A Martian Sends a Postcard Home is a poem written by Craig Raine in 1979. The poem is written from the perspective of a Martian who has recently arrived on Earth and is trying to describe the strange and unfamiliar sights, sounds, and sensations that he experiences.
The poem is written in a series of short, choppy lines, each of which attempts to capture some aspect of the Martian's experience on Earth. The poem begins with the Martian marveling at the strange and unfamiliar landscape of Earth, describing it as a "blue and green balloon" that is "held" by "strings" of clouds.
As the poem progresses, the Martian continues to describe the various aspects of life on Earth that he finds most fascinating and confusing. He talks about the strange creatures he sees, such as "men" and "women," and the odd things they do, like "kissing" and "crying." He also describes the strange noises he hears, such as "music" and "voices," and the strange sensations he feels, such as "cold" and "warm."
Throughout the poem, the Martian's descriptions are filled with imagery and metaphors that help to convey the alien and unfamiliar nature of his surroundings. For example, he describes the "pink and white" skin of humans as being "like a shell," and he describes the "streets" and "houses" as being "like a maze." These metaphors help the reader to better understand the strange and bewildering nature of the Martian's experience on Earth.
At the end of the poem, the Martian concludes his postcard home with a sense of wonder and amazement at all that he has seen and experienced. He writes that he is "having a lovely time," and that he wishes he could stay on Earth "forever."
Overall, A Martian Sends a Postcard Home is a thought-provoking and imaginative poem that uses vivid imagery and metaphor to explore the strange and unfamiliar experience of being an outsider in a strange and unfamiliar place. Through the perspective of the Martian, the poem invites readers to consider what it might be like to encounter and try to understand a world that is completely different from their own.
