"Lockdown" By Poet Laureat Simon Armitage

This blog is part of our task assigned by Dilip Barad sir

About Author

Simon Robert Armitage CBE, FRSL (born 26 May 1963) is an English poet, playwright, musician and novelist. He was appointed Poet Laureate on 10 May 2019. He is professor of poetry at the University of Leeds.

About poem 

 The Poet Laureate responds to social distancing and isolation through poetry that “asks us just to focus, and think, and be contemplative.”

Published in The Guardian on Saturday 21 March 2020, Professor Armitage’s Lockdown begins in Eyam in 1666 and offers a clear view to a bright and supportive future.

Theme

Isolation 

 The poem reflects on the physical and emotional separation caused by quarantine, drawing a poignant comparison to the story of Emmott Syddall and Rowland Torre, lovers separated by the quarantine line in Eyam

Hope

Despite the isolation, the poem emphasizes the enduring human spirit and the hope for reconnection, as seen in the reference to the epic poem “Meghadūta” by Kālidāsa, where a cloud carries messages between separated lovers

Resilience

The villagers of Eyam, who quarantined themselves to prevent the spread of the plague, symbolize the strength to make sacrifices for the greater good. Despite the physical and emotional isolation, both in the poem and during the pandemic, there is a sense of survival and perseverance. The migratory birds pushing through tight spaces reflect the human capacity to adapt and overcome challenges. Ultimately, the poem highlights how, in the face of hardship, resilience emerges through love, sacrifice, and hope.

Imagery

"thimbles brimming with vinegar wine

purging the plagued coins"

 

The poem vividly describes the 17th-century plague with images like “infected fleas” and “plagued coins,” creating a haunting picture of the past

"streams like necklaces,

fan-tailed peacocks, painted elephants"

The reference to “Meghadūta” brings in lush, natural imagery such as “streams like necklaces” and “painted elephants,” symbolizing the journey and the hope for reunion. 

"Streams like necklaces"

Painted Elephant

 

Analysis

The poem "Lockdown" encompasses two dream sequences experienced by the speaker. The first dream sequence takes us back to the devastating years of 1665-1666, when a notorious plague known as the Black Death struck London, claiming the lives of countless individuals.Although the village mentioned in the poem, Eem, was not heavily affected compared to the northern parts of London, the spread of the plague across regions eventually reached this village as well. Consequently, a lockdown and quarantine were implemented, mirroring the measures taken during the Great Plague of London.Pictorial graphics from that time depict the horrifying. 

And I couldn’t escape the waking dream

of infected fleas

in the warp and weft of soggy cloth

by the tailor’s hearth

in ye olde Eyam.

Then couldn’t un-see

At the opening of poem poet creat hilarious image of plague during 17th century with the help of phrase like "Ye Olde Eyam" It depict specific time and place. Then "cook -eyed dice with its six dark holes " and "Boundry stone " Emphasize the situation of plague. 

the Boundary Stone,

that cock-eyed dice with its six dark holes,

thimbles brimming with vinegar wine

purging the plagued coins.

Which brought to mind the sorry story

of Emmott Syddall and Rowland Torre,

star-crossed lovers on either side

of the quarantine line

whose wordless courtship spanned the river

till she came no longer.

Here are two characters in the poem. Emmott Syddall and Rowland Torre both are true lover but they can't meet because of quarantine. The lovers attempted to maintain connection despite the physical distance. 

 

But slept again,

and dreamt this time

of the exiled yaksha sending word

to his lost wife on a passing cloud,

a cloud that followed an earthly map

of camel trails and cattle tracks,

streams like necklaces,

fan-tailed peacocks, painted elephants,

embroidered bedspreads

of meadows and hedges,

bamboo forests and snow-hatted peaks,

waterfalls, creeks,

the hieroglyphs of wide-winged cranes

and the glistening lotus flower after rain,

the air

hypnotically see-through, rare,

the journey a ponderous one at times, long and slow

but necessarily so.

The image of the yaksha sending word to his wife on a passing cloud adds a touch of enchantment and symbolism to the narrative. It reflects the imaginative power of dreams andthe ability of the human spirit to find solace and connection even in the most challenging circumstances. The passing cloud becomes a vehicle for communication, carrying the yaksha's message across the vast distances that separate him from his beloved.This reference taken from famous indian poet KALIDASA ' S "MEGHDUTA ".

Poet talk about where cloud travel . 

The line "a cloud that followed an earthly map of camel trails and cattle tracks" suggests thatthe cloud carrying the yaksha's message navigates through landscapes that are reminiscent of ancient trade routes and pastoral scenes. This imagery highlights the connection between nature and human existence, emphasizing the timeless quality of love and longing.The subsequent lines paint a vivid picture of the cloud's journey. "Streams like necklaces"evokes the beauty and serenity of flowing water, while "fan-tailed peacocks, painted elephants" brings to mind the richness and diversity of the natural world. The mention of"embroidered bedspreads of meadows and hedge" In last stanza depict beauty of nature and hope. That's how cloud journey the earth and poem close. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Simon Armitage’s "Lockdown" captures the complexity of the human experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the sacrifices, isolation, and emotional resilience that defined this period. Through its rich imagery and historical parallels, the poem offers a profound reflection on how, in moments of crisis, the human spirit continues to find ways to survive, connect, and hope for better times ahead.