English literature - Poets and poetry

by Patrick Fernando

Patrick Fernando is a Sri Lankan poet. His poems are impressive and follow a definite style giving a tint of "Local Colouring" THE FISHERMAN MOURNED BY HIS WIFE is one of his most popular poems describing the LIFESTYLE of the people in a FISHING VILLAGE in Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lankan Fishing Villages men and women marry young mostly arranged marriages lacking mutual understanding and affection. There develops love and attachment as usual, with the arrival of children; a concept that has come into existance.

THE FISHERMAN MOURNED BY HIS WIFE is one of Patrick Fernando's popular poems. The poem on the whole is in the form of an elegy and is in narrative style reflecting the procedure of the past with the conceiving of a child a strong love cropped up between the husband and wife.

The poet reveals the sad and pathetic story of the fisherman who went out to sea in rough weather and met with death.

The theme of the poem is developed and expressed in an elegant manner. In a very attractive style the character of the woman mourning the death of her husband, young and energetic.

"not yet thirty" "tanned you into old boat brown"
The poet uses repetition to stress the importance "not quite thirty"
"Trembling lest in fear you'll let me go a maid
Trembling on the other hand for my virginity"
The poet's effective and elegant wording create the appropriate situation for the event.
"When seagulls returned
New plumed and wild
When in our wind torn flamboyant
New buds broke, I was with child"

The poet expressing the pathetic state of the woman with child, and gaining experience and courage to face life is highlighted by the poet in an exquisite manner.

Patric Fernando's diction style using free verse form with a rhyming pattern varying to give prominence highlighted facts, a reflection of the emotional and practical experiences of the young woman determined to face life with courage.

The juxta position of the line

"You had grown so familiar as my hand and the inexperienced youngman portrayed in a striking manner is an elegant feature in this poem "The Fisherman mourned by his wife"

The poet has followed the metaphysical style in describing certain events."Chaste as a gull flying pointed home "The Poet's diction style, simple and direct and expressions, rhythm and features of "versification and the free style of poetry" shine as an achievement of the poet.

The poem "Sea morning" by Alfreda de Silva leads the reader to a similar version.

"The uncertainity of the life of fishermen" The poet's simplicity of the diction style, imagery, appropriate back ground, tone, rhyme and rhythm add colour and life to the poems of Patrick Fernando a popular Sri Lankan poet.

Mrs. C. Ekanayake,
Retd. Specialist Teacher Eng.,
St. Anne's College,
Kurunegala.