Poem Monsoon History

Subject -

The subject of the poem is recalling the past. The persona connects with the past with nostalgic feelings.

Theme

- Appreciating nature
- The realities of life
- Understanding oneself
- Cultural richness
- Family unity and strength

Appreciating Nature

The poem provides a vivid picture of nature, which are the presence of creatures that are full of life, and the natural phenomena such as the monsoon. Nature has both its strengths and weaknesses.

The Realities in Life

The persona faces the realities of life especially during the monsoon where the situation reflects uncertainty. The monsoon brings thunderstorm and rain, the atmosphere becomes moist.
This is the reality of life in Monsoon History. One has to face this reality. There are also uncertainties in such a situation. Natural phenomenon in the form of the monsoon is in
control and there is rolling darkness. The poem provides a realistic picture of what happens during the monsoon.

Understanding Oneself

One of the themes of the poem also relates to understanding oneself. The persona reflects on the things that have happened in her life to understand herself better. She reflects on the
cultural aspects of her life and identity. Identifying oneself with one’s cultural practices and family is important. Through this poem a person is able to understand oneself better.

Cultural Richness

The poem highlights cultural richness. Traditions and customs are part of the culture practised by the people portrayed in the poem. There is a rich cultural heritage that needs to be
safeguarded from generation to generation. The poem provides some of the cultural practices such as the Nyonya-Baba tradition of wearing sarong and the burning of silver paper for the death. The pantun is also part of their culture. The poem shows that people are identified through their cultural practices.

Family Unity and Strength

The theme of family unity and strength is also highlighted in the poem. Family plays an important part in the poem. The family is the pillar of strength that protects the persona.
The unity in the family is also a strong force in the poem. This force is able to keep the family unit safe and sound from the dangers of the outside world. The family and the home is
the inside world which represents warmth, security and meaningfulness. Family unity and its strengths are able to keep the dangers and uncertainties of the outside world away.


Moral Value -

The poem teaches us to appreciate nature. The earth is rich with plants, animals and insects. We should learn to live together or co-exist. The forces of nature should also be understood as nature has its own way. The monsoon is a period of uncertainties but when it is over there is tranquility. Everything becomes calm and normal. This is the natural cycle of life. We should learn to live life by understanding the wonder of nature, even at times of uncertainties.

The poem teaches us to understand ourselves better, especially to learn about our background or roots. It is important for us to discover our true self by looking back at the past and to
better equip ourselves for the future. Life is a journey and it is important for us to identify ourselves with the society from which we come. The persona shares her rich cultural
experiences with the readers and from the poem we know that there are customs and traditions that need to be kept close to the heart. Understanding our rich traditions and cultural practices would make us understand ourselves better and make us realise who we are.

The poem teaches us to deal with situations in a rational way, by understanding the situation well. It shows us that life is not a bed of roses. There are realities in life that we have to face. The poem teaches us to be confident in life and be truthful. There is a cycle of life which means there is bound to be ups and downs in life. Thus, we learn the importance of being realistic and
practical.

The poem teaches us to uphold the rich traditions and cultures that are present in society. These practices distinguish us from one another but they are a source of diversity in cultures and practices. The Nyonya-Baba culture that exists in Malacca in specific is a unique culture that has a significant place in Malaysia. The poem also shows the aspects of the cultural practices and traditions that show harmony, just like the harmony found in the pantun. We should preserve the rich cultural practices of the peoples of Malaysia. Our cultural diversity is our strength.

Another lesson that we can learn from the poem is about family unity and strength. In our society, family plays an important part in preserving traditions and inculcating positive values. The family plays a role in shaping the individual to be a member of the society or community. In the poem, the outside world is unsafe and unpredictable. However, the family is a place to seek refuge and harmony. In the poem the family is housed in a home, which is warm, secure and meaningful. The strength of the family provides the persona with the security and care. The persona is able to have a meaningful childhood and to cherish it because of her family. The unity in the family is a strong force in the poem.