The Peacock
by Sujata Bhatt
Rapid Learn 2-Minute Revision
Perfect for last-minute revision
2-Minute Revision Video
Video coming soon
The poem is a delightful visualisation of the peacock's colours, grace and elusive movement. It opens with the bird's loud, sharp call seeming to come from nowhere, then a flash of turquoise in the pipal tree, and a glimpse of its slender neck and the very end of its tail as it darts away. The poet describes how, to truly see the peacock, one must sit quietly on the veranda reading a favourite book with great concentration; only when you begin to 'live inside the book' does a blue shadow fall, the wind change and the hum of bees stop, signs of the peacock's silent arrival. If you look up in time you might see it turning away, gathering its tail and shutting the dark, glowing eyes that are 'violet fringed with golden amber'. The poem ends with the striking image that it is the tail that blinks for eyes that are always open.
Detailed Summary
Detailed Summary Video
Video coming soon
The elusive arrival
The peacock's loud, sharp call seems to come from nowhere. Then there is a flash of turquoise in the pipal tree, a glimpse of its slender neck arched away as it descends, and, as it darts off, only the very end of its tail is seen. The bird is captured through fleeting, elusive glimpses rather than a full, steady view.
How to see the peacock
The poet says one must sit on the veranda and read a favourite book with great concentration. Only when you begin to 'live inside the book' will a blue shadow fall over you, the wind change direction, the steady hum of bees stop, and the cat awaken and stretch, subtle signs that the peacock has silently arrived.
The tail that blinks
If something breaks your attention and you look up in time, you might see the peacock turning away, gathering its tail to shut those 'dark glowing eyes, violet fringed with golden amber'. The poem ends with the beautiful paradox that it is the tail that has to blink for eyes that are always open.