Welcome to a profound exploration of Mazisi Kunene’s powerful poem, “First Day After The War.” This article serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the poem’s layers of meaning, its central message, and the masterful literary craftsmanship that makes it an enduring work of art. Prepare to delve into a celebration of liberation, cultural identity, and the universal human yearning for peace.
First Day After The War
By Mazisi Kunene
We heard the songs of a wedding party.
We saw a soft light
Coiling round the young blades of grass
At first we hesitated, then we saw her footprints,
Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!
She woke us up with a smile saying,
‘What day is this that comes suddenly?’
We said, ‘It is the first day after the war’.
Then without waiting we ran to the open space
Ululating to the mountains and the pathways
Calling people from all the circles of the earth.
We shook up the old man demanding a festival
We asked for all the first fruits of the season.
We held hands with a stranger
We shouted across the waterfalls
People came from all lands
It was the first day of peace.
We saw our Ancestors travelling tall on the horizon.
Understanding “First Day After The War”: Summary and Central Ideas
“First Day After The War” by Mazisi Kunene is a vibrant and deeply moving poem that captures the exhilarating moment of liberation following a period of intense conflict. Kunene, a revered South African poet celebrated for his Zulu-language works and his commitment to African oral traditions, crafts a narrative that is both specific to the Zulu experience and universally resonant.
The poem opens with subtle, almost tentative signs of peace: “We heard the songs of a wedding party.
We saw a soft light
Coiling round the young blades of grass”. These images suggest a gentle return to normalcy and natural beauty. The initial hesitation of the collective “we” quickly gives way to recognition as “her footprints” appear, followed by “Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!” This powerful personification of Freedom signals the tangible arrival of a new era.
The central idea of “First Day After The War” is the overwhelming joy and collective celebration of newfound freedom and peace after a period of oppression or conflict. It is not merely the cessation of hostilities, but the active embrace of life, culture, and community that defines this “first day.” The poem vividly portrays a community bursting into spontaneous celebration, demanding a festival, sharing the bounty of the land, and welcoming everyone. The concluding image of “our Ancestors travelling tall on the horizon” underscores a profound reconnection with heritage, identity, and a hopeful future.
This poem is noteworthy for its powerful depiction of collective experience, its rich cultural references, and its optimistic vision of renewal. It stands as a testament to the human spirit’s resilience and its capacity for joy even after profound suffering.
In-Depth Analysis of “First Day After The War”: Exploring Themes and Narrative
Mazisi Kunene’s “First Day After The War” is a masterclass in conveying profound emotion and cultural significance through concise yet evocative language. The poem unfolds as a collective experience, inviting readers to share in the euphoria of liberation.
The Collective Voice and Shared Experience
The poem’s consistent use of the plural pronoun “we” is fundamental to its impact. This “we” represents a unified community, a people who have collectively endured the war and are now collectively experiencing the dawn of peace. This shared perspective amplifies the emotional weight of the narrative, making the celebration feel universal and deeply communal.
We heard the songs of a wedding party.
We saw a soft light
These opening lines immediately establish the collective viewpoint, drawing the reader into the shared sensory experience of the community.
The Emergence of Freedom and Peace
The poem meticulously builds towards the full realization of freedom. It begins with subtle hints, like the “songs of a wedding party” and “soft light,” which are signs of life returning. The pivotal moment arrives with the personification of Freedom:
At first we hesitated, then we saw her footprints,
Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!
She woke us up with a smile saying,
‘What day is this that comes suddenly?’
We said, ‘It is the first day after the war’.
This dialogue is central to the poem’s message. Freedom itself questions its sudden arrival, highlighting the unexpected and almost miraculous nature of peace. The collective response, “It is the first day after the war,” firmly establishes the context and the profound significance of the moment.
Celebration, Unity, and Cultural Reaffirmation
Following Freedom’s arrival, the poem explodes into an unrestrained celebration. This is not a quiet relief, but a vibrant, active embrace of life:
Then without waiting we ran to the open space
Ululating to the mountains and the pathways
Calling people from all the circles of the earth.
We shook up the old man demanding a festival
We asked for all the first fruits of the season.
We held hands with a stranger
We shouted across the waterfalls
People came from all lands
It was the first day of peace.
These lines paint a vivid picture of a community reclaiming its traditions and forging new bonds. “Ululating” is a powerful cultural expression of joy, connecting the celebration to specific African traditions. Demanding a “festival” and “first fruits” signifies a return to abundance and cultural rituals. The act of holding “hands with a stranger” and people coming “from all lands” emphasizes unity and universal brotherhood, transcending past divisions.
Ancestral Connection and Hope for the Future
The poem concludes with a deeply resonant image that ties the present celebration to the past and future:
We saw our Ancestors travelling tall on the horizon.
This line speaks volumes about cultural identity and continuity. The ancestors, often revered in African cultures, are not just remembered but are seen “travelling tall,” suggesting their approval, their presence, and the restoration of a spiritual and cultural lineage that may have been disrupted by war. It imbues the “first day of peace” with a sense of profound historical and spiritual significance, promising a future built on strong foundations.
Literary Devices in “First Day After The War”: Crafting Meaning and Emotion
Mazisi Kunene masterfully employs a range of literary devices to enhance the emotional impact and thematic depth of “First Day After The War.” Understanding these poetic devices is key to appreciating the poem’s artistry.
Personification
One of the most striking literary devices in the poem is the personification of “Freedom.” Abstract concepts are given human qualities, making them tangible and relatable.
Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!
She woke us up with a smile saying,
‘What day is this that comes suddenly?’
Freedom is depicted as a living entity with a face, eyes, and the ability to smile and speak. This makes the arrival of liberation a personal, almost intimate encounter, emphasizing its profound impact on the community.
Imagery
Imagery, the use of vivid descriptive language that appeals to the senses, is abundant, immersing the reader in the celebratory atmosphere.
- Visual Imagery: “soft light
Coiling round the young blades of grass” creates a gentle, hopeful visual. “Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!” provides a clear mental picture of the personified concept. “Ancestors travelling tall on the horizon” evokes a majestic and spiritual scene. - Auditory Imagery: “We heard the songs of a wedding party” immediately establishes a sound of joy and normalcy. “Ululating to the mountains and the pathways” and “We shouted across the waterfalls” convey the loud, unrestrained expression of happiness.
Symbolism
The poem is rich with symbolism, where objects or ideas represent deeper meanings.
- War: Represents conflict, oppression, and suffering.
- Peace: Symbolizes renewal, hope, and the restoration of harmony.
- Wedding party songs: Symbolize new beginnings, joy, and the return of life’s natural cycles.
- Young blades of grass: Represent new life, growth, and the delicate beauty of a fresh start.
- First fruits of the season: Symbolize abundance, prosperity, and the bounty of the land, as well as a return to traditional cultural practices.
- Ancestors: Symbolize heritage, cultural identity, spiritual connection, and the continuity of a people’s history.
Dialogue
The inclusion of direct speech brings immediacy and authenticity to the poem, making the interaction between Freedom and the community feel real.
She woke us up with a smile saying,
‘What day is this that comes suddenly?’
We said, ‘It is the first day after the war’.
This brief exchange is pivotal, clearly stating the poem’s central theme and the profound shift in the community’s reality.
Enjambment
Enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause, creates a sense of continuous flow and urgency, mimicking the outpouring of emotion and action.
Then without waiting we ran to the open space
Ululating to the mountains and the pathways
Calling people from all the circles of the earth.
We shook up the old man demanding a festival
We asked for all the first fruits of the season.
We held hands with a stranger
We shouted across the waterfalls
The absence of end punctuation in these lines creates a breathless momentum, reflecting the spontaneous and unstoppable nature of the celebration.
Sound Devices: Alliteration, Assonance, and Consonance
Kunene subtly uses sound devices to add musicality and emphasis to his verse.
- Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds. For example, “first fruits” emphasizes the bounty and new beginnings. “soft songs” could also be heard.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words. The long ‘o’ sound in “saw a soft light
Coiling round” creates a gentle, flowing auditory experience. - Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds within words or at the end of words. The ‘l’ sound in “travelling tall” creates a sense of grandeur and continuity.
Poetic Techniques and Style in “First Day After The War”
Beyond specific literary devices, Kunene’s overall poetic technique contributes significantly to the poem’s power.
Diction and Tone
The poem’s diction, or word choice, is generally accessible and direct, yet it is infused with evocative and culturally specific terms like “Ululating.” This blend creates a sense of authenticity and immediacy. The overall tone is one of overwhelming joy, profound hope, and deep reverence for cultural heritage and the natural world. It is celebratory, optimistic, and deeply spiritual.
Free Verse Structure
“First Day After The War” is written in free verse, meaning it does not adhere to a fixed metrical pattern or rhyme scheme. This choice allows Kunene to create a natural, conversational rhythm that mirrors the spontaneity and organic unfolding of the events described. The lines flow freely, reflecting the uninhibited expression of a liberated people.
Single Stanza Form
The poem is presented as a single, continuous stanza. This unbroken structure reinforces the idea of a unified experience and an uninterrupted outpouring of emotion. It suggests a seamless transition from the moment of recognition to the full-blown celebration, emphasizing the collective and continuous nature of the community’s joy and renewal.
Conclusion
“First Day After The War” by Mazisi Kunene is a profoundly moving and expertly crafted poem that transcends its specific cultural context to speak to universal human experiences. Through vivid imagery, powerful personification, and a compelling collective voice, Kunene paints an unforgettable picture of liberation, joy, and the reaffirmation of identity. The poem’s celebration of peace, unity, and ancestral connection offers a timeless message of hope and resilience, making it a truly inspiring and enduring work of literature.