Cutting the Sun by Chithra Banerjee Divakaruni poem summary

      Cutting the Sun

            - Chithra Banerjee Divakaruni

Summary of the poem:

          The first part of the poem expresses the heat of the sun. The rage of the sun are in rasp-red and muscled as the tongues of iguanas. The image in this poem is fantastic, someone cutting the sun itself upon with massive blue scissors, finding flowers at its heart. The poem is a way out fantastical account of gardening and on the other hand, it spoke to the generative powers of the sun and how all life comes from it.

          The descriptions of the sun are physically grounded in the senses. The sun is 'gigantic hot', 'smelling of iron. The narrator sweats under it's says, almost 

losing identity against it's overwhelming power. It may be just a gardener cutting flowers, sweating under the sun.

The sun-face looms over me, gigantic-hot, smelling

of iron. Its rays striated,

rasp-red and muscled as the tongues

of iguanas...

          It is a reminder that the sun and destruction that is cutting, clipping burning leads to new life. "Flowers, flowers, flowers", five, rain no matter it all brings life in the end. It is a fascinating image and word well with the image of sweatish gardener.

          Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni was born author on July 29, 1956. She is an Indian author, poet and the Betty and Gene McDavid professor of writing at the university of Houston creative writing program. Her notable works is "Mistress of spices". She focuses on the experiences of the Asian immigrants. She writes for children as well as adults and has published novels in multiple genres, including realistic fiction, historical fiction, magical realism, myth and fantasy.

          Banerjee's novels reflect many aspects of the diaspora and the experiences of immigrant writers. Her short story collection "Arranged marriage" and her two novels "Sister of My Heart" and "The Mistress of Spices" deals with the female protagonist and their forcible migration of the West.

          Divakaruni immigrated to the USA where she continued her education

in the year 1976 at the age of nineteen.

Poem style :

          She writes poem encompassing a wide variety of themes including nature,

history, myth, art. The immigrant experience and south Asian women and focuses often on the joy and struggles of women trying to find their own identifies.

          "leaving yuba city" is unique. But it includes the series of poeme based on inspired by various art forms, including paintings, photographs and film.

          With these poems Divakaruni once again shows how boundaries can be destroyed, as she illustrates how different are forms are not independent entities, but how they can, in fact influence each other

          Her poems inspired by the photographs of Raghubir Singh , painting by Francesco clemente and film by directors, including Saryajit Ray and Mira Nair. In the final section, dramatizes the circumscribed lives of presecuted Punjab farmers who immigrated early in his century to to Yuba city, California. Strong narratives and emotionally acute these poems will stay with you.

          Poem from "Leaving Yuba City" have won a Pushcart prize, Allen Ginsberg prize and a Gerbode Foundation award.

          One of the poems in her collection, "Woman with Kite" has been chosen by film matar yonah Hong to the be part of her documentary film between the lines: Asian American Women's poetry. The film also includes an interview with Divakaruni. 

          Francesco clemente is a contemporary Italian artist and this poem is in response to a bit of this art, which sadly, I was unable to find for you to view. Divakaruni's beautiful poem after that painting from which She drew

inspiration.

         In the title "Leaving Yuba City", group of interlinked poems are divided into six sections, peopled by poetry of the same characters. They explore a Variety of themes. Chithra Banerjee Divakaruni particularly interested in how different of forms can influence and inspire each other and there are series of poems based on it paintings by Francesco Clements on photographs by Raghubir Singh and on Indian films.

Video Link:

Cutting the Sun by Chithra Banerjee Divakaruni