'Flag' – John Agard
The poem 'Flag' is trying to emphasise the fact that a flag is not important, yet it is a symbol of a country.
It highlights this in a rather dark manner by exaggerating that a flag is the reason for suffering and conflict between countries. Also, that a flag is how we separate the weak from the powerful. It repeatedly talks of it being 'just a piece of cloth' to try and emphasise the fact that it is not the primary thing that should be on our minds; we have larger problems, worries, troubles that we must overcome to succeed and our minds should be focused on that.
The title is an introduction to the poem in itself as by appropriately naming it 'Flag' it tells the reader that this poem is about power and countries. It also suggests some type of conflict as a flag is a symbol of war and what you believe in. It also suggests a higher power of sort as a flag is symbolic of power of a nation and its people.
The poem is in a 5 stanza structure with each emphasising the fact that flags are not important to try and reinforce one of my previous statements. Each stanza begins with a question. This suggests that the poet does not understand the concept of flags and why they should be so important. It also suggests that he is not sure why people 'worship' these flags if there are other things that are more important in our world.
There is a rhyming pattern AC for the first 4 stanzas. This could infer that the poet is sure that people consider flags to be of some importance. Also, that flags are everywhere and they keep coming back at every witch-way we go.
The poet repeatedly used verbs 'fluttering', 'unfurling', 'rising', 'flying'. These suggest that flags are never in the same place at one time. Also, that people everywhere in the world are bound to a flag.
It continues to repeat 'it's just a piece of cloth' which suggests that he does not think much of flags and he does not see why other people are. Also, that flags are not as powerful as they are thought to be. 'Cloth' suggests that it is an everyday garment which he discards from his thoughts. This is to emphasise his opinion on flags and how they are not important.
'Brings a nation to its knees' in the first stanza (metaphor) suggests a sort of praying/ bowing down to the flag as if it is a higher power and is first in command. 'Nation' suggests that all people flounder to the power of the flag. No one can escape it.
'Guts of men grow bold' in the second stanza (personification, metaphor) suggests that when in battle, men feel fearless, in corruptible because the power of their country's flag is on their side.
'Dares the coward to relent' in the third stanza suggests that it has a certain control over people and you feel as if forced to obey it. Also, it suggests that you would do everything and anything for it.
'Outlive the blood you bleed' in the fourth stanza (personification, metaphor) suggests that we (human kind) are much weaker than the power of the flag and we are not as important as a flag. Also, it infers that its power will keep on growing and many others will fall to its power, making it and its power immortal.
'Blind your conscience to the end' in the final stanza (personification) suggests that we have all been blinded by its power. We have disregarded the fact that a flag burdens heavy losses and makes us look bad in the eyes of others.
'How can I possess such a cloth' also in the final stanza suggests that he does not know how anyone can carry that burden upon them, they do not feel that they should carry that responsibility and power upon them.
It is quite clear that the poet is trying to convey his opinions on a flag being wrong and not as important as we all believe it to be. Also, that his reaction towards the flag is one of hatred as he feels it is just a symbol of greed and evil, everything that is wrong with the world. He holds strong feelings toward the flag as he believes that it is wrong to worship 'just a piece of cloth' because it is not as important as other things that are troubling our world at this present time. Maybe it suggests a type of hatred in all of us created by the flag, meaning that certain things that are done in the flags 'name' if you will projects its people in a dark light.
John Agard expressed his views on the flag and how it affects us all all for the worse. There are no good qualities of the flag mentioned in this poem, so it is definitely emphasising the fact that a flag is a bad quality of a nation and it should not be as widely, highly respected in our society as it is.
