In These Two Poems, Gillian Clarke Gives The Impression Of Someone Who

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In These Two Poems, Gillian Clarke Gives The Impression Of Someone Who

Is Uncomfortable With Her Surroundings. Compare And Contrast Clarke's

Feelings About Violence, Change And The Attitude Of Those That

Perpetuate These Themes.

The intention of this essay is to compare the corresponding themes of

violence, change and the attitude of those who influence these themes

in the poems 'Jac Codi Baw' and 'No Hands'. Both poems are by Gillian

Clarke and give an insight into her feelings on modern society and the

way in which it disregards others feelings.

Clarke is obviously uncomfortable with the change that has, as she

sees, come so quickly. In 'Jac Codi Baw', Clarke seems most worried by

the suddenness of destruction-

"In the space of time it takes to fill a shopping bag". Clarke also

seems distressed by the transformation of a whole area, just by the

destruction of one building- "the hand-writing of a city will be

erased"; or in another way, the entire character of a city, or

particular part of that city is destroyed by the demolition of just

one [historic] building which gives that city its individuality.

In 'No Hands', Clarke approaches change from a different angle.

Whereas in 'Jac Codi Baw' change is seen as sudden and rapid, in 'No

Hands' change is more of a creeping tide, which does not make itself

immediately apparent. Clarke feels that the countryside is being

'invaded' by "silly boys" who "think they strum guitars". This refers

to the pilots of the warplanes, who do not know of Clarke's feelings

of intrusion and insecurity.

The use of peaceful words, to do with water and music, directly

contrast with the change intrusion that Clarke disagrees with-

"Shaking the world", the intrusion, follo...

... middle of paper ...

...use of the pilots apparent immaturity- "silly

boys", boy scaring boy", "all do and dare", "look at me, no hands" and

"lads high on speed" all relate to the pilots juvenile attitude.

Clarke reiterates the pilot's childish attitude by making the last

phrase ambiguous. This makes the point that the pilots act like they

are high on speed the drug, while actually just being high on the

speed of the planes. Clarke's unease is also with the thought that

these young men have entrusted to them, a multi-million pound

warplane, which they show off in as if they were using "surfboards

over crests".

In these two poems, Gillian Clarke has shown a passion, indeed almost

an obsession for preserving the 'old ways of life', particularly her

own. Her concerns are mainly about the needless change and violence in

modern life and the speed in which they can be brought about.

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