GAIA

Literal Comprehension
Gaia is the Greek Goddess for the earth. Therefore it is a symbol for earth or the biosphere. The climate of the earth has been badly changed because of bad human activities. The withered palm shows that there is rapid deforestation. Because of deforestation, hot wind blows and there is unusual rainfall. Because of the hot wind, there is an increase in the temperature. Mountain peaks are melting and now they have an irregular shape. The sea is not calm. As the mountains melt, the water level rises and hits on the rocks on the shore. Time is like a hunting bird which pounces upon the world as a prey. The wind, the rain, the sea, the mountain and the time are against the Earth. We are living in the house, that is the Earth, Gaia. But it is not in good condition. There is pollution and people are suffering from hunger, unrest, and disorder. In spite of such condition, the gentle, feminine and nurturing Earth tolerates everything and excuses the human beings as a mother excuses he child.
Interpretation:
Lohan's Gaia provides biosphere’s dilemma. Lohani says that the Earth is in pain but then writes yet she endures. Because of the reckless activities of humans, the wind, the rain, the sea, the mountain and the time are against Gaia. It is a kind of warning that if humankind continues to exploit the earth carelessly, Gaia may strike back.
Critical Thinking:
The poem is short but gives a precise and real picture of the earth. Showing the destructive appearance of the earth, indirectly the poet warns the human kind not to continue their reckless activities. The words in the line of the poem are not in a balanced way. It shows the unbalanced degrading condition of the earth. In this sense, I am convinced with the poet. But it is said that if humankind continues to exploit the earth carelessly, Gaia many strikes back. Does the earth ever react like human beings? I don’t agree with him on this point. The poet has used metaphor in the poem. Here the house stands for the earth.
Assimilation:
This poem has strengthened my opinion about the earth. I used to think that the earth is in pain because of careless human activities. I was always worried to feel the hot wind, deforested forest, unusual rain, irregular shape of the mountain and the time like a hunting bird. Now I have realized that in spite of such degradation, nature yet endures. But it is necessary to control bad human activities in time, Otherwise, the earth may strike back.