This article contains an analysis of the peom "The bright lights of Sarajevo" by Tony Harrsion. The poem is anlyzed through four perspectives: tone, imagery, juxtaposition, and choice of words.

1. Critical analysis of the poem:
“The Bright Lights Of Sarajevo”
By Tony Harrison
By: Husain Necklace
Al Jamea Saifiyah – Arabic Academy

3. Introduction
“The Bright Lights Of Sarajevo” is written by the author and poet Tony Harrison
and is a new addition is the IGCSE English Language syllabus.
Tony Harrison is a well reknown poet famous for his imagery and depiction of ‘war’
in his poems. He has written numerous poems which are all studied and critically
acclaimed by analysts and critics.
This particular poem mentions the Bosnian war which sparked and became the
catalyst of the first World War. It talks and depicts the situation of ‘Sarajevo’ during
the siege and how the people residing there suffered.
This article will attempt to analyze the poem through the division of four different
sections:
1. Imagery
2. Tone
3. Juxtaposition
4. Choice of word
Besides these, there can and will be more but the article only strives to analyze the
poem through the above mentioned perspectives.

4. Imagery:-
- “walking streets Serb shells destroyed…”
Here, the poet depicts the war zone in which Sarajevo is now plunged. By
mentioning ‘shells’ the poet explains to the readers how Sarajevo is no more a safe
place to reside but instead under siege. This imagery is further extended when the
poet states: “dodging snipers” Readers immediately understand that Tony
Harrison’s theme of the poem is based on ‘war’ as snipers are usually present and
called for during a war-like situation. Moreover, here the readers also have an
opportunity to suggest that maybe through ‘snipers’ the poet is trying to allude
towards the assassination of ‘Franz Ferdinand’ which caused the first World War.
- “in 1922 Serb mortars…blood-dunked…broken dead”
Here, the poet paints a rather dark image of the ongoing war while also mentioning
the previous reckoning. Through the words “blood-dunked” and “broken dead” the
poet depicts a scenario of havoc and death which allows the readers to imagine the
catastrophic event which may have caused the death of hundreds and thousands. By
mentioning the “mortar” the poet again points towards the siege and the central
theme of the poem, explaining to the readers the current situation of Sarajevo during
the siege.
- “though now even the smallest clouds have cleared…bombers eye”
Here the poet talks about “bombs” and the “clear sky”. It is of interest how the poet
uses the imagery of a clear sky in order to fix the image of bombs and havoc into the
readers mind. Usually, a clear sky alludes and depicts a joyful and serene scenario
which often gives out an aroma of ‘happy ending’. However, here the poet uses the
term ‘clear sky’ to mention an act of violence, havoc and reckoning. Through this,
the poet enhances the image and display of war in his poem.
- “to share one coffee…until the curfew”
Towards the end, the poet again signifies his theme of war – even though it might
seem like the boy and the girl are happy. But through the word “curfew” the poet
again rewinds the readers mind towards the imagery of war, as ‘curfews’ are usually
endowed for the safety of the people or kids. Here, the reason for having a curfew is
due to the war and the on going siege – as no one is sure when the bombers might
decide to attack or when and whom the snipers may decide to kill.

5. Juxtaposition:-
- “But tonight in Sarajevo that’s just not the case,”
The poet juxtaposes two different situations here: first the normal routine of the
people during the siege “hours…queuing…to get refills” and the second when the
streets of Sarajevo are not empty and are instead filled with “the young” who’re
“walking at a strollers pace”. Through this, the poet successfully highlights the
change in environment and the change in people’s lives due to the ongoing siege –
how it used to be before and how it is now.
- “black shapes….as Muslims, Serb or Croat…”
Here the author contrasts amongst the people of three different sects. By stating
“impossible to mark” the poet may be striving to inform of the harmony by which
the people of different religion, race and color lived in Sarajevo. This can be further
explained through this: “all takes the evening air with a stroller’s pace”. Likewise,
through this statement: “no torches guide them, but they don’t collide”. One can
assume that through the choice of word such as ‘collide’ the poet may have trying
to mention how these people never fought amongst themselves and never had any
disputes but instead lived amongst each other with harmony and peace. A message
which holds of imperative importance in this contemporary age when people are
fighting amongst each other – or rather looking for reasons to fight amongst each
other.
- “when a girl’s dark shape is fancied by a boy….to take her hand and lead
her away…Serb mortars massacred…”
The poet juxtaposes amongst two different feelings here: happiness and fear.
Once the poet mentions the blooming love between a boy and a girl, while on the
other hand he quickly mentions the massacre which occurred in the year 1922.
Through this, the poet successfully delivers his feelings about the changing
situations in Sarajevo. He alludes towards the happiness which once permeated the
place but which is now seething with fear, blood and death.
The contrast between ‘love’ and ‘death’ is of interest as well. One could suggest that
the poet is trying to convey his concerns about the toll of the siege on the mind of
the youngsters and children. Those who once roamed around with their friends and
indulged in love are now – because of the siege – are deprived of that happiness.

6. One could also suggest that through this juxtaposition the poet himself is trying to
plead that all this war and death now come to an end, before there is no more
happiness left in Sarajevo.

7. Choice of words:-
- “after…hours…pass queuing…precious meagre…”
The poet uses the word “after” for the commencement of his poem. This choice of
word – as the readers understand once they progress with the poem – suggests that
the poet is enumerating the details of the current situation “hours that Sarajevans
pass queuing…meagre bread…” and then stating the present one. The word “But…”
is used as a conditionary clause in order to emphasize his ideas of comparing the
morning with the evening – stating that the morning is filled with work and the
evening is spent in fear and “dodging the snipers”. The word “after” conveys this
idea in a very poetic fashion.
Moreover, by using words such as “hours”, “queuing” and “precious” the poet
explains the sense of depravation which is seething amongst the people of Sarajevo
as food resources are scarce and they have to stand in ‘queues’ for ‘hours’ for a few
slices of bread – which again is scare. Through this, the poet sets the stage for the
central theme of his poem which is ‘war’ and its side effects.
- “except…flirtatious ploys…girl’s dark shape…”
The word “except” is a preposition, which is used to ‘express relation with another
word or an element in the clause’. The poet uses this word in order to express the
relation between the boy and the girl. However, even here the readers can notice a
sinister sort of feeling which could again allude towards the theme of war. This is
because the poet uses the words such as “ploys” and “dark shape”. ‘Ploy’ is usually
associated with someone conspiring or plotting against someone else, or when a
group of people gather in order to conspire against a larger or smaller group of people
– an exercise which is constantly practiced and executed during a war. Likewise, the
poet uses words such as “mach” – which means ‘a ratio of speed of body to the
speed of sound in the surrounding medium’ – to explain how the boy is trying to
deduce if the girl likes him back or not. Through this, one could suggest or assume
that the poet is infact trying to convey a conversation between two soldiers and how
they are ‘ploying’ against the people of Sarajevo in which the term ‘mach’ could
suggest their conversations through their radio’s, walkie talkies or other forms of
communication.
Another speculation for the use of these terms and words could include that the poet
wanted to maintain his theme of war throughout the poem, therefore, he uses these

8. words and terms in order to maintain his theme as well as convey his thoughts about
the blooming love amongst all this war and violence.
Tone:-
- “and often dodging snipers on the way…struggling…eleven flights”
The tone of the poem, from the very start, is a bit depressing and dark. In the
beginning the poet enumerates the hardships through which the Sarajevans go
through every day in a methodical tone which creates a sense of sadness in the
readers heart.
- “but tonight in Sarajevo that’s just not the case”
Through this the poet introduces a tone of excitement as he states that tonight is not
like every other night. It also creates a sense of curiousness as the readers are eager
to comprehend what the poet is trying to convey.
This tone is further carried out by the poet for better half of the poem when he
introduces the boy and the girl and the spark of love.
However, even then the poet somehow manages to bring forth elements of
destruction and violence through his tone as he states: “lead her away from…blood-
dunked crusts…broken dead” Through this, maybe the poet is trying to convey that
even though there are still boys and girls who’re falling in love, their lives will never
be as they used to be before the siege.
- “to share one coffee in the candle lit caffe”
Here, the poet introduces a sad tone as he mentions how the boy and the girl don’t
have much time to converse and spend with each other due to their ‘curfew’.
Similarly when he states “share one” is resonates with a sense of finality or loss; as
if this is the last and the final cup of coffee the couple will ever share. One could
perhaps suggest that the poet is alluding towards the lack of time and the probability
of death because of the siege and the ongoing war.