Soumitra Chatterjee's Poem 'Wartime': A Psychological Exploration

This poem, written by Soumitra Chatterjee, isn't about a real war with fighting.

Instead, it's about the feeling of being in a state of 'wartime,' where things feel tense and guarded.

The poem talks about how this 'wartime' can make people feel separated and careful, like there are invisible barriers.

It uses imagery like barbed wire and the color olive (often used for camouflage) to describe this atmosphere.

The poem then asks, how can we find connection again?

It suggests that we need to look into our own hearts, like digging a trench, to find kindness and understanding.

It ends by wondering whether we can escape the feeling of 'wartime' and find hope again.