A Prison Evening by Faiz Ahmad Faiz - Explanation - Summary
The poem "A Prison Evening" is written by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, one of the most celebrated writers of the Urdu language based in Pakistani. Due to his leftist leaning and involvement in Rawalpindi conspiracy, he was jailed in the 1950s. The poem tells us about his experiences and dealings with his emotional state during his incarceration. It also depicts how the poet interprets the different visuals/images he sees there.
In the beginning lines of the poem, the poet describes the night spent in the jail. He says that just like a spiral staircase the night along with stars "comes down" i.e. it is going to be dawn. He can feel the breeze blowing and brings with it a romantic feeling as it seems to him that someone has whispered a "word of love". In the prison yard, just like the most of the inmates are away from their native land. With his head drooped, he is busy in observing and interpreting "images and pictures" formed in his surroundings. When the exquisite moonlight falls on the crest i.e top line of the building's roof also glitters.
Due to the gracious moonlight, the brightness has converted into "dust". The blue colour of the sky resonates with the light of the moon and the stars. The images of "dark-blue shadows" coming from green corners waver around him as if they would arise grief of separation from his loved ones in his heart.
The thought of contentment crosses his mind as he hasn't given up his rebellious thoughts. The harsh life of prison can't make him mentally weak and still, he finds it wasn't that bad there. He is confident that the "tyranny's poison" would not be able to succeed neither today nor tomorrow in their pursuits. Even if the tyrant regime destroys the lamps of a room where the lovers planned to meet, they can't extinguish the moon to prevent it from conferring light on lovers. If the regime is successful in doing it, only then he would consider its recognition.
In the beginning lines of the poem, the poet describes the night spent in the jail. He says that just like a spiral staircase the night along with stars "comes down" i.e. it is going to be dawn. He can feel the breeze blowing and brings with it a romantic feeling as it seems to him that someone has whispered a "word of love". In the prison yard, just like the most of the inmates are away from their native land. With his head drooped, he is busy in observing and interpreting "images and pictures" formed in his surroundings. When the exquisite moonlight falls on the crest i.e top line of the building's roof also glitters.
Due to the gracious moonlight, the brightness has converted into "dust". The blue colour of the sky resonates with the light of the moon and the stars. The images of "dark-blue shadows" coming from green corners waver around him as if they would arise grief of separation from his loved ones in his heart.
The thought of contentment crosses his mind as he hasn't given up his rebellious thoughts. The harsh life of prison can't make him mentally weak and still, he finds it wasn't that bad there. He is confident that the "tyranny's poison" would not be able to succeed neither today nor tomorrow in their pursuits. Even if the tyrant regime destroys the lamps of a room where the lovers planned to meet, they can't extinguish the moon to prevent it from conferring light on lovers. If the regime is successful in doing it, only then he would consider its recognition.