A STUDY OF LIGHT VERSE FEATURES IN ATHAR TAHIR’S SELECTED POEMS

Author(s) : Shakir Shahzad

Abstract:

This research paper investigates light verse features in Muhammad Athar Tahir’s selected poems: “Basant” (The Gift of Possession, 2012, p. 37), “Buffaloes” (Boody Loom, 2006, p. 64), “Bulbul” (The Last Tea, 2015, p. 85) and “Jikka Gali Evening” (The Gift of Possession, 2012, p. 42). These poems are taken from Tahir’s three volumes of poetry: Body Loom (2006), The Gift of Possession (2012)and The Last Tea (2015). The aim of this study is to publicize how some of Tahir’s poems fall into the category of light verse poetry. The writers of light verse have to be more careful and crafted than the poets of high verse as light verse requires precise technical work. In order to study the characteristics of light verse poetry in the selected poems, the researcher utilizes the concepts of W. H. Auden and Kingsley Amis. According to W. H. Auden (1938), light verse poems are written in a plain, straightforward style and in a language close to familiar speech and they should be related to a common experience. Kingsley Amis (1978) takes Auden’s concept a step forward. He includes wit, virtuosity and subversive quality in the features of light verse poetry. In addition to this, Amis (1978) points out that the writers of light verse deploy best words in the best order. The findings of this research study affirm that Tahir’s poems can be rated as light verse poetry. His poetry gives the impression of ease and thus evokes a good-natured smile.
Keywords: light verse features, selected poems, virtuosity, impression of ease, good-natured smile.