Hiroshima Child BY Nazim Hikmet
SUMMARY
About the Poet: Nazim Hikmet was a Turkish poet, playwright, and novelist. His poetry has been translated into more than fifty languages.
Context: Hiroshima Child is about a Seven-year-old child who died in the Hiroshima bomb attack during World War II. She begs people to fight for peace.
Explanation: The speaker of this Poem is a seven-year-old Hiroshima girl. She died when an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. The Soul of the girl knocks on every door to warn them about the adverse effects of war.
Since then, the child has felt neither growth nor hunger. She realizes that she is no more in flash but a soul and cannot be seen or heard. Nobody pays attention to her as she is invisible.
The child adds that the concern is for other live children, not for self. The Child Seeks neither food nor fruit. She requests people not to fight as she was the victim of war. She begs them to fight for peace. The child wants the world not only to sympathize but empathize with children who suffer in the name of the war, even though, they have nothing to do with the war or the holocaust. War brings devastation, tragedy, horror, destruction, and loss of life.
She makes an appeal, to let the children grow in peace. Children should be allowed to Play, laugh, grow, glow, and live.
Conclusion: The tone of the Poem is sad and expresses the true feelings of a small girl but there is also hope for peace. Finally, this poem is very touching.
English Study Material 