Silence and Words in Agha Shahid Ali's "The Country Without a Post Office

In Agha Shahid Ali's poetry, words have very little meaning for the figure in exile primarily because the voices of the exiles are isolated from the rest of the world. “The Country Without a Post Office” depicts the strife of an exiled man who fails to communicate with anyone. Human contact is rendered impossible because letters cannot be delivered or received in a country where stamps have “no nation named on them”. Moreover, man is also unable to communicate with God because: “When the Muezzin died, the city was robbed of every Call” and the “Calls to prayer” fall to “deaf worlds across continents”. It is interesting to note, however, that the narrator does seem to be talking to someone in the poem. At a cursory reading one could assume that this particular aspect contradicts the essence and meaning of the poem. However, a closer look at the conversation reveals that the interaction holds little meaning. For one thing, it is extremely fragmented. It is also extremely difficult to gauge the number of people the narrator seems to be quoting.

When words fail to have meaning and when they do not facilitate communication, the language of exile is silence.

"I must force silence to be a mirror

to see his voice again for directions"

Silence acquires new meaning and allows the 'exiled' to re-evaluate communication. The idea that silence needs to be a “mirror” suggests that the person in exile needs to reflect in order to save or reinstate communication. Silence gives him another chance to interact.

"Only silence can now trace my letters"

Words have died completely because the letters are referred to as a “shrine of words”. This is particularly interesting because a shrine is constructed in remembrance of something or someone and is visited often. Therefore, the letters have become a medium of remembrance instead of a medium of communication. This is evident from the fact that the narrator reads and revisits the letters.  

“I read them, letters of love, the mad ones,

and mine to him from whom no answers came.”