ysinno's deep understanding of the Menike of the Walawwa and his vast experience in life, working for the Walawwa enabled him to achieve his ends. Lakdasa Wickramasinghe, has given a local touch and appearance to this poem. The use of local vocabulary deviating from Real English Poetry creates the appropriate imagery to suit the situations created. The aspects of Sri Lankan Lifestyle is dealt with in this poem with a flourish. The poem depicts the peasants depending on the kindness of their employers and the shrewd behaviour pattern of the workers, to achieve their ends. They seem to have a broad understanding of the mental attitudes of their employers. The language style of the poet is quite appealing and familiar to the local crowd. The expressions used to describe Menike's kindness and Ysinno's words to win her favour symbolise a typical village scene - the image of the society at that time. The Menike of Iddamalgoda Walawwa with her kindness, is made to shine in society. And Ysinno being a folk poet and his lines being not at all dead, the benison of the Menike of Iddamalgoda lives even today. The use of the single world 'dead' seems to highlight the fact that Menike's kind deed will live long, may be eternal. Menike's character is described by the few words: So she said wait for the Yala harvest and take the straw. O then. You take what straw you need from the behind shed. The images created by the poet, rains coming my woman fretting, her kid will get wet are strong and effective. Ysinno's innocent, though shrewd presentation of the plight of his little child and his wife is strong and effective, moving Menike to comply with his humble request. Like the African Poets, Lakdasa Wickramasinghe has used the words my woman to refer to the man's wife. The words my woman seem to reveal his attachment to his wife and her kid revealing that she has a baby - creating the most suitable verbal imagery highlighting the urgent need for thatching the roof; giving a local colouring to the whole scene. Lakdasa Wickramasinghe's simplicity of diction the usage of local idiom and the typical rural background, highlight the theme and the style of the poem. The presentation of two individuals - an aristocrat and a poor peasant and how human kindness could pave the way for 'good deeds', irrespective of class and creed; compassion shining as the symbol of humanity. Lakdasa Wickramasinghe, though he has an 'aristocratic ancestry' has highlighted the pathetic state of the poor villager, the under-privileged in the local society and the kind procedure of the Menike of the Walawwa though only a few such people existed in Sri Lanka at that time. Lakdasa Wickramasinghe has brought to light the single character of the folk poet, Ysinno, whose shrewd mode of approach to Menike moved her to comply with his humble request. His shrewdness free from harmful effects. The double line of the third verse remains symbolic and unchallenged. Ysinno said, O the rains are coming near. My woman fretting her kid will get wet. Creating a native style of his own. Lakdasa Wickramasinghe's poem From the life of the Folk Poet Ysinno stands unrivalled as a poem with a local style. Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher, Englit., St. Anne's College, Kurunegala. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
