Piano Practice - Derek Walcott

Introduction:

'Piano Practice' by Derek Walcott is a poignant poem, as it gives us a glimpse of violence in the trouble spots of the globe. The poem is partly history- European, African, and personl. It starts with an assessment of the 'Closing Century.' Through a series of pictures and visual images, the poet stresses the artificiality of the Age, its total dryness and its immorality. the new century provides no relief either. The globe is full of violence and heartlessness ("rain drizzles on the white iron chairs in the garden").

The Poet's Remembrance of Vallejo:

The poet remembers that Vallejo is dying 'today' - Thursday.

"Today is Thursday, Vallejo is dying."

Vallejo, an assassin seems to have eliminated the arch duke. The poet says that he himself is not guilty of the murder and dissociates himself from such violent activities. He is still grief-stricken when he thinks of the execution of Vallejo.

The Poet's Desire to find Solace in Piano Music:

To forget the grief of the execution of Vallejo, the poet proposes to go with his 'girl' and look for life in some cafe 'behind tear-streaked windows.' He hopes that he may find solace in some "piano playing... somewhere." The poet is in no mood to write poetry as he is one "who has only one climate." He is sorry that he never went to the city which breeds people like Vallejo. He does not want the Vallejo fever. He prefers the East River to the Seine even if the latter oushines the former.

For his part, he would be content with piano music. He is sure that somewhere "near the Metropolitan, a steel tenor pan dazzlingly practises something from Old Vienna, "the scales skittering like minnows across the sea."

Though the poem has an objective beginning, the second part of the poem is highly subjective. The first part of the poem is descriptive. The second part is both evocative and reflective. The poem is also ambitious, as we do not know whether the poet condemns Vallejo or commiserates with him.

Conclusion:

The poem seems to be full of contrasts. The first part deals with dryness and disharmony, whereas the second part deals with piano-music and ends with the sea. The immediate context of the poem is the struggle for freedom and Vallejo appears to be a major figure in it.

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