Letter and Other Worlds Response

"Letters and Other Worlds" a poem by Michael Ondaetje is a dark poem which explains the comparisons that exists between a struggling marriage, with a man that drinks too much and his wife, with the independence of his country, Ceylon. These comparisons show that Ceylon is just not doing very well. It is now alone, but it is also lost. Probably happier, and most definetly more independent. However, it is not necessarily better, as of yet. It was like the man, who as he divorced his wife drank all he had, then waited and sobered up. The country, according to the author, is currently in the sobering up process, and is having some hangover pains. There are many examples of symbolism and imagery, the marriage itself is a symbol for Ceylon, as well as many examples of imagery such as when "he would write of the new blue flowers/ his new wife had planted". This created a vivid scene where the reader can really begin to see the events that have transpired.