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Empty Space - Poem and Explanation

Amrita Pritam's poem 'Empty Space' explores the struggles of two lovers who face rejection and hardship, seeking a place of comfort and belonging. The imagery conveys their vulnerability and emotional pain, while also highlighting the importance of human connection and the hope for a refuge amidst their suffering. Ultimately, the poem reflects a desire for acceptance in a world filled with societal judgments and the bittersweet nature of memories.

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Oishika Das
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2K views3 pages

Empty Space - Poem and Explanation

Amrita Pritam's poem 'Empty Space' explores the struggles of two lovers who face rejection and hardship, seeking a place of comfort and belonging. The imagery conveys their vulnerability and emotional pain, while also highlighting the importance of human connection and the hope for a refuge amidst their suffering. Ultimately, the poem reflects a desire for acceptance in a world filled with societal judgments and the bittersweet nature of memories.

Uploaded by

Oishika Das
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Empty Space (1951)

By Amrita Pritam
Translated By D. H. Tracy

There were two kingdoms only:


the first of them threw out both him and me.
The second we abandoned.

Under a bare sky


I for a long time soaked in the rain of my body,
he for a long time rotted in the rain of his.

Then like a poison he drank the fondness of the years.


He held my hand with a trembling hand.
“Come, let’s have a roof over our heads awhile.
Look, further on ahead, there
between truth and falsehood, a little empty space.”
Explanation (stanza wise)
Amrita Pritam’s poem ‘Empty Space’ is about two people/lovers who face rejection and
hardships in life. They feel lost and look for a place where they can find peace and comfort.
Using simple yet meaningful images, the poem talks about human struggles, the pain of
memories, and the hope of finding a little space to belong to.
There were two kingdoms only:
the first of them threw out both him and me.
The second we abandoned.
 The poem begins with the mention of two ‘kingdoms’, which symbolize places or
systems representing societal structures or phases of life.
 The first kingdom rejected both the lovers, showing how they were cast out of a place or
community where they had hoped to belong. This could be due to societal norms,
judgments, or external circumstances.
 The second kingdom, however, is abandoned by the pair. This could mean they left by
choice because it didn’t offer what they needed emotionally or spiritually. It suggests
dissatisfaction with places that fail to provide solace or meaning.
This stanza sets the tone of alienation and highlights the idea of rejection and self-exile.
Under a bare sky
I for a long time soaked in the rain of my body,
he for a long time rotted in the rain of his.
 With no home or shelter, the lovers are left exposed under a ‘bare sky’.
 The bare sky represents vulnerability, a state of being exposed to the harsh realities of life
without protection or comfort.
 The speaker endures her suffering, described as “soaked in the rain of my body”. The rain
could symbolize tears, pain, or the passage of time that weighs heavily on her.
 For her partner, the suffering is deeper, described as “rotted in the rain of his”. This
suggests decay or a slow breakdown of his mental, emotional, or physical state.
This stanza portrays the harshness of their lives, emphasizing the toll of suffering and
the resilience required to endure it.
Then like a poison he drank the fondness of the years.
 This line shifts focus to the impact of memories on the man.
 The “fondness of the years” refers to memories of happier times. However, instead of
bringing comfort, these memories act like poison, causing him pain.
 This line reflects how nostalgia, while sweet, can become burdensome when contrasted
with present struggles. It shows the bittersweet nature of the past and how the corrosive
nature of nostalgia has the potential to harm when clung to.
The emotional weight of memories and the pain of longing for what is lost is described
in this line.
He held my hand with a trembling hand.
 Despite their hardships, the man reaches out to the speaker.
 The act of holding hand represents a moment of connection and shared humanity. His
“trembling hand” reflects his vulnerability and emotional fragility, showing how the
struggles have weakened him.
 This gesture is both a plea for support and a sign of mutual reliance.
The importance of human connection in moments of despair.
Come, let’s have a roof over our heads awhile
 The man expresses his desire to find shelter to safeguard themselves from their struggles.
 The roof symbolizes more than a physical shelter – it represents a need for emotional
stability, security, and a temporary reprieve from their suffering.
 This reflects a basic human yearning for comfort and peace, even if it is fleeting.
The search for stability and the desire for relief from life’s hardships.
Look, further on ahead, there
between truth and falsehood, a little empty space.
 The man suggests a new possibility, pointing out a unique place they can inhabit.
 The empty space is a metaphorical place between two extremes – truth and falsehood.
 This space could symbolize a neutral, undefined area where they are free from societal
judgments and expectations. It represents a space of acceptance and peace, removed from
the rigid binaries that often dictate life.
 The man’s suggestion shows hope, even if it is fragile and a willingness to find a place
where they can simply exist.
Hope and the possibility of finding solace in a world that otherwise offers little comfort.
The poem evolves from a depiction of rejection and suffering to a quiet moment of connection
and a fragile hope for refuge. Each stanza deepens the narrative of shared pain and the longing
for a place where they can truly belong, even if it exists only as an undefined ‘empty space.’

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