Original Poem：
The edge of our bed was a wide grid
where your fifteen-year-old daughter was hanging
gut-sprung on police wheels
a cablegram nailed to the wood
next to a map of the Western Reserve
I could not return with you to bury the body
reconstruct your nightly cardboards
against the seeping Transvaal cold
I could not plant the other limpet mine
against a wall at the railroad station
nor carry either of your souls back from the river
in a calabash upon my head
so I bought you a ticket to Durban
on my American Express
and we lay together
in the first light of a new season.
Now clearing roughage from my autumn garden
cow sorrel??? overgrown rocket gone to seed
I reach for the taste of today
the
New York Times
finally mentions your country
a half-page story
of the first white south african killed in the “unrest”
Not of Black children massacred at Sebokeng
six-year-olds imprisoned for threatening the state
not of Thabo Sibeko, first grader, in his own blood
on his grandmother’s parlor floor
Joyce, nine, trying to crawl to him
shitting through her navel
not of a three-week-old infant, nameless
lost under the burned beds of Tembisa
my hand comes down like a brown vise over the marigolds
reckless through despair
we were two Black women touching our flame
and we left our dead behind us
I hovered??? you rose??? the last ritual of healing
“It is spring,” you whispered
“I sold the ticket for guns and sulfa
I leave for home tomorrow”
and wherever I touch you
I lick cold from my fingers
taste rage
like salt from the lips of a woman
who has killed too often to forget
and carries each death in her eyes
your mouth a parting orchid
“Someday you will come to
my
country
and we will fight side by side?”
Keys jingle in the door ajar??? threatening
whatever is coming belongs here
I reach for your sweetness
but silence explodes like a pregnant belly
into my face
a vomit of nevers.
Mmanthatisi turns away from the cloth
her daughters-in-law are dyeing
the baby drools milk from her breast
she hands him half-asleep to his sister
dresses again for war
knowing the men will follow.
In the intricate Maseru twilights
quick??? sad??? vital
she maps the next day’s battle
dreams of Durban??? sometimes
visions the deep wry song of beach pebbles
running after the sea.
Analysis and Interpretation of the Poem
This powerful poem explores themes of conflict, loss, resilience, and hope against the backdrop of political unrest in South Africa. The imagery is vivid and often harrowing, depicting the brutal realities faced by individuals caught in violent struggles. The poem opens with a stark scene of a young girl hanging "gut-sprung on police wheels," immediately evoking a sense of trauma and oppression. The speaker reflects on their inability to physically aid or bury the dead, symbolizing the helplessness felt during times of political violence.
The poem contrasts personal loss with broader social injustice, highlighting how mainstream media (represented by The New York Times) often overlooks the suffering of Black children and innocent victims, focusing instead on the death of a white South African. This critique underscores the racial inequalities and selective attention in reporting.
The speaker and another woman, both Black, are portrayed as sharing a "flame," a metaphor for their shared pain, strength, and commitment to the struggle. The dialogue about selling a ticket for guns and sulfa (an antibiotic) and preparing to "fight side by side" reflects the harsh choices faced by those involved in liberation movements.
The poem closes with the image of Mmanthatisi, a historical figure known as a warrior queen, preparing for battle, symbolizing the continuity of resistance and the vital role of women in these struggles. The "intricate Maseru twilights" evoke a setting of both beauty and tension, where plans for survival and resistance are made.
Background and Author Introduction
This poem likely emerges from the context of South African apartheid and the liberation struggles that marked the late 20th century. The references to places like Durban, Sebokeng, and Tembisa situate the poem geographically within South Africa's townships and cities deeply affected by racial segregation and violence.
The author, while not explicitly named here, is presumably someone deeply connected to the anti-apartheid movement or its aftermath, possibly a Black South African or an activist-poet who uses their work to bear witness to the suffering and resilience of their people. The poem’s style—rich in symbolism, historical references, and emotional intensity—reflects a tradition of protest poetry that seeks to document injustice and inspire resistance.
Educational Insights and Learning Points
Students and children can learn several important lessons from this poem:
- Historical Awareness: The poem introduces learners to the realities of apartheid-era South Africa, including the violence and oppression faced by Black communities.
- Empathy and Social Justice: It encourages readers to empathize with victims of injustice and to recognize the importance of speaking out against inequality.
- Literary Devices: The poem is rich in metaphor, imagery, and symbolism—skills students can analyze to deepen their understanding of poetic techniques.
- Critical Media Literacy: The poem critiques media bias, prompting discussions about how news is reported and whose stories are told.
- Courage and Resilience: The figures in the poem demonstrate bravery and determination, valuable qualities for students to appreciate and emulate.
Practical Applications in Life and Learning
- Discussion in Social Studies: Teachers can use the poem to introduce topics on apartheid, civil rights, and global struggles for justice.
- Creative Writing: Students can be inspired to write their own poems or stories about resilience and hope in difficult circumstances.
- Media Studies: The poem can serve as a case study for analyzing bias and representation in news media.
- Emotional Intelligence: Reflecting on the poem’s themes helps students develop empathy and understand complex emotions related to loss and hope.
Reading Comprehension Questions
- What is the significance of the fifteen-year-old daughter hanging "gut-sprung on police wheels"?
- How does the poem portray the media’s coverage of the unrest in South Africa?
- What does the speaker mean by "we were two Black women touching our flame"?
- Who is Mmanthatisi, and what does she symbolize in the poem?
- How does the poem convey the theme of resilience in the face of violence?
Answers
- The image symbolizes the brutal violence inflicted on young people during political unrest, highlighting the trauma and oppression experienced by the community.
- The poem criticizes the media for focusing on the death of a white South African while ignoring the suffering of Black children and other victims, showing racial bias in reporting.
- This phrase symbolizes the shared pain, strength, and commitment to resistance between the two women, representing solidarity in struggle.
- Mmanthatisi is a historical warrior queen who symbolizes leadership, courage, and the ongoing fight for freedom, especially the role of women in resistance.
- The poem shows resilience through the characters’ determination to continue fighting despite loss and despair, and through the imagery of preparing for battle and holding onto hope.
This poem offers a profound exploration of the human cost of political conflict and the enduring spirit of those who resist oppression. It serves as both a historical testimony and a call to empathy, courage, and justice.
