This Blog-post is a response to the thinking activity task on a poem - analysis of African Literature given by our professor Yesh Bhatt ma'am.
- About the Poet:
Léopold Sedar Senghor (born Oct. 9, 1906, Joal, Senegal, French West Africa—died Dec. 20, 2001, Verson, France), Poet, president of Senegal (1960–80), and cofounder of the Negritude movement in African art and literature.
Senegalese poet, writer, and statesman Léopold Sédar Senghor(Poetry Foundation) was born near Dakar in the town of Joal to a Fulbe mother and a Serer trader father. He was educated at the École Nationale de la France d’Outre-Mer in Paris, where he became friends with Aimé Césaire and future French president George Pompidou. After earning his French citizenship, Senghor taught in Tours and Paris. He joined the French army during World War II and spent 18 months in a German prison camp. After serving successive terms representing Senegal in the French National Assembly, Senghor returned to his native land, where he led his nation’s independence movement in 1960. He eventually became Senegal’s first democratically elected president, a post which he held for the next twenty years.
Poem: To The Negro-American Soldiers
For Mercer Cook
I did not recognize you in prison under your
………..sad-colored uniform
I did not recognize you under the calabash helmet
………..without style
I did not recognize the whining sound of your
………..iron horses, who drink but do not eat.
And it is no longer the nobility of elephants, it is the
………..the barbaric weight of the prehistoric
………..monsters of the world.
Under your closed face, I did not recognize you.
I only touched the warmth of your brown hand,
………..I called myself “Afrika! ”
And I found once again the lost laughter, I hailed the ancient voices
………..and the roar of Congo waterfalls.
Brothers, I do not know whether you bombed the
………..cathedrals, the pride of Europe,
If you are the lightning of God’s hand that burned
………..Sodom and Gomorrah.
No, you are the messengers of his mercy, the
………..Spring after Winter.
To those who had forgotten how to laugh-only
………..smile obliquely
Who knew nothing but the savory flavor of
………..tears and the vexing stench of blood
You bring the Season of Peace and hope to
………..end of the delay.
And their night is filled with milky sweetness, the blue
………..fields of the sky are covered with flowers, silence sings
………..soothingly.
You bring them the sun. The air beats with whispers
………..liquids and crystalline chirping and beating
………..silky wings
The aerial cities are tepid with nests.
Through the streets joy streamed, the boys play with
………..their dreams
Men dance before of their machines and
………..surprised themselves singing.
Schoolgirls’s eyelids are rose petals, and
………..fruits ripen in the virgins’ breasts
And the women’s hips—Oh, sweetness—
………..grow generously heavy.
Black brothers, warriors whose mouths are flowers that
………..sing
—Oh! the delight to live after Winter—I salute you
………..like messengers of peace.
- Glossary:
1. Mercer Cook:
Will Mercer Cook (March 30, 1903 – October 4, 1987), popularly known as Mercer Cook, was a diplomat and professor. He was the first American ambassador to the Gambia after it became independent, appointed in 1965 while also still serving as ambassador to Senegal. He was also the second American ambassador to Niger. He also translated works of African and West Indian writers from French to English. Most notably, in 1959, Cook translated the works of Leopold Senghor, who was a former president of Senegal and an established French author. (wikipedia.org)
2. Calabash helmet:
Fashioned out of a gourd native to the Philippines, the Tabungaw is well suited to a climate with extremes of monsoons and droughts, shielding the wearer from rain and strong sun. Lightweight and durable, gourd hats are common throughout the Philippines—but especially in Ilocano, a northern province—where the gourds are hollowed out, dried, and then transformed into hats. (youraudiotour.com)
The helmet referred to in the context of American soldiers also looks like this :
3. Iron horses:
Iron horse is an iconic literary term (considered by the early 21st century to be transitioning into an archaic reference) for a steam locomotive, originating in the early 1800s, when horses still powered most machinery. The term was common and popular in both British and North American literary articles.(wikipedia.org)
⇾Merriam Webster: a steam locomotive (Merriam-webster.com)
⇾Collins dictionary: a steam-driven railway locomotive(collins dictionary.com)
⇾English Slang: A railroad locomotive; the engine of a railroad train.(english-slang.com)
⇾Voocabulary.com: an early term for a locomotive
type of: engine, locomotive, locomotive engine, railway locomotive
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks(vocabulary.com)
3. The nobility of elephants:
Many African cultures refered the African Elephant as a symbol of strength and power. It is also praised for its size, longevity, stamina, mental faculties, cooperative spirit, and loyalty. South Africa, uses elephant tusks in their coat of arms to represent wisdom, strength, moderation and eternity The elephant is symbolically important to the nation of Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire); the Coat of arms of Ivory Coast features an elephant head escutcheon as its focal point.
In the western African Kingdom of Dahomey (now part of Benin) the elephant was associated with the 19th century rulers of the Fon people, Guezo and his son Glele. The animal is believed to evoke strength, royal legacy, and enduring memory as related by the proverbs: "There where the elephant passes in the forest, one knows" and "The animal steps on the ground, but the elephant steps down with strength." Their flag depicted an elephant wearing a royal crown.
4. Afrika:
One of the most popular suggestions for the origins of the term 'Africa' is that it is derived from the Roman name for a tribe living in the northern reaches of Tunisia, believed to possibly be the Berber people. The Romans variously named these people ‘Afri’, ‘Afer’ and ‘Ifir’. Some believe that ‘Africa’ is a contraction of ‘Africa terra’, meaning ‘the land of the Afri’. There is, however, no evidence in the primary sources that the term ‘Africa terra’ was used to describe the region, nor is there direct evidence that it is from the name ‘Afri’ that the Romans derived the term ‘Africa’. (sahistory.org)
5. Congo:
The Congo River (Kongo: Nzâdi Kôngo, French: Fleuve Congo, Portuguese: Rio Congo), formerly also known as the Zaire River, is the second longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the second largest river in the world by discharge volume, following only the Amazon. (wikipedia.org)
7. Cathedral
A cathedral is a church that contains the cathedra (Latin for 'seat') of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominations with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches.
8. Sodom and Gomorrah:
(/ˈsɒdəm ... ɡəˈmɒrə/) were two legendary biblical cities destroyed by God for their wickedness. Their story parallels the Genesis flood narrative in its theme of God's anger provoked by man's sin (see Genesis 19:1–28). (wikipedia.org)
This poem was originally written in french language including Senghor's poems collection Hosties noires (1948). (Smithsonian-edu) The poem is about the Negro-Americal soldiers. It is also about the experience of Sengho while he was imprisoned.
Analysis:
There is not much content available on the internet, though I have tried to analyze it as per the class discussion.
Senghor writes by mentioning 'For Mercer Cook' who was the first American ambassador to the Gambia after it became independent, appointed in 1965 while also still serving as ambassador to Senegal and also well known for his translation of Senghor's poem and others also. Iron Horse is ironically mentioned here which presents that the material thing which was expanded during that time and due to that overpowering over the humans, the speaker is not able to hear their tears. The Speaker express his feeling towards the soldiers and he said that he did not recognize him(soldier) properly because of that sad-colored uniform which represents the dull and uninformed living life of soldiers who are not taken care of by the government and their living life information is not reached to their family or other people in the country. Further, the speaker also mentioned the culture of Africa and compares it that the modern world becoming barbaric. Many African cultures revere the African Elephant as a symbol of strength and power. It is also praised for its size, longevity, stamina, mental faculties, cooperative spirit, and loyalty. Comparing the lines given here, it elaborates that the culture of Africa and its dignity is not as static as were at that time because the soldiers are now working for their countries also. The mythical connection of Western mythology - Sodom and Gomorrah that two cities were destroyed by God. The speaker addresses the attack on the Catholic church and the word, 'Brother' may be used for American soldiers. Then he denies that they come as Spring comes after Winter (England) with new hope, a new environment around the people for their safety or for their future also. For those who forgot how to laugh. Later but very important lines suggest the mechanical life of men and post-colonial conditions but apart from this, the speaker pointed out that all things happened and people now lied happily, girls are going to school, men are not tired to work, they enjoy their works with industry. Black brothers, warriors whose mouths are flowers that………..sing —Oh! the delight to live after Winter—I salute you ………..like messengers of peace. By the ending line, the speaker expresses his feeling of gratitude to the soldiers.
- Themes:
1. Partrotism:
Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and vigorous support for the country. It is more about devotion and sacrifice rather than fighting and or extra care about your race, culture, language, religion, etc. Patriotism speaks more about the nation and its love without focusing on any particular notion that represents unpatriotic senses.
The timeline of this poetry is around the second world war. As is mentioned in the article - army.mil article For more than 200 years, African Americans have served courageously in every conflict in U.S. history. They endured individual and institutional racism while fighting for social equality and opportunity. During WWII, more than 2.5 million African American men registered for the draft, and African American women volunteered in large numbers. When combined with black women enlisted into the Women's Army Corps, more than one million African Americans served the Army during the War. At home, African Americans proactively fought for their right to work in positions in the Defense industry, facing discrimination and segregation. As we remember their contributions to WWII, we are reminded of the Nation's struggle for equality.
African soldiers who served themselves during the second world war, poet appreciated their sacrifice for not only their country or they think beyond their colonialism and gave first priority to the country without thinking that who is ruling over them but for the people.
2. Culture:
And it is no longer the nobility of elephants, it is the
………..the barbaric weight of the prehistoric
………..monsters of the world.
Here I tried to read these lines through the lines of world war. The culture of Africa or even of America and the countries who suffered from the huge disaster of their culture because of the continuity of ruling over the country which perhaps makes the culture weak and there might be less existence of the culture itself.
As it is mentioned above that it suggests that elephants are symbolized their power but here because of the world war effect, there is no courage or honor but the because of the past effect. The major causes of World War II were numerous. They include the impact of the Treaty of Versailles following WWI, the worldwide economic depression, the failure of appeasement, the rise of militarism in Germany and Japan, and the failure of the League of Nations. (drishtiias.com) Perhaps that can be one reason and that's why the poet mentioned 'the barbaric weight' and for the dictators, he mentioned monsters of the world.
Biblical Connection:
Brothers, I do not know whether you bombed the
………..cathedrals, the pride of Europe,
If you are the lightning of God’s hand that burned
………..Sodom and Gomorrah.
There is a historical event that damaged the Church during WWII. It is about the massive St. Stephen's Cathedral is the Gothic needle around which Vienna spins. While heavily damaged in WWII, the church survived. Today it symbolizes the city's freedom and proud spirit.(classroom.ricksteves.com)
Another article on this event: (British Library.com)
The biblical reference is about two cities mentioned in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible. It is all about how God's anger is provoked by man's sin. (wikipedia.org) By connecting with this poem, it is about a dictator who ruled over the world, and their main focus point to gaining the region is to kill people by the name of religion and good deeds or bad deeds. As they destroyed the church which was the pride of entire Europe and they suddenly throw a huge light to destroy the city like it was done by God in this biblical story.
3. Freedom:
The aerial cities are tepid with nests.
Through the streets joy streamed, the boys play with
………..their dreams
Men dance before of their machines and
………..surprised themselves singing.
Schoolgirls’ eyelids are rose petals, and
………..fruits ripen in the virgins’ breasts
And the women’s hips—Oh, sweetness—
………..grow generously heavy.
Black brothers, warriors whose mouths are flowers that
………..sing
—Oh! the delight to live after Winter—I salute you
………..like messengers of peace.
The last part of the poem describes that now in the country or in the world, people are living after the world war, Men are working with machines with enlightenment and enthusiasm, and other description about women and girl, here schoolgirls is mentioned that suggests that they growing with new hope with generous nature.
No, you are the messengers of his mercy, the
………..Spring after Winter.
and
—Oh! the delight to live after Winter—I salute you
………..like messengers of peace.
This line perhaps connected with 'The Hunger Winter'. During the harsh winter of 1944-1945 a large part of the German-occupied Netherlands suffered from severe shortages of food and fuel. This would result in the death of some 20.000 civilians. The famine, known as the ‘Hunger Winter’, would last until the surrender of German forces in May 1945. The ensuing famine, known as the ‘Hunger Winter’, would last until the final surrender of German forces in the Netherlands in early May 1945 (liberationroute.com)
4. Glory of a Warrior:
Under your closed face, I did not recognize you.
I only touched the warmth of your brown hand,
………..I called myself “Afrika! ”
Poet did not recognize the soldier properly because his face was closed up by his uniform or perhaps his dead body. But he felt the warmth only by recognizing his brown-skinned hand. And later he called himself Afrika proudly because their sacrifices for the country or for the world are unparalleled. Here poet celebrated the Glory and the victory of the soldiers and their endless love for the country.
Senghor also considered a part of Négritude Movement. This movement is a framework of critique and literary theory, developed mainly by francophone intellectuals, writers, and politicians of the African diaspora during the 1930s, aimed at raising and cultivating "Black consciousness" across Africa and its diaspora. Négritude gathers writers such as sisters Paulette and Jeanne Nardal (known for having laid the theoretical basis of the movement) Martinican poet Aimé Césaire, Abdoulaye Sadji, Léopold Sédar Senghor (the first President of Senegal), and Léon Damas of French Guiana. (wikipedia.org)
So, this is how the poem ends with celebrating the victory of the Soldiers and independence. Here I tried to explain briefly. As I mentioned earlier that there is no such content is available on the internet so if you find any relatable notes or historical events around this poem, or even around the poet- Leopold Sedar Senghor then it is my request that please share through your blog or even you can write in comment section also it can be very helpful to the future students for their exam.
Here are some informative websites you can explore and write more in detail:
No comments:
Post a Comment