Essay on the poem Lament

War cannot be waged with grave damage to every aspect of life. In the poem 'Lament' by Gillian Clarke, the poet looks at the disastrous effects on our environment that have been caused by mankind and are destroying the natural world. Shes talks about how nature is affected and she uses language features effectively to convey her ideas.

In the first stanza, metaphors are used to show how the green turtle has been affected by human activity. The words "pulsing burden" suggests the heaviness of pregnancy and death. In the metaphorical phrase "nest of sickness" Clark implies that the "nest" is warm and secure but the turtle's nest is corrupted with sickness which is going to damage newborn babies. The poet gives the idea that there is no safe place left for the birth of the new generation.

In the second stanza, Clarke uses contrast, personification and sibilance to give depth to the idea that the oil is killing the seabirds. "The cormorant in the funeral silk" contrasts the white and the black of the bird's colouring and suggests death. "The veil of iridescence" and "the shadow of the sea" is used to emphasise a strong sense of depression at the destructive oil spills which seems to put out the sun and poison the earth. The sibilance silk, iridescence and sea gives an unpleasant hiss and adds to the negative picture.

In the third stanza, Clarke uses both personification and metaphor. "Ocean's lap with its mortal stain" shows the calm sea being destroyed by war and highlights the effect of oil on the natural environment. The metaphor "uniform of fire" is a reference to the soldiers fighting and dying in the Gulf War. This phrase reinforces the danger and uncertainty of being a soldier and the high likelihood of death.

In the last stanza, hyperboles and emotive language are used to strengthen the poet's point that the wars of men destroy the natural world. "The burnt earth and the sun put out, the scalded ocean and blazing well" are all exceptionally strong