Bread

Bread

By Kamau Brathwaite

Slowly the white dream wrestles to life
hands shaping the salt and the foreign cornfields
the cold flesh kneaded by fingers
is ready for the charcoal for the black wife

of heat the years of green sleeping in the volcano.
the dream becomes tougher, settling into its shape
like a bullfrog. suns rise and electrons
touch it. walls melt into brown, moving to crisp and crackle

breathing edge of the knife of the oven.
noise of the shop. noise of the farmer. market.
on this slab of lord. on this table with its oil‑skin cloth
on this altar of the bone. this sacrifice

of Isaac. warm dead. warm merchandise. more than worn merchandise
life
itself. the dream of the soil itself
flesh of the god you break. peace to your lips. strife

of the multitudes who howl all day for its saviour
who need its crumbs as fish. flickering through their green element
need a wide glassy wisdom
to keep their groans alive

and this loaf here. life
now halted. more and more water additive. the dream less clear. the soil more distant
its prayer of table. bless of lips. more hard to reach with pennies. the knife
that should have cut it. the hands that should have broken open its victory
of crusts at your throat. Balaam watching with red leaking eyes.
the rats
finding only this young empty husk
sharpening their ratchets. your wife
going out on the streets. searching searching

her feet tapping. the lights of the motor‑cars watching watching round‑ing the shape of her girdle. her back naked

rolled into night into night without morning
rolled into dead into dead without vision
rolled into life into life without dream

Summary of Bread

• Bread’s Influence: “Bread” is a powerful poem by Kamau Brathwaite, a celebrated Caribbean poet, academic, and activist. The poem explores themes of poverty, survival, and the cyclical nature of hardship, using a distinctive Caribbean voice and fragmented language to mirror the realities it portrays.
• Bread as a Symbol of Poverty: The poem follows the journey of bread—from its humble beginnings as harvested grain to its ultimate consumption or decay. Brathwaite links the creation of this staple food with the labor of those who produce it, highlighting the economic hardships faced by many. The “white dream” initially represents hope but gradually becomes tainted by the grim realities of a system where even basic sustenance is a struggle.
• Major Themes in Bread: The central themes of “Bread” are poverty, consumerism, and the relentless cycle of life. Brathwaite uses the image of bread to represent not only physical nourishment but also the dreams and aspirations of a people striving for a better life. The poem exposes the dehumanizing effects of poverty and the ways in which societal structures can trap individuals in a perpetual state of hardship. The repetition of phrases and fragmented language emphasizes the cyclical nature of poverty and the feeling of being trapped.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Bread

Kamau Brathwaite skillfully employs a range of literary devices to deepen the poem’s meaning and create a powerful emotional impact.

1. Allusion: Brathwaite references the biblical story of Isaac’s sacrifice, drawing parallels between the ancient religious practice and the sacrifices made by individuals facing economic hardship. The bread itself becomes a symbolic offering, a “sacrifice” demanded by the relentless cycle of poverty.
2. Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds creates a musical quality. For example, in the line “hands shaping the salt and the foreign cornfields,” the repeated “a” sound in “hands,” “shaping,” and “salt” produces a rhythmic connection.
3. Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds enhances the poem’s musicality. The phrase “searching searching” powerfully conveys the relentless and desperate nature of the woman’s quest.
4. Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds within words adds texture. The line “hands shaping the salt and the foreign cornfields” uses consonance effectively with the “s” and “n” sounds to create movement and flow.
5. Enjambment: Brathwaite frequently uses enjambment, breaking a line mid‑thought to continue onto the next. This technique creates momentum and mirrors the relentless nature of the cycle depicted. Consider this excerpt:
   

   noise of the shop. noise of the farmer. market.
   on this slab of lord. on this table with its oil‑skin cloth
   on this altar of the bone. this sacrifice

   The lines flow seamlessly, creating urgency that mirrors the demands of survival.

6. Imagery: Brathwaite uses vivid imagery to immerse the reader. Phrases like “cold flesh kneaded by fingers” and “noise of the shop” appeal to touch and hearing, engaging the senses.
7. Metaphor: The poem’s central metaphor is bread itself, representing sustenance, life, and the aspirations of a people. The “white dream” is an extended metaphor for hope that gradually becomes tarnished by reality.
8. Personification: Brathwaite personifies abstract concepts such as dreams and heat, giving them human qualities that deepen the emotional weight.
9. Symbolism: Various elements function symbolically. The knife represents hardship and the sharp realities of life, while the oven symbolizes the forces that shape and transform.
10. Simile: The line “settling into its shape / like a bullfrog” uses simile to create a vivid image, suggesting resilience in adversity.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Bread

Beyond literary devices, Brathwaite employs several poetic techniques to enhance the poem’s meaning and impact.

1. Diction and Tone: Brathwaite’s diction is striking. He uses fragmented language, lowercase letters, and unconventional punctuation to mimic the broken speech patterns of marginalized voices, creating authenticity. The tone is bleak and urgent, reflecting desperation.
2. Free Verse: “Bread” is a free‑verse poem, allowing focus on rhythm and flow without a strict rhyme scheme or meter, producing a natural conversational tone.
3. Stanza: The poem is divided into stanzas of varying lengths, shifting focus and generating momentum.
4. Repetition: Repetition emphasizes key themes and urgency. Phrases such as “noise of…” and “life” reinforce the cyclical nature of poverty and the relentless struggle for survival.

Quotes to be Used

These lines from “Bread” are particularly powerful for discussing themes of hardship, loss of hope, and the dehumanizing effects of poverty.

rolled into night into night without morning
rolled into dead into dead without vision
rolled into life into life without dream.

This haunting refrain encapsulates the bleakness of the poem and the cyclical nature of despair experienced by those trapped in poverty.