Measures Of Expatriation by Vahni Capildeo: A Masterpiece of Exile and Identity

Measures of Expatriation

by Vahni Capildeo

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
Paperback	:	30 pages
Item Weight	:	3.52 ounces
Dimensions	:	8.5 x 0.07 x 11 inches
File size	:	776 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	95 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

In her award-winning collection of poetry, Measures Of Expatriation, Vahni Capildeo explores the complexities of exile, displacement, and the search for home. Through a series of haunting and evocative poems, Capildeo delves into the experiences of those who have been forced to leave their homeland, capturing the pain of loss, the longing for belonging, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Themes of Exile and Displacement

One of the central themes of Measures Of Expatriation is the experience of exile. Capildeo's poems portray the ways in which exile can become a defining force in one's life, shaping one's identity and sense of belonging. In "The Exiles," she writes:

We are the exiles, the ones who have left/our homelands, our families, our friends./We have come from far away, from lands of war and poverty,/from lands of oppression and violence.

Capildeo's poems also explore the complex emotions that accompany displacement. In "The Displaced," she captures the sense of loss and longing that can come with leaving one's home:

I am the displaced, the one who has been forced to leave/my home, my country, my family./I have lost everything, and I am alone.

The Search for Home

Despite the pain of exile and displacement, Capildeo's poems also offer hope and resilience. Throughout the collection, she explores the ways in which people can find a sense of home even when they are far from their homeland. In "The Home," she writes:

Home is not a place, it is a feeling./It is the place where you feel safe, where you feel loved./It is the place where you belong.

Capildeo's poems remind us that home is not just a physical location, but a place that we carry with us wherever we go. It is the place where we feel connected to others, where we feel a sense of purpose, and where we can truly be ourselves.

Lyrical Brilliance and Haunting Imagery

One of the most striking aspects of Measures Of Expatriation is Capildeo's lyrical brilliance and haunting imagery. Her poems are rich with sensory details and evocative language, creating a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. In "The Journey," she writes:

We are on a journey, a long and arduous journey./We are crossing deserts, mountains, and oceans./We are fleeing from war, from poverty, from oppression./We are searching for a new home, a place where we can belong.

Capildeo's use of metaphor and simile is also particularly effective in conveying the emotions and experiences of exile and displacement. In "The Lost Child," she compares the experience of exile to being lost in a forest:

I am a lost child, wandering in a dark forest./I have lost my way, and I am afraid./I am all alone, and I don't know where to go.

Awards and Recognition

Measures Of Expatriation has received widespread critical acclaim and has won numerous awards, including the prestigious T.S. Eliot Prize. The collection has been praised for its powerful and moving exploration of exile, displacement, and the search for home. In a review for The Guardian, poet John Burnside wrote: "Capildeo's poems are full of a fierce and tender intelligence, and they offer a unique and unforgettable perspective on the experience of exile."

Measures Of Expatriation is a masterpiece of contemporary poetry that will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever experienced the pain of exile or the longing for home. Vahni Capildeo's haunting imagery and lyrical brilliance create a vivid and immersive experience for the reader, capturing the complexities of displacement, identity, and the search for belonging. This is a collection that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Highly recommended.

Measures of Expatriation

by Vahni Capildeo

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
Paperback	:	30 pages
Item Weight	:	3.52 ounces
Dimensions	:	8.5 x 0.07 x 11 inches
File size	:	776 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	95 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE