Identity and Culture Poetry

"When I consider how my light is spent" by John Milton describes the struggle of losing his sight. He meditates on the loss of his eyesight, enveloped "in this dark world and wide"(line2). While he appears to be "useless" (line 4), he understands that "God doth not need either man's work or his own gifts," (line 9-10). He reflects on the fact that while losing his eyesight is troubling, it is not the end of the world, and he has learned to cope with what cards he has been dealt.

Mahmoud Darwish's "Identity Card" reveals his identity and describes what an impact it has had on his life. The repetition of "Put it on record. I am an Arab," signifies the eagerness he has for putting aside his identity. While he is direct about his culture, he is angry, warning "Beware, beware of my hunger and of my anger!" (line 62-63). He does not hate that he is an Arab, but he wishes it would not be such a big factor when trying to live life, as it impacted his traveling as he was asked for his papers. He is "patient in a country where everything lives in a whirlpool of anger,"(line 20) which is where his anger stems from. 

These two poems describe the inner conflict they must deal with, Milton with being blind, and Darwish with being an Arab. While they both accept their state, they do reflect on the hardships of it. However, while Milton is meditating on the loss of his sight, Darwish is describing his identity and culture.