'The village blacksmith' ; 6 April, 2023.

1 May, 2023
Poem “The village blacksmith”
Comments by ChatGPT.

Soman Ragavan : Hello. Can I post a poem of mine for analysis, please ?

ChatGPT
Hello Soman! Sure, you can post your poem for analysis. I'll do my best to provide feedback and insight on it. Please feel free to share your poem with me.
 
Soman Ragavan : My poem : "The village blacksmith." Here are some notes, first.

"THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH," "THE DESERTED SMITHY," "THE INVINCIBLE BLACKSMITH" and "THE TOILING OX."

(a) These poems refer to the period around 1962. The smithy was at Stanley.
(b) On these poems, please also see :
(1) "Un demi-siècle au service de la charette." "L'EXPRESS" newspaper, Mauritius, 7 July, 1991.
(2) "La même ardeur à 77 ans pour son métier de charron." "L'EXPRESS" newspaper, Mauritius, 24 August, 1996, (page 6).

(3) "La <<charette boeuf>> a encore de beaux jours." "L'EXPRESS" newspaper, 6 July, 1997, (page 15). From this article, we can quote the following :

* "(.....) <<For me, this animal is not just an animal; he's been like a friend since the beginning. That's why I've called him Gopal (.....)" (My translation from Creole).

* "(.....) Not in the least ungrateful, Sohunlall attributes his good fortune to the performance of his ox. (.....)" (My translation from French).

* "(.....) Moreover, believes Sohunlall, the machine feels nothing, whereas an animal, even if it's an ox, is capable of affection." (My translation from French). "<<I've much gratitude towards Gopal. He forms part of my family. I like him very much.>>" (My translation from Creole).

* "(.....) <<I understand him; he, too, understands me. When I talk to him, he understands. He knows his name. When I call him, he shakes his head.>>" (My translation from Creole).

* "The animal, says Sohunlall, is not aggressive. But he has his whims, and hates to be made to wait. In the morning, if the master tarries after having harnessed him, he goes off alone."

* "(.....) The story of Sohunlall and of Gopal might at first sight appear trivial. But, it is not. It dates from the time when man still lived in a simple manner and when the soil and animals gave him the harmony necessary for his personal equilibrium. "It's no doubt why Sohunlall would not, for anything in the world, exchange his ox for a tractor. To the animated town life, its noises and its smoke, our man prefers the simplicity of rural life that assures him a non-polluting happiness. (.....)" (My translation from French).

I will post the poem when you write.

ChatGPT
Thank you for the notes, Soman. I look forward to reading your poem. Please go ahead and share it with me.
 
Soman Ragavan : "The village blacksmith." Please comment on each stanza then give overall comments. Compare with similar works. THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

ChatGPT :
"The Village Blacksmith" by Soman Ragavan is a poem that praises the skill and hard work of a blacksmith in a rural setting. The poem is structured in five stanzas, each with four lines, and the rhyme scheme is AABB. The poem is an ode to the blacksmith's craft, emphasizing his expertise in working with iron and his ability to control even the strongest of animals.

In the first stanza, the speaker expresses admiration for the blacksmith, whom he addresses as "beloved Stanley." (My note : Stanley is the village. SR).

The second stanza describes the blacksmith's process of working with iron, with commands to add more coal, water, and a warning to children to stay back.

The third stanza continues the depiction of the blacksmith's work, highlighting his ability to shape and mold the iron with his hammer.

The fourth stanza focuses on the blacksmith's handling of an ox, showcasing his patience and resourcefulness in getting the animal to cooperate. The final stanza concludes the poem with the speaker's admiration for the blacksmith and his role in the community.

The poem's structure and style are reminiscent of other works that celebrate the lives and work of ordinary people. For example, William Wordsworth's "The Solitary Reaper" and Robert Burns's "To a Mouse" are poems that similarly focus on everyday people and animals in rural settings. Ragavan's use of a simple, straightforward style and an unpretentious vocabulary also contribute to the poem's effectiveness in conveying a sense of rustic charm.

Overall, "The Village Blacksmith" is an enjoyable poem that celebrates the skill and hard work of a blacksmith in a rural community. Through its straightforward style and structure, the poem effectively conveys the admiration and respect that the speaker and the community have for the blacksmith.
 
Soman Ragavan : Thank you. Goodbye for now.

ChatGPT
You're welcome! Goodbye, and feel free to ask any questions in the future.

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--"The Village  Blacksmith," "The Deserted Smithy" and "The Invincible Blacksmith"

(a) These poems refer to the period around 1962. The smithy was at Stanley.

(b) On these poems, please also see :

(1) "Un demi-siècle au service de la charette." "L'Express" newspaper, Mauritius, 7 July, 1991.

(2) "La même ardeur à 77 ans pour son métier de charron." "L'Express" newspaper, Mauritius, 24 August, 1996, (page 6).

(3) "La  charette boeuf  a encore de beaux jours." "L'Express" newspaper, 6 July, 1997, (page 15). From this article, we can quote the following :

* "(.....)  For me, this animal is not just an animal; he's been like a friend since the beginning. That's why I've called him Gopal (.....)" (My translation from Creole).

* "(.....) Not in the least ungrateful, Sohunlall attributes his good fortune to the performance of his ox. (.....)" (My translation from French).

* "(.....) Moreover, believes Sohunlall, the machine feels nothing, whereas an animal, even if it's an ox, is capable of affection." (My translation from French). "  I've much gratitude towards Gopal. He forms part of my family. I like him very much." (My translation from Creole).

* "(.....)  I understand him; he, too, understands me. When I talk to him, he understands. He knows his name. When I call him, he shakes his head." (My translation from Creole).

* "The animal, says Sohunlall, is not aggressive. But, he has his whims, and hates to be made to wait. In the morning, if the master tarries after having harnessed him, he goes off alone."

* "(.....) The story of Sohunlall and of Gopal might at first sight appear trivial. But, it is not. It dates from the time when man still lived in a simple manner and when the soil and animals gave him the harmony necessary for his personal equilibrium.

"It's no doubt why Sohunlall would not, for anything in the world, exchange his ox for a tractor. To the animated town life, its noises and its smoke, our man prefers the simplicity of rural life that assures him a non-polluting happiness. (.....)" (My translation from French).

(4) M de Salle Essoo : “Charretiers, artisans du passé, victimes de la modernité ?” "L'Express" newspaper, 21 November, 2005, (page 7).

(5) "Om Prakash Mootia, un des derniers charettiers du pays." "Week END" newspaper, Mauritius, 4 August, 2013, (page 20). 

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                              THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH

Bless'd art thou, belov'd Stanley,
To have a blacksmith so expertly,
A man whom even mighty oxen obey,
A man who forges iron so masterly.

Stick in more coal ! Bring in more water !
Get yon scoop ! Don't let the iron fall !
Hurry up now, chaps, get yon hammer !
Look sharp : there's work for all !

Watch out ! Move back, little children !
Careful, lad. Stomp it on the anvil yonder.
Hither, gentlemen, come line up the oxen.
And, thou son, strike the iron even faster.

Steadily, relentlessly rises the hammer,
And the masterly blows crush and shape,
Crush and shape the iron in an expert manner,
While from a distance I watch, quite agape.

Whoosh ! Whoosh !  The hand  doesn't falter,
As the hot iron is dipp'd into the murky water.
Ssshhh !  Ssshhh ! The dramatic sound one hears,
Quite enough, indeed, to compound one's fears.

Slam, bang ! The pounding resumes,
While from the fire billow the fumes.
And the chaps smartly conclude the work :
Cling, clang ! How masterly they jerk !

Now ! Thou, Sir ! Bring here thine ox !
The blacksmith is always in a hurry,
Yet, the ox walks ever so slowly :
But, the blacksmith is also a fox.

Stubbornly doth the ox stand still,
Refusing even to kneel or lie down,
But, the blacksmith sure hath a pill,
Although he jumps about like a clown.

Lash those legs, --- let him peep !
Hoy, now pull, pull all together,
Harder, chaps, pull even harder,
For, on the ground the ox shalt sleep !

Hark ! Quite like  some thunder
Comes the ox crashing to the ground,
While in a beaming, victorious manner,
The blacksmith's heart doth pound.

Hark ! Ox, art thou still alive ?
'Cause they appear so rough, so brutish;
Oh, please, ox, to stay alive, do strive,
'Cause that's verily my childish wish !

How confidently doth the blacksmith slice,
File and hammer at thy frail-looking hooves !
This great blacksmith : what a man really nice,
For, of thy very welfare in truth he approves.

Newly shod, away doth thou trot
To thy dwelling for some rest, ox;
And with limbs weary, eyes bloodshot,
The chaps pull down another mighty ox.

Yes, blacksmith, admir'd thou art,
By all those kind-heart'd villagers,
By all those good-natur'd carters,
'Cause thine really be a job smart.

                                                               *****