Original Poem：
What is Africa to me:
Copper sun or scarlet sea,
Jungle star or jungle track,
Strong bronzed men, or regal black
Women from whose loins I sprang
When the birds of Eden sang?
One three centuries removed
From the scenes his fathers loved,
Spicy grove, cinnamon tree,
What is Africa to me?
So I lie, who all day long
Want no sound except the song
Sung by wild barbaric birds
Goading massive jungle herds,
Juggernauts of flesh that pass
Trampling tall defiant grass
Where young forest lovers lie,
Plighting troth beneath the sky.
So I lie, who always hear,
Though I cram against my ear
Both my thumbs, and keep them there,
Great drums throbbing through the air.
So I lie, whose fount of pride,
Dear distress, and joy allied,
Is my somber flesh and skin,
With the dark blood dammed within
Like great pulsing tides of wine
That, I fear, must burst the fine
Channels of the chafing net
Where they surge and foam and fret.
Africa? A book one thumbs
Listlessly, till slumber comes.
Unremembered are her bats
Circling through the night, her cats
Crouching in the river reeds,
Stalking gentle flesh that feeds
By the river brink; no more
Does the bugle-throated roar
Cry that monarch claws have leapt
From the scabbards where they slept.
Silver snakes that once a year
Doff the lovely coats you wear,
Seek no covert in your fear
Lest a mortal eye should see;
What’s your nakedness to me?
Here no leprous flowers rear
Fierce corollas in the air;
Here no bodies sleek and wet,
Dripping mingled rain and sweat,
Tread the savage measures of
Jungle boys and girls in love.
What is last year’s snow to me,
Last year's anything? The tree
Budding yearly must forget
How its past arose or set—
Bough and blossom, flower, fruit,
Even what shy bird with mute
Wonder at her travail there,
Meekly labored in its hair.
One three centuries removed
From the scenes his fathers loved,
Spicy grove, cinnamon tree,
What is Africa to me?
So I lie, who find no peace
Night or day, no slight release
From the unremittant beat
Made by cruel padded feet
Walking through my body’s street.
Up and down they go, and back,
Treading out a jungle track.
So I lie, who never quite
Safely sleep from rain at night—
I can never rest at all
When the rain begins to fall;
Like a soul gone mad with pain
I must match its weird refrain;
Ever must I twist and squirm,
Writhing like a baited worm,
While its primal measures drip
Through my body, crying, “Strip!
Doff this new exuberance.
Come and dance the Lover’s Dance!”
In an old remembered way
Rain works on me night and day.
Quaint, outlandish heathen gods
Black men fashion out of rods,
Clay, and brittle bits of stone,
In a likeness like their own,
My conversion came high-priced;
I belong to Jesus Christ,
Preacher of humility;
Heathen gods are naught to me.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
So I make an idle boast;
Jesus of the twice-turned cheek,
Lamb of God, although I speak
With my mouth thus, in my heart
Do I play a double part.
Ever at Thy glowing altar
Must my heart grow sick and falter,
Wishing He I served were black,
Thinking then it would not lack
Precedent of pain to guide it,
Let who would or might deride it;
Surely then this flesh would know
Yours had borne a kindred woe.
Lord, I fashion dark gods, too,
Daring even to give You
Dark despairing features where,
Crowned with dark rebellious hair,
Patience wavers just so much as
Mortal grief compels, while touches
Quick and hot, of anger, rise
To smitten cheek and weary eyes.
Lord, forgive me if my need
Sometimes shapes a human creed.
All day long and all night through,
One thing only must I do:
Quench my pride and cool my blood,
Lest I perish in the flood.
Lest a hidden ember set
Timber that I thought was wet
Burning like the dryest flax,
Melting like the merest wax,
Lest the grave restore its dead.
Not yet has my heart or head
In the least way realized
They and I are civilized.
Expanded English Article
Introduction and Interpretation
The poem "What is Africa to me" explores the complex relationship between identity, heritage, and cultural belonging. Through vivid imagery and deep emotional reflection, the speaker grapples with the meaning of Africa—both as a physical place and as a symbolic homeland. The poem juxtaposes natural elements like the "copper sun," "scarlet sea," and "spicy grove" with human experiences and emotions tied to African ancestry. The speaker is three centuries removed from the land of his forefathers, which creates a tension between longing and estrangement.
The poem’s tone is contemplative and sometimes melancholic, as the speaker questions his connection to Africa. He evokes the sounds and sights of the jungle, the pride of his dark skin, and the spiritual conflict between traditional African beliefs and Christianity. The poem ends with a poignant admission of inner turmoil and a struggle to reconcile cultural identity with personal faith and modern civilization.
Poetic Devices and Themes
The poem employs rich imagery to paint a sensory picture of Africa’s natural beauty and wildlife, such as "wild barbaric birds," "silver snakes," and "juggernauts of flesh." The use of repetition in the question "What is Africa to me?" emphasizes the speaker’s ongoing search for meaning. Symbolism is strong throughout, with Africa representing both a physical homeland and a spiritual or emotional origin.
Themes include identity, displacement, cultural heritage, spiritual conflict, and pride in one's roots. The poem also touches on the pain of colonization and the imposition of foreign religions, highlighting the speaker’s internal battle between traditional African gods and Christianity.
Background and Author
This poem reflects the experience of many African descendants living far from their ancestral lands, often as a result of historical events like the transatlantic slave trade and colonization. The speaker’s voice is that of a diasporic African, wrestling with the legacy of his heritage and the realities of modern life.
While the poem itself does not specify its author, it echoes the style and themes common in African diaspora literature, where writers explore identity, history, and cultural memory. Such works often serve to reclaim African heritage and confront the complexities of post-colonial identity.
Reflection and Personal Response
Reading this poem invites reflection on how cultural roots shape personal identity, even when physically distant from one's homeland. It challenges readers to consider the ways in which history, memory, and spirituality influence self-understanding. The speaker’s vulnerability and honesty about his divided loyalties and inner conflicts make the poem deeply relatable, especially for those who have experienced cultural displacement.
Educational Value and Learning Points
Students and children can learn several important lessons from this poem:
- Cultural Awareness: Understanding the significance of heritage and the impact of history on identity.
- Emotional Expression: Recognizing complex feelings like pride, loss, and conflict.
- Poetic Techniques: Identifying imagery, symbolism, and repetition in poetry.
- Historical Context: Gaining insight into African history, colonization, and diaspora experiences.
- Spiritual Reflection: Exploring how faith and cultural beliefs can coexist or conflict.
Practical Applications in Life and Learning
- In Literature Classes: Analyzing the poem to develop critical thinking and interpretive skills.
- In Social Studies: Discussing African history and diaspora to foster empathy and global awareness.
- In Personal Growth: Encouraging students to explore their own cultural backgrounds and identities.
- In Creative Writing: Inspiring students to write about their heritage and emotions.
- In Multicultural Education: Using the poem to promote respect for diverse cultures and beliefs.
Key Challenges and Focus Areas
- Understanding the metaphorical language and symbolism.
- Connecting historical background to the poem’s themes.
- Appreciating the emotional depth and spiritual conflict.
- Discussing sensitive topics like colonization and religious conversion respectfully.
Reading Comprehension Questions
- What are some of the natural images the speaker uses to describe Africa?
- How does the speaker feel about his connection to Africa?
- What spiritual conflict does the speaker describe?
- Why does the speaker mention being "three centuries removed" from Africa?
- What does the poem suggest about the speaker’s identity?
- How does the poem use repetition, and why is it effective?
- What emotions does the speaker express throughout the poem?
- How does the poem address the theme of cultural heritage?
- What role does the imagery of rain play in the poem?
- How might this poem help readers understand the experience of the African diaspora?
Answers to Comprehension Questions
- The speaker uses images like the "copper sun," "scarlet sea," "spicy grove," "cinnamon tree," and animals such as "wild barbaric birds," "silver snakes," and "cats crouching in the river reeds."
- The speaker feels a mixture of pride, longing, and estrangement. He is connected by blood and memory but also distant and uncertain.
- The speaker struggles between traditional African gods and Christianity, feeling both devotion and conflict.
- This phrase highlights the historical distance and separation from the ancestral land, emphasizing displacement.
- The poem suggests the speaker’s identity is complex and divided, caught between heritage and modern beliefs.
- The repeated question "What is Africa to me?" emphasizes the speaker’s ongoing search for meaning and identity.
- The speaker expresses pride, distress, longing, confusion, and spiritual doubt.
- The poem highlights the importance of cultural roots and the pain of losing or being separated from them.
- Rain symbolizes cleansing, pain, and a primal force that affects the speaker deeply, evoking an emotional and physical response.
- It helps readers understand feelings of displacement, cultural conflict, and the search for belonging experienced by many in the African diaspora.
This poem offers rich material for reflection, study, and discussion, helping learners explore important themes of identity, culture, and history through the powerful lens of poetry.
