In This Blind Alley

In This Blind Alley

By Ahmad Shamlu

They smell your mouth
Lest you’ve told someone ‘I love you.’
They smell your heart
These are strange times, my dear
Love,
they drag out under lampposts
to thrash.
Love must be hidden in closets at home.

In the cold of this blind alley
They keep their fires ablaze
burning our anthems and poems.
Do not venture to think.
These are strange times, my dear
He who pounds on the door at nighttime
Has come to kill the light.

Light must be hidden in closets at home.
Lo! the butchers
stationed on roads
with chopping-board and cleaver soaked in blood.
These are strange times, my dear
They slit smiles off of lips
And song from the throat.

Joy must be hidden in closets at home.
Canaries are being roasted
on a spit of lilacs and jasmine
These are strange times, my dear

Satan, triumph drunk
Feasts at a table spread with our mourning
God must be hidden in closets at home.

Summary of In This Blind Alley

• Popularity of “In This Blind Alley”: This poem, penned by the celebrated Iranian poet, writer, and journalist Ahmad Shamlu, is a powerful exploration of fear and uncertainty. First published in the late 20th century, it vividly depicts a claustrophobic, oppressive environment—a metaphorical “blind alley”—as a representation of a society riddled with violence, suspicion, and control.
• “In This Blind Alley” As a Representative of Fear: The poem establishes a chilling atmosphere, suggesting a place where even the most natural human emotions—love, joy, faith—are dangerous to express. The inhabitants are depicted as watchful and cruel, actively suppressing any sign of individuality or dissent. The speaker urges concealment—hiding love, light, and even God—as a means of survival. This creates a sense of pervasive fear and the erosion of fundamental human rights.
• Major Themes in “In This Blind Alley”: The dominant themes woven throughout the poem include oppression, the loss of freedom, the dangers of unchecked power, and the suppression of the human spirit. Shamlu uses evocative imagery and stark language to portray a society where cruelty and barbarism reign, and the simple joys of life are considered threats. The poem functions as a lament for a lost sense of innocence and a warning against the dangers of totalitarian regimes.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “In This Blind Alley”

Ahmad Shamlu masterfully employs various literary devices to create a haunting and memorable poem. These techniques contribute to the poem’s overall impact and help to convey its complex themes.

1. Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds adds musicality and emphasis. For instance, consider the repeated short “i” sound in the line “Joy must be hidden in closets at home,” drawing attention to the act of concealment.
2. Alliteration: The recurrence of consonant sounds creates a subtle rhythmic effect and emphasizes certain phrases. Notice the repetition of the “s” sound in “They slit smiles off of lips,” highlighting the violence and brutality of the described actions.
3. Enjambment: This technique, where a phrase or sentence continues from one line to the next without punctuation, creates a sense of flow and urgency. Consider the lines “They smell your mouth
   Lest you’ve told someone ‘I love you.’” The enjambment forces the reader to continue reading, mirroring the pervasive surveillance described in the poem.
4. Imagery: Shamlu uses vivid and often disturbing imagery to engage the reader’s senses. “Feasts at a table spread with our mourning” is a particularly striking example, conjuring a grotesque and unsettling image of triumph over suffering.
5. Irony: There is a subtle irony in the title itself. A “blind alley” suggests a dead end, a place of confinement, but the poem reveals that the true confinement is not physical, but psychological and political.
6. Metaphor: The poem operates largely through metaphor. The “blind alley” functions as a metaphor for an oppressive society or political regime. The act of hiding love, light, and God represents the suppression of fundamental human values.
7. Symbolism: The recurring images of concealment, hiding things in closets, symbolize the need for individuals to protect themselves and their beliefs in a hostile environment. The “chopping-board and cleaver soaked in blood” are potent symbols of violence and brutality.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “In This Blind Alley”

Beyond literary devices, Shamlu utilizes several poetic techniques to enhance the poem’s aesthetic and emotional impact.

1. Free Verse: The poem is written in free verse, meaning it lacks a consistent rhyme scheme or meter. This creates a natural, conversational tone, allowing the poem to feel immediate and visceral. The lack of formal structure mirrors the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the society depicted.
2. Repetition: The repeated refrain, “These are strange times, my dear,” functions as a haunting chorus, emphasizing the poem’s central theme of fear and uncertainty. It creates a sense of dread and reinforces the idea that this is a time of profound social and political upheaval.
3. Refrain: As mentioned above, the line “These are strange times, my dear” acts as a refrain, appearing throughout the poem to underscore the pervasive sense of unease and dread.
4. Stanza: The poem is divided into five stanzas, each of varying length. This structure creates a visual rhythm and allows Shamlu to explore different facets of the poem’s central themes.

Quotes to be Used

The lines below resonate with experiences of hardship, oppression, or challenging times.

“These are strange times, my dear
He who pounds on the door at nighttime
Has come to kill the light.”

This quote encapsulates the feeling of being threatened and vulnerable, and the destruction of hope and freedom.