2ND PUC ENGLISH NOTES - HEAVEN, IF YOU ARE NOT HERE ON EARTH - KUVEMPU - SUMMARY

HEAVEN, IF YOU ARE NOT HERE ON EARTH

KUVEMPU

 

The poem makes a try to give the reader a brief look into the rationalistic viewpoint of the poet. The poet has attempted to argue that ideas like Heaven, God, Nymphs and etc, are man's creations. Elements like 'Heaven' and 'God' exist just on the Earth and you can't find them elsewhere. The poet recommends that one ought to should perceive divinity and enjoy the heavenly bliss in the organization of Nature itself. The poet strongly accepts that heavenliness and worldliness are not particular or two separate elements and argues that there is no distinction between loving or worshipping Nature and loving or worshiping God.

 

In the initial two lines the poet addresses Heaven and declares emphatically that if Heaven doesn't exist on the Earth what other place would it be able to be. It just implies that the reader need not search for Heaven in the skies; if at all of the imagination there is an element called Heaven one should find it on the earth just and no place else.

 

The poet refers to our convictions about Gods and heavenly nymphs. The poet expresses his conviction that there is no particular or significant element called 'God' and Man himself is God. There exist no elements called heavenly nymphs. He immovably accepts that we most definitely are the nymphs, and the nymphs are to be found no place else except for on this planet as it were. The poet needs to dissipate the well known idea that Gods and nymphs live in heaven. The poet, who needs to excuse such convictions, lets the reader know that we, at the end of the day, ought to become Gods and nymphs. The poet needs us to surrender our conviction that we go to heaven after death where we track down Gods and Nymphs.

 

The poet attempts to introduce us with the various forms or parts of heaven that exist on the earth. He presents an mesmerizing image of 'Nature' in its flawless form. The poet expresses that the 'happiness' that we experience when we take a look at the streams that are jumping down, thundering, from the top of the hills, the waves that come moving across the oceans carrying surf at their edges, the delicate rays of sunlight falling on the immense spread of green forests and the delicate sun heating up the earth make this Earth, Heaven.

 

The poet refers to the beauty of the harvest season and the twilight evening. He declares that one appreciates heavenly bliss when one watches the quality of harvest and the twilight evening. The poet closes the poem saying that the poet who guzzles this grand happiness, spreads the nectar of Heaven through his verse on this planet. A poet is blessed with a higher degree of imagination and sensibility. With these characteristics, the poet likes nature's beauty and in turn, the poet empowers others to see the heaven on the earth.

 

To summarize, the poet argues that we don't have to look for heaven after death, yet can appreciate heavenly delight in any event, when we are alive, if by some stroke of good luck we have the 'eyes' to see Heaven on this planet. Heaven exists just on the earth and no place else. One is sure to enjoy the delights of heaven when one glances at the quality of Nature. The poet encourages the reader to see the gigantic energy that lies under the actual beauty of Nature. This thought can be taken as the message of the poem.