Poem : 'The waiting oxen' ' 28 March, 2023

5 May, 2023
Uploaded to ChatGPT for analysis
Poem : “The waiting oxen”

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

ChatGPT
Hello Soman Ragavan! As an AI language model, I would be happy to provide feedback on your poem. Please feel free to share it, and I'll do my best to provide you with constructive analysis.
 
Soman Ragavan : My poem : "The waiting oxen." In New Delhi, November 2001. Please analyse by each stanza, then give overall comments. Mention similar poems from other authors, where possible. THE WAITING OXEN

ChatGPT :
Sure, I'll be happy to provide feedback on your poem "The Waiting Oxen"!

First Stanza: The first stanza sets the tone for the poem and expresses the poet's fascination with oxen. The line "Bloody marvel! Oxen still cross my destiny" is a powerful opening that immediately grabs the reader's attention. The use of the word "bloody" is interesting and adds a sense of intensity to the line. The poet also challenges the reader's perception of oxen, claiming that they have a greater significance than what many people believe.

Second Stanza: The second stanza delves into the oxen's life and work, describing them as "labouring animals" and "toiling ox". The use of alliteration in these lines creates a sense of rhythm and emphasizes the hard work of the oxen. The poet then brings up the topic of animal rights, which shows his concern for the welfare of these animals.

Third Stanza: The third stanza describes the poet's encounter with a line of black oxen standing by the roadside, carrying loads of sand. The description of their wrinkled and toughened hide adds a sense of realism to the scene. The use of enjambment in the final line of the stanza creates a sense of suspense and encourages the reader to continue reading.

Fourth Stanza: The fourth stanza praises the oxen for their obedience, submission, and noble disposition. These lines show the poet's admiration for the animals and their resilience in carrying out their work despite the hardships they face.

Fifth Stanza: The fifth stanza expresses sympathy for the oxen, who wait from early morning in the scorching sun, with no enjoyment in their life. The line "Yet, they only meet with scorn" highlights the lack of appreciation that these animals receive despite their hard work.

Sixth Stanza: The sixth stanza describes the carter leaning on his ox and emphasizes the beauty of the creature. The use of "creature" instead of "animal" is a subtle choice that humanizes the ox. The following lines describe the trucks that have taken over the oxen's work and the poet's view that they are a welcome creation despite their pollution.

Seventh Stanza: The final stanza concludes the poem with a call for compassion towards the oxen. The lines "let these animals retire peacefully" show the poet's wish for a better life for the animals after their years of hard work.

Overall, "The Waiting Oxen" is a poem that expresses the poet's admiration and sympathy for the hardworking animals. The use of vivid imagery and strong language creates a sense of realism and encourages the reader to empathize with the oxen. The theme of animal rights and compassion is a universal one and can be compared to other poems such as William Wordsworth's "The Old Cumberland Beggar" and Ted Hughes' "The Horses".
 
Soman Ragavan : "Verily be I arrest’d by the fate of these oxen : Their sad plight by the poet be beholden..." People should think again about the treatment given to oxen and try to make the lives of these creatures better. 

ChatGPT
I agree with your sentiment. Your poem highlights the plight of the oxen and encourages readers to reconsider their treatment of these animals. By raising awareness through poetry, you are contributing to the conversation on animal rights and promoting compassion for all creatures. Your poem is a reminder that we should strive to make the lives of these hardworking animals better and treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve. Thank you for sharing your work!
 
Soman Ragavan : "A line of black oxen stood by the roadside : Wrinkl’d and toughen’d had gone yon hide..." A line of oxen, with their carts, stood obediently. It was like a line of trucks. 

ChatGPT
Your observation in the poem about the line of oxen standing obediently with their carts and being reminiscent of a line of trucks is a powerful comparison. It brings attention to the fact that these animals are often used for labor and transport, much like machines, and can be taken for granted as a result. The image of their wrinkled and toughened hides also adds to the sense of their hard work and dedication. This stanza highlights the resilience and hard work of the oxen while also making a commentary on the way they are treated as mere tools for human use.
 
Soman Ragavan : "A swing of the head to one side, A shivering of the skin, of the old hide..." Flies pester the oxen; they swing their heads trying to push off the flies; they also shiver their skins to scare away the flies. 

ChatGPT
Your interpretation of the swing of the oxen's head and the shivering of their skin in the poem is a poignant one. It highlights the constant pestering of flies on these animals and their attempts to fend them off. The image of the oxen trying to push away the flies by swinging their heads and shivering their skin is a reminder of the suffering and discomfort that these animals experience. It also emphasizes the need for better care and protection for these animals. Overall, this stanza creates a vivid picture of the oxen's daily struggles and adds to the emotional impact of the poem.
 
Soman Ragavan : "Oh, they wait from early morn : They stand in the scorching sun….. In their life there be no fun ..." Man has decided that the oxen will be slaves. The oxen are made to wait since early morning for clients (for carrying various loads). They stand in the sun, while humans look for some shade. Their lives are far from pleasant. 

ChatGPT
Your interpretation of this stanza in the poem is on point. It emphasizes the fact that the oxen are made to wait in the sun from early morning until a client hires them for various loads. The image of the oxen standing in the sun while humans seek out shade highlights the contrast between the treatment of humans and animals. The line "In their life there be no fun" is a powerful commentary on the oxen's existence as work animals without the luxury of rest and leisure. The stanza underscores the idea that humans have made the oxen slaves and are responsible for their hardships. Overall, this stanza brings attention to the need for more humane treatment of animals and the importance of recognizing their worth and dignity.
 
Soman Ragavan : In stanza 4 : "Pil’d ‘pon their carts, loads of sand ..." Loads of sand had been placed on the cart, waiting for clients. Thus, the ox had to bear the weight of the sand all that time. It was not a question of going with an empty cart to look for the sand. The sand was already piled up on the cart. Like iron bars and cement bags piled up on a truck....

ChatGPT
Your interpretation of the fourth stanza is accurate. The oxen are depicted as bearing the weight of the loads of sand piled on their carts, waiting for clients to hire them. This line of work is physically demanding and challenging for the oxen, who are forced to carry the weight of the sand all day long. The comparison to iron bars and cement bags piled up on a truck is an apt one, emphasizing the heaviness of the load and the burden on the oxen. This stanza highlights the exploitation of animals for human purposes and the need for greater awareness and care for their welfare. Overall, it adds to the theme of animal rights and the call for compassion towards all living creatures.
 
Soman Ragavan : "Ah ! In spite of their choking pollution, These monsters be a welcome creation..." In spite of their pollution, the trucks should be preferred to ox carts, so that these noble beings be given some retirement. 

ChatGPT
Your interpretation of this stanza is accurate. The speaker acknowledges the environmental harm caused by the trucks, which emit choking pollution. However, despite this, the speaker argues that the trucks are still a welcome creation. This is because the trucks are a more efficient means of transport than ox carts, which are labor-intensive and physically taxing for the animals. The speaker suggests that retiring the oxen from their labor would be a compassionate action, and that the use of trucks would allow for this retirement. The use of the term "monsters" to describe the trucks is somewhat ironic, as it highlights the negative impact of their pollution, yet the speaker still sees them as a preferable alternative to ox carts. Overall, this stanza continues the theme of animal welfare and highlights the need for balanced consideration of the impact of human activity on both the environment and the animals that inhabit it.
 
Soman Ragavan : "Yes, let these animals retire peacefully : Please ! They deserve compassion finally… " This is a cry from the poet. Let the animals retire. Show them compassion. 

ChatGPT
Yes, that is correct. In the final stanza, the speaker emphasizes their call for compassion towards the oxen, urging for their retirement from labor and a peaceful life. The speaker's use of the word "finally" suggests a long-standing concern for the welfare of these animals. It is a plea for society to recognize the role that animals play in our lives and to consider their well-being, rather than solely focusing on human convenience and profit. Overall, the poem presents a strong message of empathy and a desire for a more compassionate treatment of animals.
 
Soman Ragavan : Thank you. Goodbye for now.

ChatGPT
You're welcome! If you have any more questions or if there's anything else I can help you with, feel free to reach out anytime. Goodbye for now!

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

“The waiting oxen.” At Vijay Chowk, near Laxmi Nagar, New Delhi, November 2001.

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

                                                          POEM :
                                          THE WAITING OXEN

Bloody marvel ! Oxen still cross my destiny.
Many will find these pronouncements puny,
But, my unique ravings claim otherwise :
Of oxen’s fate still I want to apprise.

Labouring animals. The toiling ox. Terrific sights.
The panting ox. Stunning glimpses. Animal rights.
Verily be I arrest’d by the fate of these oxen :
Their sad plight by the poet be beholden.

Casually turn’d I into yon side street :
Lo ! A stunning sight suddenly did I meet :
A line of black oxen stood by the roadside :
Wrinkl’d and toughen’d had gone yon hide.

Pil’d ‘pon their carts, loads of sand :
Bravely they take up daily their stand;
A swing of the head to one side,
A shivering of the skin, of the old hide.

What obedience….. What submission…..
What a most noble disposition…..
To carts harness’d, a line of oxen
By the poet’s eyes be beholden.

Oh, they wait from early morn :
They stand in the scorching sun…..
In their life there be no fun :
Yet, they only meet with scorn.

Lo ! A carter, tir’d of standing,
‘Pon his great ox be leaning.
What a sight….. What a creature…..
An animal of exemplary nature.

Lo ! Further on, modernity had caught on.
Lo ! Yon trucks boast of sand by the ton.
Ah ! In spite of their choking pollution,
These monsters be a welcome creation.

Let there be more such trucks in these climes,
For, yon oxen always have the hardest times…..
Yes, let these animals retire peacefully :
Please ! They deserve compassion finally…..
---------------------