Evaluate the theme of man’s relationship with nature in the poem.
Or How does Gabriel Okara connect nature with human emotion in the poem? ✪✪✪
Gabriel Okara (1921–2019), in his poem “Snowflakes Sail Gently Down” (1959), explores the deep connection between man and nature. He shows how nature reflects human emotions like peace, sorrow, and faith. The poet feels that man and nature share one spirit. Through these natural images, Okara teaches that nature is not separate from man.
Symbol of Peace and Calmness: The poet shows nature’s peace through snow. He writes,
“The snow flakes sail gently down from the misty eye of the sky.”
The slow, silent snowfall mirrors calm human emotions. It brings peace to the tired trees and to the poet’s soul. The snow connects man and nature in a moment of rest and reflection. Okara uses this image to show that nature heals human pain with its softness and silence.
Sharing of Sorrow:
n style="font-weight: 400;"> The elm trees in winter reflect human grief. The poet writes,
“The branches bow like grief-stricken mourners.”
The bending branches look like people mourning in silence. Nature feels the same sorrow as man does. Through this image, Okara shows that nature shares human suffering. The trees and the poet both bow under life’s burdens. Nature becomes a living companion that understands human pain.
Dream of Renewal: In his dream, the poet sees life growing again. He says,
“I dreamed of birds, black birds flying in my inside.”
These birds represent imagination, hope, and renewal. They fly inside the poet. It shows that nature’s energy lives within him. When he sees “oil palms bearing suns for fruits,” it means that nature gives new life and light. Okara connects the renewal of nature to the renewal of the human spirit.
Man’s Greed and Nature’s Power: Okara also warns about human greed. He says,
“roots denting the uprooter’s spades.”
The “uprooters” try to destroy nature but fail. The strong roots of the trees show nature’s power and resistance. The uprooters are tired and weak. This shows that humans depend on nature for life. When they forget this bond, they lose peace and harmony.
Spiritual Harmony: In the end, the poet finds faith through nature. He sees the trees bow “like white-robed Moslems salaaming at evening prayer.” Nature itself prays in silence. The poet feels divine peace in this quiet scene. Through this image, Okara connects nature with worship and faith. He learns that true spirituality lives in harmony between man and the natural world.
In “Snowflakes Sail Gently Down,” Gabriel Okara beautifully joins human emotion with nature’s rhythm. When man listens to nature, he finds comfort, wisdom, and faith. Okara’s message is that nature is not outside us; it lives in our soul and gives us peace.
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