A Far Cry from Africa
By Derek Walcott
A wind is ruffling the tawny pelt
Of Africa. Kikuyu, quick as flies,
Batten upon the bloodstreams of the veldt.
Corpses are scattered through a paradise.
Only the worm, colonel of carrion, cries
“Waste no compassion on these separate dead!”
Statistics justify and scholars seize
The salients of colonial policy.
What is that to the white child hacked in bed?
To savages, expendable as Jews?Threshed out by beaters, the long rushes break
In a white dust of ibises whose cries
Have wheeled since civilization’s dawn
From the parched river or beast‑teeming plain.
The violence of beast on beast is read
As natural law, but upright man
Seeks his divinity by inflicting pain.
Delirious as these worried beasts, his wars
Dance to the tightened carcass of a drum,
While he calls courage still that native dread
Of the white peace contracted by the dead.Again brutish necessity wipes its hands
Upon the napkin of a dirty cause, again
A waste of our compassion, as with Spain,
The gorilla wrestles with the superman.
I who am poisoned with the blood of both,
Where shall I turn, divided to the vein?
I who have cursed
The drunken officer of British rule, how choose
Between this Africa and the English tongue I love?
Betray them both, or give back what they give?
How can I face such slaughter and be cool?
How can I turn from Africa and live?
Summary of the Poem A Far Cry from Africa
- Popularity of “A Far Cry from Africa”: Written by Derek Walcott, a Saint Lucian poet and Nobel laureate, this poem first appeared in 1962. Though early in his career, it is a pivotal work that explores the brutality of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya and laments the senseless deaths within the context of anti‑colonial conflict. The poem’s lasting power lies in its presentation of pacifism, couched within a mournful response to innocent loss.
- “A Far Cry from Africa” as a Representative of the Dilemma of Colonialism and Patriotism: The poem directly addresses the conflict in Kenya, where the Kikuyu people fought against British settlers. Walcott depicts a landscape marred by violence, where corpses litter a once idyllic paradise. He critiques the colonial justification of violence, suggesting it is merely statistics and scholarship used to legitimize oppression. He wrestles with the moral implications of the conflict, asking what value is placed on the lives of the white and Jewish children also caught in the crossfire. The natural world is disturbed by violence, mirroring the unrest. He draws a parallel to other conflicts, such as the Spanish wars, highlighting the cyclical nature of bloodshed. Walcott, personally torn between his ancestral connection to Africa and his fluency in the English language, expresses a profound dilemma. He questions how to choose sides and ultimately how to live with the knowledge of such suffering.
- Major Themes in “A Far Cry from Africa”: Senseless killing, the complexities of patriotism, the legacy of anti‑colonialism, and the erosion of human dignity are central themes. The poem mourns the unnecessary deaths of innocents, regardless of their affiliation. It confronts the painful truth that violence is often justified in the name of freedom or rebellion. Walcott’s personal struggle embodies the challenges of divided loyalties and the search for a moral compass in a world fractured by conflict. Ultimately, it examines the destructive consequences of colonialism and its lasting impact on both the colonized and the colonizer.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in A Far Cry from Africa
Derek Walcott masterfully employs a range of literary devices to amplify the poem’s thematic resonance. His skillful application of these techniques creates a rich, multi‑layered reading experience.
- Anaphora: This figure of speech repeats a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. It is notably used with “How can I” in the final stanza, emphasizing the speaker’s profound questioning and internal conflict.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within close proximity creates a musicality that enhances the poem’s emotional impact. For example, the repetition of the “a” sound in “Corpses are scattered through a paradise” and the “o” sound in “Only the worm, colonel of carrion, cries.”
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds draws attention to specific phrases. The repetition of the “c” sound in “carrion, cries” is a prime example.
- Consonance: Similar to alliteration, consonance focuses on the repetition of consonant sounds not necessarily at the beginning of words. The repetition of the “w” sound in “A wind is ruffling the tawny pelt” and the combined “s” and “b” sounds in “The violence of beast on beast is read” demonstrate this technique.
- Imagery: Walcott uses vivid imagery to evoke the sights, sounds, and smells of the African landscape and the brutal realities of conflict. Lines such as “Corpses are scattered through a paradise,” “What is that to the white child hacked in bed?” and “Threshed out by beaters, the long rushes break” create a powerful and unsettling visual impact.
- Irony: The poem employs irony to highlight the contradictions and moral ambiguities of war. The line “upright man / Seeks his divinity by inflicting pain” presents a stark contrast, suggesting that even noble intentions can justify horrific acts.
- Metaphor: Walcott uses metaphor to create symbolic meaning and enhance the poem’s emotional depth. The description of the worm as a “colonel of carrion” is a striking example, subtly comparing the scavenging worm to a military leader overseeing a battlefield.
- Personification: The poem personifies abstract concepts and inanimate objects, giving them human qualities. The line “brutish necessity wipes its hands / Upon the napkin of a dirty cause” personifies necessity, suggesting a callous disregard for the consequences of violence.
- Rhetorical Questions: The poem concludes with a series of rhetorical questions—questions not meant to be answered but to provoke thought and underscore the speaker’s despair. “How can I face such slaughter and be cool?” and “How can I turn from Africa and live?” emphasize the speaker’s profound moral dilemma.
- Symbolism: Symbolism is used throughout the poem to represent abstract ideas and emotions. Blood, death, corpses, and being hacked symbolize the violence and bloodshed that continue after civil war or rebellion.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in A Far Cry from Africa
Beyond literary devices, Walcott expertly employs specific poetic techniques to shape the poem’s rhythm, sound, and overall effect.
- Diction: The poem showcases sophisticated and carefully chosen language. Walcott’s diction is largely formal and poetic, contributing to the poem’s serious and contemplative tone.
- End Rhyme: Walcott uses end rhyme to create musicality that enhances the poem’s emotional impact. Rhyme schemes such as pelt/veldt or flies/paradise and cries/seize add to the poem’s flow.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem exhibits a varied rhyme scheme. While the exact patterns differ from stanza to stanza, the variation adds complexity and prevents predictability.
- Stanza: The poem is divided into three stanzas, each contributing to the unfolding narrative and thematic development. The first stanza contains ten lines, the second eleven, and the last twelve, mirroring the growing intensity of the speaker’s emotional turmoil.
- Tone: The poem is characterized by a complex and shifting tone. It blends elements of didacticism, irony, patriotism, lamentation, and tragedy, creating a multifaceted and emotionally resonant experience.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are particularly effective when discussing themes of colonialism and the dilemmas it creates:
I who have cursed
The drunken officer of British rule, how choose
Between this Africa and the English tongue I love?
Betray them both, or give back what they give?
How can I face such slaughter and be cool?
How can I turn from Africa and live?