Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

NO SIGN OF BLOOD, by FAIZ AHMED FAIZ Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"No Sign of Blood," by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, is a haunting reflection on the absence of justice and accountability in the face of systemic violence. Through powerful imagery and metaphor, Faiz conveys the profound sorrow and indignation of witnessing unpunished atrocities. The poem explores themes of invisibility, complicity, and the helplessness of those marginalized by power structures, emphasizing the grim reality of a world where the blood of the innocent often goes unnoticed.

The poem opens with a stark declaration: "Nowhere, nowhere is there any trace of blood / Neither on the hands of assassin, nor under his fingernail." This repetition of "nowhere" underscores the utter absence of justice or accountability for the bloodshed. The imagery of clean hands and fingernails devoid of blood implies a deliberate erasure of evidence, suggesting that the perpetrators have managed to sanitize themselves of any visible guilt.

Faiz continues to emphasize this erasure by stating, "No red on the tips of his dagger / No dye on the point of his bayonet." The use of "dagger" and "bayonet" evokes images of violence and warfare, highlighting the brutality involved. Despite this, there is no visible sign of blood on these weapons, reinforcing the idea that the atrocities committed have been effectively concealed or ignored.

The poem shifts focus to the victims: "The orphaned blood of murdered parents screamed out for justice; / There was no plaintiff, no witness; therefore no indictment." Here, Faiz personifies the "orphaned blood," suggesting that it cries out for justice in the absence of the murdered parents. The lack of a "plaintiff" and "witness" highlights the complete absence of a legal recourse for the victims. Without anyone to testify or hold the perpetrators accountable, the bloodshed remains unpunished.

The final lines of the poem capture the stark reality of this unacknowledged blood: "It was the blood of those, whose homes are made of dust, / Blood that in the end became the nourishment for dust." Faiz uses the metaphor of "homes made of dust" to represent the marginalized and oppressed communities whose voices are often silenced. Their blood, spilled in acts of violence, ultimately "became the nourishment for dust," suggesting that their lives were reduced to insignificance by those in power. The cyclical imagery of blood returning to dust highlights the tragic futility and invisibility of their deaths.

Structurally, the poem is written in free verse, which allows Faiz to explore his emotions with fluidity and intensity. The repetition of "nowhere" and the absence of blood imagery reinforce the poem's central theme of injustice and erasure. The language is straightforward yet charged with emotion, creating a stark and unflinching portrayal of violence and impunity.

In "No Sign of Blood," Faiz Ahmed Faiz poignantly illustrates the deep sorrow and frustration of witnessing violence that goes unpunished. By emphasizing the absence of blood on the hands of the perpetrators, Faiz highlights the systemic erasure of atrocities and the complicity of those who turn a blind eye. The poem serves as a powerful indictment of a world where the blood of the marginalized remains unacknowledged, and justice is denied to those who need it most.

POEM TEXT:

Nowhere, nowhere is there any trace of blood

Neither on the hands of assassin, nor under his finger nail,

No red on the tips of his dagger

No dye on the point of his bayonet

The orphaned blood of murdered parents screamed out for justice;

There was no plaintiff, no witness; therefore no indictment

It was the blood of those, whose homes are made of dust,

Blood that in the end became the nourishment for dust.