Introduction “Forest Fire”:
In Kamala Das’ “Forest Fire,” the poetess likens her boundless yearning for life’s experiences to a raging forest fire that devours everything in its way. The poem mirrors her sense of personal unfulfillment and her deep craving to absorb every facet of human existence—from the purity of a child’s innocence to the secret passions of lovers—and to reshape these experiences into art. This critical appreciation highlights Das’ striking use of metaphor to depict her consuming creative energy and her contemplation of life’s diverse stages.
Summary of the Poem “Forest Fire”:
The Poetess’s Insatiable Desire for Experience:
The poetess is overwhelmed by an insatiable craving for fresh experiences in life. Contentment eludes her, for her quest for knowledge and discovery knows no bounds. A fierce curiosity drives her to uncover the hidden nature and essence of all things around her. She senses that much of the world still lies unexamined, compelling her to explore whatever life presents. Her thirst for understanding rages like an unbridled wildfire—consuming and relentless. Just as the fire engulfs everything in its path, she yearns to embrace and internalize the boundless wisdom of existence itself.
Observations of Innocence and Love:
She longs to devour the world with the fierce, untamed hunger of a forest fire. When her eyes fall upon a baby resting peacefully in its cradle, she studies it intently—the pure innocence captivates her. Behind a tree, two lovers lose themselves in their wild emotions, sharing secret joys that the calm of nature seems to bless. They seek refuge from a rigid, judgmental society, concealing their passion beneath the sheltering branches. The poetess quietly perceives the depth of their hidden emotions.
Reflection on Society through Everyday Scenes:
The old men reading newspapers on a bench also teach her much about the workings of society. Her observant eyes study them closely, drawing meaning from their presence. All these scenes appear vividly before her, alive with emotion and insight. She yearns to share these experiences with others through her poetry, using her verses as a medium to express her thoughts.
Through her poem, she wishes to reveal the true face of society and the realities of the practical world. Her reflections on the child, the lovers, and the old man capture the essence of this conservative social order.
The Poetess’s Deep Sensory Awareness:
The poetess has observed many sights and she has derived a lot from them. She has felt the smells of many things and she has heard many voices. All these things always remain with her and she can judge easily the nature and tendency of anything. She has the feelings of that sucking babe who sits and lies in the cradle and passes smile. In spite of being toothless, its smile is sweet and fascinating.
She has observed the activities and feelings of the lovers who sit behind the tree in order to hide themselves from the eyes of people and for fear of society. She has seen them wandering in the lap of nature hand in hand being carefree.
Portrayal of Society’s Hidden Realities:
She has observed the old man sitting on a bench and reading the newspaper. She depicts another community of prostitutes and cabaret-girls. At night in the dim light of the street lamp, the prostitutes are seen either in the brothels or standing by the road-side for their customers. The cabaret girls start dancing to entertain their customers. Wedding occasions are celebrated with drums. The eunuchs wearing the ladies’ skirts dance and sing songs. Joyous and woeful songs are sung.
The poetess has felt the grief of an affectionate mother, who, at her death bed, remembers her son and waits him eagerly, but her son, leaving her alone, has gone to other city. He enjoys either in the arms of his beloved or his wife. His supportless mother’s eyes are still gazing him with great hope.
Critical Appreciation of the Poem:
Introduction:
The poem entitled Forest Fire shows the poetess’ extreme greediness and hunger for making a great store of experiences and knowledge by the close observation of the worldly and social activities. She desires to absorb everything which falls in her way. She wants to analyse human nature and its tendency. She is not satisfied with what she has obtained.
Her intense greed is like a wild and violent fire of the forest which spares none and swallows whatever comes in its way. In the present poem, she closely observes the social aspects. She thinks of the child, the lovers, the old man, the prostitutes and the cabaret-dancers. She presents heart-rending condition of supportless mother whose son leaves her alone.
Thought-Content:
The poetess’ intense urge to know and learn has assumed a fierce and restless form. Her curiosity to explore the nature and essence of all things burns deeply within her. This longing to experience everything resembles an untamed forest fire—wild, consuming, and unstoppable.
She keenly observes life in its diverse forms: a baby resting peacefully in its cradle, lovers hiding behind a tree, and an old man absorbed in his newspaper. Her penetrating gaze captures every detail of their existence.
She also portrays another facet of society—the lives of prostitutes and cabaret dancers. Wedding celebrations resound with the beat of drums, while eunuchs dressed in women’s skirts dance and sing. Songs of joy and sorrow alike fill the air. The poetess profoundly senses the anguish of a loving mother who, lying on her deathbed, remembers her distant son.
Theme and Moral of the Poem:
In the poem, the poetess has observed many social aspects which are the greatest obstacles in the way of human beings. The orthodox society has established some strict rules and nobody is allowed to go against those rules. The society does not care the emotions. For instance the poetess describes the sight of the lovers who sit behind the tree for fear of people and society.
Our society is male dominated, hence the women are badly treated. They are made the subject of tyranny and exploitation. Prostitutes and cabaret-girls are also the victim of this male dominated society. Men are responsible for the pathetic condition of women.
Heart-Rending Depiction:
The poetess has seen the intense grief of the affectionate mother who brings up her child under well nourishment and care, her child, after being matured, leaves her supportless and alone. He does not care the sentiments of his affectionate mother. He does not like to live with his mother and goes away to another place. He seeks peace, consolation and love either in the lap of his beloved or his wife. The fond mother, at the last moments of her life, eagerly waits her son’s arrival and her eyes are staring the doors of the house.
Style and Language:
The poetess has used the beautiful imagery of the forest fire. She has compared her greediness with the violent form of the fire of the forest. There is great simplicity of language. The words used in the poem are simple and expressive. She has used the figure of speech simile:
“To take in with greed, like a forest-fire.”
“My eyes lick at you like flames.”
