The Peacock, Sujata Bhatt: Summary, Analysis & Themes
'The Peacock' is a poignant poem penned by Sujata Bhatt, a diasporic writer currently residing in Germany. Bhatt's literary works often delve into the complex emotions of individuals living far from their homeland. This particular poem is extracted from her acclaimed collection, 'Brunizem,' which secured the Commonwealth Poetry Prize for the Asia section in 1988. The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt Poem Text
His loud sharp call
seems to come from nowhere.
Then, a flash of turquoise
in the pipal tree.
The slender neck arched away from you
as he descends,
and as he darts away, a glimpse
of the very end of his tail.
I was told
that you have to sit in the veranda
and read a book,
preferably one of your favourites
with great concentration.
The moment you begin to live
inside the book
a blue shadow will fall over you.
The wind will change direction,
the steady hum of bees
in the bushes nearby
will stop.
The cat will awaken and stretch…