Boost Your IGCSE Grades with This Look at 'Lament' by Gillian Clarke

Описание: Achieve top marks in your Cambridge IGCSE English Literature exam with this analysis of Lament by Gillian Clarke. Discover how Clarke explores the devastating impact of war on the natural world and humanity, using vivid imagery and powerful language to convey grief and loss—key insights to enhance your exam performance.

Analysis
Gillian Clarke's poem 'Lament' is a powerful reflection on the environmental devastation caused by the Gulf War in 1991. Written in response to the human and ecological destruction, the poem captures the sorrow and mourning for lost life, both human and animal, as well as the poisoning of natural habitats. Clarke uses vivid imagery to evoke a sense of grief, from the oil-soaked cormorants to the "burnt earth" and "blazing well." Through these snapshots of environmental ruin, Lament highlights the profound consequences of human conflict on the natural world, prompting readers to reflect on the fragile balance between humanity and nature.

00:00 Intro
00:05 Context
02:28 Structural overview
06:56 Title
07:28 Line-by-line analysis

Additional Resources
For more exam tips, resources, and one-to-one tutoring, visit my website: www.clairesnotes.com
Check out the rest of my videos on the poems from Songs of Ourselves, Vol I, for 2026:    • Cambridge iGCSE: Songs of Ourselves, Vol I...  

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The Poem: Lament by Gillian Clarke

For the green turtle with her pulsing burden,
in search of the breeding ground.
For her eggs laid in their nest of sickness.

For the cormorant in his funeral silk,
the veil of iridescence on the sand,
the shadow on the sea.

For the ocean’s lap with its mortal stain.
For Ahmed at the closed border.
For the soldier with his uniform of fire.

For the gunsmith and the armourer,
the boy fusilier who joined for the company,
the farmer’s sons, in it for the music.

For the hook-beaked turtles,
the dugong and the dolphin,
the whale struck dumb by the missile’s thunder.

For the tern, the gull and the restless wader,
the long migrations and the slow dying,
the veiled sun and the stink of anger.

For the burnt earth and the sun put out,
the scalded ocean and the blazing well.
For vengeance, and the ashes of language.


About Me
I’m an experienced English teacher with over 25 years of classroom and private tutoring experience. My videos are tailored to help students achieve top marks in AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas/WJEC, CCEA and Cambridge IGCSE English exams.

Please note that any literature analysis is highly subjective and may disagree with analysis by another person. All interpretations are valid if they can be justified by reference to the text. This interpretation is my own: it is not exhaustive and there are alternatives!

Let’s Discuss!
What do you think of Lament by Gillian Clarke?

The poem mourns the devastating impact of war on both nature and humanity. How does Clarke’s use of imagery make the destruction feel personal and universal?
Clarke uses repetition and listing to build a sense of overwhelming loss. How does this structure contribute to the poem’s tone of grief?
The poem explores the connection between humans and the natural world. How does Clarke highlight the fragility of this relationship?
In Lament, Clarke’s diction is both lyrical and stark. How does this contrast deepen the reader’s understanding of the poem’s themes?