Poem : 'Ebola' ; 2 April, 2023.

3 May, 2023
Uploaded to ChatGPT for analysis
Poem : “Ebola”

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

ChatGPT
Hello Soman Ragavan, sure, I'd be happy to analyze your poem! Please feel free to post it here and I'll do my best to provide feedback and analysis.
 
Soman Ragavan : My poem : "Ebola." Please analyse by each stanza, then give overall comments. Mention similar poems from other authors, where possible. This poem is about a virus that occurred in some parts of Zaire in May 1995. "E B O L A"


ChatGPT
Sure, here is my analysis of your poem "Ebola," broken down by each stanza:

Stanza 1: The opening stanza immediately sets the tone of the poem, as it describes the virus as a "stealthy killer" and a "marauder." The use of the archaic language, with "thou" and "doth," adds to the ominous and foreboding feeling of the poem.

Stanza 2: This stanza describes the devastating impact of Ebola, with "corpses everywhere" and little refuge to be found. The use of the word "dying throes" and "deathly weakness" emphasizes the fatal nature of the virus.

Stanza 3: In this stanza, the poem takes a turn towards describing the fear and panic caused by Ebola. The use of the word "scare stiff" and the image of people fainting at the smell of the virus highlights the terror it can cause.

Stanza 4: This stanza focuses on the impact on the medical community, with the virus taking down a "whole line of defence" and a "whole team." The use of the word "pitiful" to describe the fallen medical workers adds to the emotional weight of the poem.

Stanza 5: In this stanza, the poem personifies Ebola as an "elusive killer" and a "lethal leveller." The use of the words "brother and sister" emphasizes the devastating impact of the virus on communities and families.

Stanza 6: This stanza highlights the helplessness and desperation felt by those affected by Ebola, with the virus seemingly ignoring their "heart-rending plea." The use of the word "tearfully" and the image of "trembling legs" struggling to get away adds to the emotional impact of the poem.

Stanza 7: The final stanza ties the poem together, describing how Ebola chooses its victims "in our midst" and turns them into "pathetic cadavers." The use of the word "unleash" in the final line adds to the sense of powerlessness and sorrow caused by the virus.

Overall, your poem "Ebola" is a powerful and emotional reflection on the devastating impact of this virus. The use of archaic language and personification adds to the weight and intensity of the poem, and the focus on the impact on communities and families makes it relatable and poignant. The poem reminded me of other works that address pandemics, such as "The Plague" by Albert Camus and "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe. Great job!
 
Soman Ragavan : Thank you. Goodbye for now.

ChatGPT
You're welcome! It was a pleasure analyzing your poem. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions or if you would like me to analyze any other pieces of writing in the future. Goodbye for now!


----------------------------------------------------------
  --"EBOLA." This poem is about a virus that occurred in some parts of Zaire in May 1995.
-----------------------------------------------------------
                                      E B O L A

Thou ris'st again, thou stealthy killer !
Thou strik’st silently again, marauder !
Our suffering folks doth thou confound,
And little refuge in our land can be found.

In yon dying throes, one final gasp :
In this deathly weakness, one last slump;
Thou doth flick and hover like some wasp,
And corpses everywhere doth thou dump.

Many of the brave doth thou scare stiff,
As, of thy smell, they take a faint whiff;
In yon distant climes doth thou spread panic,
As frantically they delve into their medical logic.

A whole line of defence fell'd in one blow,
As daily thy tentacles thou doth throw;
A whole team who struggl'd to save others
Finally have fallen as pitiful cadavers.

Thou, elusive killer, thou, lethal leveller :
Silently rear'st thou up thy head once more,
To fell our folks, to fell brother and sister,
As if yon weeping family be not enough sore.

Thou, villain : thou slept awhile a cunning sleep,
And our heart-rending plea thou doth not hear;
Yet, in yon villages tearfully many still weep,
As yon trembling legs try to struggle clear.

Thou choos'st in our midst the forlorn members,
Whom thou turn'st cruelly into pathetic cadavers.
As to yon graveyard thou send'st another fellow,
Thou unleash'st, EBOLA, one more sorrow.

-----------------------