A

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Alvi continues to use imagery to communicate ideas on the concept of identity. The speaker describes how a “little air catches” her kameez. The fact the air “catches” her kameez could be to represent how she herself was caught by the new identity of India she encountered in the bazaar. She then describes how the “colours leave” the street of the bazaar. Returning to the concept of evening being between day and night, and the speaker being between East and West, the “colours” leaving the street mean that night is coming. This is symbolic for the Eastern identity taking over, and influencing her more, as the sun sets in the West, and could mean that Western culture left with it. It is no coincidence that this example of imagery serves as a prelude to the height of the poem, when she feels the most connected to the Indian identity, and the tone is proud, confident, and comfortable. Finally, the speaker describes the henna as a “peacock” that “spreads its lines” across her hand. The peacock is the national bird of India, and is spreading its lines across her hands. This is representative...

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