Introduction of the Poem “Poetry of Departure”:
The poem “Poetry of Departures” is autobiographical in nature and reflects the experience of a typical office employee. A modern office worker’s life is disciplined, steady, and shaped by routine. Yet, within industrial society, even people who enjoy financial security and a stable lifestyle often long to escape and pursue a more adventurous existence. The poem clearly reveals this longing to break free from the dull repetition of daily life.
The poet highlights a human tendency to resent domestic life and our instinctive resistance to being confined by it. Ironically, although home is seen as a place of warmth, safety, and protection from the harsh outside world, it can still feel restrictive to a person’s sense of freedom.
However, the poem ultimately questions the worth of abandoning ordinary life. The poet believes that renunciation is merely a form of escape from a hardworking and materialistic world. People who cannot shoulder their domestic duties may be tempted to reject society and choose a saint-like existence. In the end, the poet strongly criticises this way of life and the idea of complete withdrawal.
Summary of the Poem “Poetry of Departure”:
Rumour of Renunciation:
Occasionally, rumours spread that a certain person has abandoned worldly pleasures and embraced a saintly existence. Such a bold rejection of material life is considered a remarkable feat. True renunciation is extremely difficult—almost impossible—so when someone actually succeeds in doing it, the news becomes sensational among those who know him. The information travels rapidly, and whoever hears it is struck with wonder. They admire the individual who has shown extraordinary bravery by giving up his possessions, social ties, and domestic comforts.
Courage Required for Renunciation:
Walking away from home and the ease it provides demands immense courage; therefore, the poet calls such a decision daring and audacious. The life of a recluse who surrenders material comforts has always been viewed as spiritually cleansing. It is an act of self-denial and self-discipline that purifies one’s soul. This choice also calls for great inner strength.
A person who leaves worldly life behind must harden his heart, for he cuts off his relationships with family, relatives, and friends. A recluse has to live in isolation. The poet approves of the renunciation undertaken by this man.
He also notes that every human being longs for freedom, for it is a fundamental trait of human nature. Sometimes this longing drives a person to choose the wandering, solitary life of a recluse.
Appreciation of the Recluse:
The poet supports the act of renunciation undertaken by a certain man, for he believes it to be an expression of profound bravery and exceptional inner strength. According to him, the natural desire for freedom within human beings largely inspires the man to abandon worldly pleasures and choose a saintly life. When people admire his decision to give up material joys, their praise is justified.
Human Longing for Liberty:
The poet further remarks that no one can remain indoors forever; human beings dislike being trapped within four walls. Everyone longs for liberty. He himself does not enjoy being confined to his room and yearns for the wandering life instead. Even though his room is beautifully furnished and filled with luxurious items he has selected with great care, he still feels that his life there has become dull and repetitive.
Meaninglessness of Material Comforts:
Though he has gathered many luxury items, he now considers them worthless. They hold no real meaning for him. His shelves are lined with enjoyable books, and he owns a comfortable bed to sleep on, yet all these comforts fail to satisfy him. He feels exhausted and frustrated with his present lifestyle and has begun to despise his room, despite the order and convenience it offers. It is believed that being a bachelor intensifies his sense of loneliness and hopelessness within those walls.
Admiration for the Renouncer:
When the poet learns that a certain individual has abandoned his social, domestic, and material ties to embrace a saint-like existence, he becomes deeply fascinated and thrilled. Renouncing worldly luxuries and physical comforts is almost impossible, yet this man manages to accomplish the daring feat. Though separation from loved ones is usually filled with pain and sorrow, this man stands as a shining example of true sacrifice. He appears to embody the very spirit of renunciation.
Emotional Reaction of the Poet:
The poet’s excitement on hearing this news is intense; it is as overwhelming as the thrill he would feel if someone described a woman slowly removing her garments. He feels a similar surge of emotion as he would if someone hurled harsh, insulting words at him. Inspired by the man’s choice, the poet begins to consider following the same spiritual path. He too longs for such a holy life and believes he is capable of showing equal courage.
Change in Thought:
However, as time passes, his thoughts shift. He begins to realise that renunciation may not hold the value he once imagined. To him, it now appears less like noble sacrifice and more like an escape from the struggles and labour of worldly existence. With this awareness, he feels renewed motivation to remain where he is and continue with his work. He chooses to stay active and productive, convinced that his true salvation lies not in withdrawal, but in persistent effort and sincere labour.
Inner Conflict:
A silent struggle takes place within the poet’s mind. He wonders whether he should abandon his present existence and set off as a wanderer or sailor, or continue to remain where he is. At first, he supports the idea of escaping from everything and living a roaming life. He even imagines becoming an escapist. But the awareness that such an escape would be pointless restores his balance, and he returns to his normal, hardworking self.
He realises that it is better to live a diligent and active life in this challenging world than to adopt the existence of a saint. It is easy for a person to succumb to the hardships and barriers of life, but confronting them with courage is far more difficult.
Social and family life is not simple, and fulfilling worldly duties requires strength and bravery. According to him, renunciation is only a desperate attempt to run away from responsibilities.
Value of Worldly Responsibilities:
The poet accepts that the path of worldly life is not smooth. Yet, instead of losing hope, a person must move forward with faith in himself. One can perform ordinary tasks with confidence and satisfaction if one recognises one’s own value.
Thus, the poet stands between two choices—either abandoning life completely or continuing to engage with it. He chooses to remain industrious. He believes that whenever he needs peace or comfort, he can find it in moments of solitude without deserting society.
Two Types of Solitude:
The poet contrasts two forms of solitude: one in which a person discards everything and isolates himself from the world, and another in which he remains part of society yet finds quietness within it. He selects the second option, for it matches the life he lived before being briefly tempted by the irrational urge to overturn his settled world.
He concludes that if he wishes to write a book or create something beautiful, he can withdraw into peaceful isolation for a while, undisturbed, without giving up his responsibilities.
Critical Appreciation of the Poem Poetry of Departure”:
Introduction:
The poem Poetry of Departure is autobiographical in nature and reflects the experiences of an office employee. It presents a dialogue between two conflicting outlooks, making the poem argumentative in tone. More thoughtful than emotional, it suggests that the hope of discovering a fulfilling and comforting alternative to the routine, monotonous life most people live is nothing more than a pleasant illusion.
The poem resembles Toads in the way it explores the poet’s mixed feelings toward holding a regular, salaried job that provides stability while simultaneously limiting personal freedom through monotonous labour.
Ultimately, the poet chooses the security and advantages offered by employment. The concluding argument of the poem is particularly striking, implying that following established norms is preferable to pursuing originality without reflection or purpose.
Thought – Content:
According to the poet, renunciation is an extremely arduous—almost impossible—undertaking. Therefore, when word spreads that someone has renounced the world, it instantly becomes sensational. Anyone who hears such news is filled with amazement. Reports of renunciation are greeted with admiration, for people deeply respect a person who shows the courage to abandon material wealth, social ties, and family life.
The poet, too, praises the bold step taken by this particular individual, believing that such a deed demands immense inner strength.
The poet reflects that no one can remain shut within their home for long. He himself dislikes being confined to his room. Although he has gathered numerous luxurious possessions, they now appear to him as nothing more than worthless clutter.
Hearing of the man’s renunciation, the poet briefly considers following the same path. However, he soon realises that such withdrawal from worldly life is meaningless for him. He understands that his true liberation lies in continuing his work with dedication. To him, living a hardworking, industrious life amid the struggles of the world is far more valuable than adopting the life of a saint.
Element of Irony:
The poem is highly ironical. It is regarded as a wistful, self – mocking joke about the dream of freedom out of the echoes from the melodrama of everyday speech:
“He chucked up everything
And just cleard off.”
The notion that we can gain liberation by throwing away our present way of life and by trying to choose a vaguely imaginative alternative is chimerical. The double irony lies in romanticising a new imaginary life to evade our responsibilities and at the same time in his attack on the poet’s own ‘ordered life’ which is ‘Reprehensibly perfect’. Even perfection is something disagreeable and dreadful.
Irony becomes incisive when he (the poet) includes good books and the good bed in the junk. It is paradoxical that the good books and good bed are considered junk. Irony becomes biting when he regards his life in perfect order as junk. ‘Junk’ and ‘perfect order’ are in oxymoronic contrast which sharpens the irony.
Irony becomes sharper, more incisive when he classifies the books which are the main source of his sustenance, among the junk. There is both humour and irony in the contrasting pictures of the unshaven, romantic, runaway sailor and the clean – shaven, hypocritical, white collar worker.
Form, Style and Language:
The poem is written in colloquial style. The very opening line is an example of that kind of style:
“Sometimes you hear, fifth hand …”
“And they are right, I think.”
In fact, the whole of the poem is written in conversational style. The fewest possible words are used by him to express an idea, and sometimes even the syntax is sacrificed for the sake of economy. As in many other poems, here too the stanza is not observed as a separate unit in a poem. For instance, the last line of the second stanza runs into the first line of the next stanza:
“So to hear it said.”
“He walked out on the whole crowd.”
The epithet ‘audacious’ implies the thoughtlessness of the action and also the poet’s disapproval of such action.