Revenge
Before you pay in one’s coin, look!
Any goose can crackle
Any briar can tear a man’s flesh
Before up in arms, think twice
Before you raise eyebrows, think of tomorrow
Remember that any empty barren can
Give forth sound
Anybody can dance
To the rhythm of sweet sound
If you say
I will pay you back
You too can cross the same rubicon
And be tattered
With the same brush
Why you?
Why not live it for the avenger
For justice?
Briefs of the Poem
The poem ‘Revenge’ presents goodwill and shuns wickedness. The poet sees the mistakes as a normal entity that everyone may be involved in. That is why he frowns at ‘I-will-do-you-what-you-did-to-me’ actions. It is not in our hands to judge but the creator’s.
He continues that it is not good to tap the mistake of someone and emphasize it. The mistake that a person made can be made by you too. Once we are human beings, we are prone to mistakes of errors. Encouragements and corrections in love are needed.
The poet is displeased with how certain people take revenge very quickly without considering another side of the coin. If we should have to take revenge, you must think you are offending people. If they will take revenge, it may take your life.
If someone offends you and you insist to take revenge, you should remember that you too offend people. A person who thinks deeply will understand what the concept of friendship is.
Before you pay in one’s coin; before up in arms, before you raise eyebrows, you should think deeply because you too can be involved in such an act.
The poet concludes that he who avenges is wicked and advises people to leave everything to the avenger. The poet emphasizes that your judgment may be partial but if we leave everything to the creator, He will make the rift clear. He is the one that will reconcile accordingly.
Word List and Meanings
Goose: A female bird
Crackle: To make short sharp sounds like something that is burning in a fire
Briar: Any prickly wild bush, especially a wild rose bush
Eyebrow: The line of hair above the eye
Rubicon: The boundary or the point of no return
Practice Questions
1. Comment on the subject matter of the poem.
2. Discuss any four themes identified in the poem.
3. Comment on the imageries of the poem.