Moniza Alvi - Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan

A comment by Mike Ferguson at www.englishresources.co.uk © 2000 English Resources, University of Wales

'Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan' - Moniza Alvi explores her sense of a shared culture by using the experience of receiving ethnic clothes from Pakistan.   These colourful clothes are so carefully described to stress their difference to British clothing.   When a glass bangle 'drew blood' it is an image of how she isn't used to these items of clothing.  

She mentions feeling 'alien', 'half-English' and having 'no fixed nationality' which are direct statements about her conflict of identity.   There is a joke about her aunts wanting cardigans from Marks and Spencers to further explore this shared culture.  

Do you understand the imagery of the 'camel-skin lamp'?