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"Pride" - Dahlia Ravikovitch

 

The poem “Pride” is written by Dahlia Ravikovitch, a noted Israeli poet. She is known for her powerful images to present human emotions, relationships, and the hidden pain behind ordinary life. In this poem, she uses the image of a rock to explore the theme of pride, vulnerability and emotional breaking.

The poem begins by saying that even rocks can crack. Rocks normally appear strong, permanent and unchanging. For years, they lie under the sun, rain, heat and cold. They remain motionless, and the cracks inside them are not seen. This creates an illusion of calm strength. The rock becomes a symbol of pride. People also hide their weaknesses and do not show their pain. They appear calm and strong from the outside.

The poem then shows that time passes over the rocks: seasons change, the sea moves, moss and seaweed grow. Everything around is changing, but the rocks still seem the same. This reflects how people go through many experiences while trying to remain steady and strong. However, the poet presents a sudden change. A small seal rubs against the rocks, but the rock cracks open and gets a wound. In the same way, human beings often break because of a very small incident or small emotional touch. The cracking comes as a surprise.

The central theme of the poem is that pride hides vulnerability. People pretend to be strong for a long time. When the break happens, it is shocking. The poem teaches that every strong appearance may hide inner pain. The poem uses simple but powerful imagery. The rock stands for a human soul; the crack symbolizes emotional wounds; the seal represents a sudden trigger.  The contrast between a strong rock and a soft seal highlights how even small things can cause great emotional damage. The last line, “All the more so, people,” shows that pride often prevents people from sharing their pain, but sooner or later, hidden cracks appear.

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