Examining the Images and Symbols in Abhi Subedi’s Poem “Soft Storm”

Abstract

This article explores the images and symbols in Abhi Subedi’s poem “Soft Storm” from a sociopolitical perspective. The study interprets this poem's highly allegorical, paradoxical, symbolic, and philosophical signs, symbols, and images that reflect power politics. The poet has presented everything symbolically and ironically. The poet disseminates the sociopolitical messages through the metaphorical presentation depicting modern society's deteriorated condition. The paradoxical language often bothers general readers and most scholars from other disciplines. The images and symbols reflect the adverse situations of the modern world and suggest the necessary steps for amelioration. This poem is as complex as T. S. Eliot’s poem “The Wasteland.” The main findings Subedi’s poem reveal that the number of homeless children is increasing as it is a result of an anarchic and undisciplined world. The poet envisions the absurdities of tumultuous times with a touch of compassion. The research tries to answer the research questions - Why are metaphorical and allegorical meanings ambiguous? Can general readers grasp the underlying meanings of Subedi’s poem?  This research paper interprets the depth of meanings and frees a society with a significant departure from traditional power politics. The soft storm signifies the softness of power politics as the system is weak. The study employs the theories of Chandler’s semiotic and Mead’s symbols.

Keywords: Ambiguous, images, paradox, semiotics, symbols.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55463/hkjss.issn.1021-3619.64.37