The Land Comments

This poem speaks for itself in an epic voice of lament but also pride. Can the LAND itself be said to be proud? Or must there be the country folk who live in a symbiotic wholeness with the land who embody the pride? But the country folk who once lived intimately with the land have been replaced by outsiders who vacation, and the only country folk left are their servants, themselves aliens now to the once sweet land. This is such a tragic vision. I was re-reading Eliot's THE WASTELAND yesterday for no special reason beyond the fact it always speaks to me. Now I can see THE WASTELAND poem of our immediate age is Frank Avon's The Land.

Thank you for your kind comment. Of course, I was writing about a particular place at a particular time, but I hoped the poem might be more nearly universal. You comment suggests that I may have succeeded, at least do a degree. I must admit that I do not know where nileshwar, India, is, but I shall look ip up immediately

The poem represents the social changes as well as the changes of the land and its people a fascinating poem where worldwide these changes are happening.