Topic: Critical Appreciation of “Christmas Letter
to my Sister”
Subject: South Asian Literature
Code: (ENG-404)
Submitted by: Sania, Sameen, Momna,
Samoon, Shafia, Dua
Government Islamia Graduate College, GRW
Introduction of the poet:
Maki Kureshi was born in 1927 in Calcutta. She was a Pakistani poet writing in English, known for her
delicate and highly sensitive poetry. She was born into a Parsee family and had been raised in Germany
with her father who served as Professor of English at Berlin University. After completing her education,
she taught for many years at the University of Karachi. She was the aunt of English writer Hanif Kureishi.
Introduction of the poem:
"Christmas Letter to my sister" is a poem that captures the complexities of familial bond, love memories
and shared experiences. Through vivid imagery and introspective reflections, the speaker recounts the
traditions of decorating a Christmas tree with ornaments from around the world. It is about two sisters
who are far away from each other physically, but they have still shared experiences and memories.
Tone:
Highly reflective, meditative, introspective and nostalgic.
Themes:
It involves the theme of sisterhood, nostalgia, shared experiences and memories, growth and passage of
time.
Analysis:
The opening lines of the poem are masterpieces, and the poet seems to be very nostalgic as she
discusses the yearly phenomenon of decorating a Christmas tree with religious zeal. The act of
decorating the Christmas tree is a universal symbol of holiday festivities and familial togetherness. The
ornaments used for decoration come from three specific places: Bohri Bazar which is a local market
known for unique items, Germany and Japan (renowned for rich Christmas traditions and handcrafted
ornaments.) It shows the intersectionality of different cultures. The choice of trinkets from these specific
regions serves as a window into the speaker’s personal history and the significance of these locations in
her life.
This poem explores the beauty of sisterhood as the speaker addresses the act of receiving additional gifts
borrowed from China and Korea by her sister to please her daughter. It implies that the sister abroad is
equally considerate and thoughtful of her niece. The daughter appreciates and values things from these
countries, due to their unique cultural and aesthetic appeal. It also reinforces the idea that ornaments
hold a specific value not just as decorative items, but as tangible markers of shared experiences and
connections to different parts of the world.
The poet is describing the annual tradition of adorning the Christmas tree with glittering ornaments
made by her own children. It holds a sentimental value as it signifies creativity and contribution of the
children. The poet is Insync with the tradition of Christmas as it signifies by the phrase "up again." The
theme of traditional celebration of the eve of Christmas. The poet discusses her mother who used to
keep their decorations secret and reveal them on the eve of Christmas. She did this so she could make
her children's work even more significant. This very act of mother adds an element of curiosity, mystery
and excitement. The imagery "doors thrown down wide" shows warmth of family’s generosity and
magnanimity.
The origin and transformation of the Christmas tree is one of the main elements this poem holds.
Basically, it was plain Cypress and was grown in their own garden. Then it undergoes embellishment and
is decorated with different ornaments. As ornamentation has a magical touch, this highly unfitting tree
now has been transformed into a product of beauty. With hyperbolic decoration it has emerged as a tree
of fairy world. The comparison of the ornaments to "goblin fruits" symbolizes the duality of the festive
season: its outward brightness and celebration juxtaposed with personal or cultural struggles. It might
symbolize shared memories of longing. The "goblin fruit" could imply the temptation to dwell in
nostalgia.
The line "I use a less dramatic Casuarina pine" suggests poet’s simplicity as she remains rooted in her
traditions and shows her love for her nation. She prefers her native plantation. While, on the other hand,
her sister grows spices in a German city, Cologne which symbolizes transformation. This portrays the
divergent ways which both the sisters have adopted. The poet remains genuine and glued. She argues
with her sister that as you are growing native spices in your backyard, they will not grow native because
they have connection with your native land and your backyard is as fertile as a flowerpot. It symbolizes
that the growth is not natural, as it is artificially controlled. When things are artificially controlled, they
have some sort of connection and affection with the gardener, but they do not grow native, they are
native to the landscape where they grow up. It reflects the theme of growth. The juxtaposition of “alien
and homegrown” underscores the complexity of their connections to different landscapes. It reflects
their inseparable bond despite living in different landscapes. One is rooted in her traditions while the
other chooses to embrace hybridization.
Next, the poet recalls that Raja, who was a local ruler, sent his official elephant to them so they can enjoy
this eve with full enthusiasm. “Elephant” symbolizes power and wealth and showcase Raja's generosity
as he genuinely feels a family-like connection with his people. “We were shipwrecked on” is
metaphorical and conveys a powerful image of extraordinary arrival of the elephant that momentarily
transported the speaker to a different world. The inclusion of Raja’s gift adds a layer of richness and
cultural significance to the narrative.
To walk gracefully, equilibrium is a must. When an elephant moves, the people riding on it feel the ups
and downs, just as a man feels in his life. He oscillates like a roller-coaster, but such rise and fall are less
important in his life. The most important thing is to keep balance. If one maintains equilibrium during his
trial period, he will be successful. Just as the elephant's riders adjust to the stones on the path. They take
them as steppingstones and not as hurdles.
“Fall is the general phenomenon. It is the rise that makes difference.”
“Crisis brings out the best in man.”
The whole poem is rich with metaphors and imageries suggesting a sense of equipoise and resilience in
the face of uncertainties while also hinting at a cultural and historical context. The line "Survive, Anglo-
Indian as a dark bungalow" refers to people of mixed British and Indian cultures. The comparison to a
"dark bungalow" could evoke imagery of an old possibly colonial-era house, which may have its own
mysteries or challenges.
The theme of nostalgia runs throughout the poem. She addresses her sister as both have shared
memories. "You, among buildings that cut down", symbolizes that the sister abroad is living among such
skyscrapers which have set them apart. "Our elephant" is a metaphor suggesting the shared existence
between both sisters. Although not present physically but in their cherished memories. One thing that
sustains them is their memory. The poet has posed the question of loss of identity. Although the German
sister is rich in experiencing different locations but at the same time, she is a looser too as she is rootless
and alienated.
“No one can impede the wheel of time.” As time has passed a lot, but she still remembers their
invaluable memories. The reflection of a warmly meeting and of reunion has been portrayed. She has
made the use of demonstrative pronoun “this” for indication. Now their house is deserted, only
memories live there. She looks at the picture and questions “is she You or me?” who is lifting a broken
toy-face which suggests their identical childhood. “Scars” metaphorically serve as reminders of the
struggles that have shaped their personal worlds. These are the imprints of their audacity and art of
resilience. “Nursery planet” could refer nurturing environment of their past.
The poet has painted a poignant picture of struggling with feelings of disillusionment and disconnection.
The speaker, now middle-aged, is restless and agitated, attempting to escape the harsh realities of life
through fantasies and daydreams. In contrast, her sister is consumed by homesickness, yet paradoxically,
is not eager to return home. This sense of disconnection is further exacerbated by her feeling of being a
foreigner everywhere, unable to find a sense of belonging or identity.
“Live European” implies assimilation, but this sense of belonging is complicated by the lingering image
of a “makeshift geography” that they share with each other. The speaker is left with a haunting sense of
disconnection, caught between their adopted identity and memories of a shared, ephemeral past. The
beauty of sisterhood is expressed by the phrase “We share.”
At the end, the poet seems to convey a wish for the reader (her sister) to find peace, solace and
gratification during December, particularly by engaging in symbolic or imaginative traditions associated
with the yearly event of good wishes. The imagery of the “tree” and the “large ghost” of the elephant
evoke a sense of nostalgia and the enduring impact of meaningful experiences.
Conclusion:
Overall, Maki Kureshi has used different symbols, metaphors and images in her poem to convey a deeper
message. She has beautifully described the sisterhood bond and respect for her traditions. The
phenomenon of maintaining equilibrium in difficult situations has also been explored.
