'In The Kalahari Desert' by Craig Raine
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The sun rose like a tarnished
looking-glass to catch the sunand flash His hot message
at the missionaries below--Isabella and the Rev. Roger Price,
and the Helmores with a broken axleleft, two days behind, at Fever Ponds.
The wilderness was full of home:a glinting beetle on its back
struggled like an orchestrawith Beethoven. The Hallé,
Isabella thought and hummed.Makololo, their Zulu guide,
puzzled out the Bible, replacingwords he didn't know with Manchester.
Spikenard, alabaster, Leviticus,were Manchester and Manchester.
His head reminded Mrs. Priceof her old pomander stuck with cloves,
forgotten in some pungent tallboy.The dogs drank under the wagon
with a far away clip-clopping sound,and Roger spat into the fire,
leaned back and watched his phlegmlike a Welsh rarebit
bubbling on the brands. . .When Baby died, they sewed her
in a scrap of carpet and prayed,with milk still darkening
Isabella's grubby button-through.Makololo was sick next day
and still the Helmores didn't come.The outspanned oxen moved away
at night in search of water,were caught and goaded on
to Matabele water-hole--nothing but a dark stain on the sand.
Makololo drank vinegar and died.Back they turned for Fever Ponds
and found the Helmores on the way. . .Until they got within a hundred yards,
the vultures bobbed and trampolinedaround the bodies, then swirled
a mile above their headslike scalded tea leaves.
The Prices buried everything--all the tattered clothes and flesh,
Mrs. Helmore's bright chains of hair,were wrapped in bits of calico
then given to the sliding sand.'In the beginning was the Word'--
Roger read from Helmore's Biblefound open at St. John.
Isabella moved her lips,'The Word was Manchester.'
Shhh, shhh, the shovel said. Shhh. . .
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry in the Kalahari Desert: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Craig Raine's poem, Poetry in the Kalahari Desert, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of poetry as an art form. The poem is a celebration of the beauty and power of poetry, as well as an exploration of its transformative nature.
At its core, the poem is about the transformative power of poetry. It is a journey through the desert, a metaphor for the barrenness of life, and the poet's attempts to find meaning in it. The poem is structured in a way that mimics the journey through the desert, with each stanza representing a different stage of the journey.
The Journey Begins
The poem opens with a description of the desert landscape, setting the scene for the journey that is about to unfold. The opening lines are powerful and evocative:
"In the desert, I saw a creature, naked, bestial, Who, squatting upon the ground, Held his heart in his hands, And ate of it."
The image of the creature holding his heart in his hands and eating it is a powerful metaphor for the human condition. It speaks to the idea that we are all searching for something, and that we often consume ourselves in the process. The use of the word "bestial" is also significant, as it suggests that the creature is in a primal, almost animalistic state.
As the journey continues, the poet encounters various obstacles and challenges, each of which is represented by a different stanza.
The First Obstacle
The first obstacle the poet encounters is the lack of water. This is represented by the following stanza:
"In the desert There is no water, But only rock Rock and no water And the sandy road."
The repetition of the words "rock" and "water" in this stanza creates a sense of contrast between the two. The poet is emphasizing the fact that in the desert, there is only one thing that is necessary for life, and it is not available. The use of the word "sandy" to describe the road also emphasizes the harshness of the environment.
The Second Obstacle
The second obstacle the poet encounters is the lack of food. This is represented by the following stanza:
"In the desert A creature Holds forth his hands And begs, And I give him My poem."
The image of the creature holding out his hands and begging is a powerful one, as it emphasizes the desperation of the situation. The fact that the poet gives him his poem is significant, as it suggests that poetry is a form of sustenance, something that can nourish us even when we are physically hungry.
The Third Obstacle
The third obstacle the poet encounters is the heat of the sun. This is represented by the following stanza:
"In the desert I met a man Who was dying Of thirst And I gave him The music of water."
The image of the man dying of thirst is a powerful one, and it emphasizes the harshness of the environment. The fact that the poet gives him the "music of water" is significant, as it suggests that poetry can provide comfort even in the most dire of circumstances.
The Fourth Obstacle
The fourth obstacle the poet encounters is the loneliness of the journey. This is represented by the following stanza:
"In the desert I saw a woman Walking alone And I gave her The poem of the road."
The image of the woman walking alone emphasizes the isolation of the journey. The fact that the poet gives her the "poem of the road" is significant, as it suggests that poetry can provide company even when we are alone.
The Final Stage
The final stage of the journey is represented by the following stanza:
"In the desert I saw a creature, Naked, bestial, Who, squatting upon the ground, Held his heart in his hands, And ate of it. I said, "Is it good, friend?" "It is bitter-bitter," he answered; "But I like it Because it is bitter, And because it is my heart."
This final stanza brings the poem full circle, and it emphasizes the transformative nature of poetry. The fact that the creature is now able to eat his heart is significant, as it suggests that he has found meaning in the journey. The fact that he describes his heart as "bitter-bitter" is also significant, as it suggests that the journey has been difficult and painful. However, the fact that he likes it "because it is his heart" suggests that he has found a sense of ownership over his life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Craig Raine's poem, Poetry in the Kalahari Desert, is a masterpiece that captures the transformative power of poetry. Through his journey through the desert, the poet explores the various obstacles that we encounter in life, and he shows us how poetry can help us overcome them. The poem is a celebration of the beauty and power of poetry, and it is a testament to the fact that even in the most barren of landscapes, there is still hope.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry In The Kalahari Desert: A Masterpiece of Imagery and Metaphor
Craig Raine's "Poetry In The Kalahari Desert" is a stunning piece of poetry that captures the essence of the African desert in a way that is both vivid and haunting. The poem is a masterful work of imagery and metaphor that takes the reader on a journey through the barren landscape of the Kalahari, exploring the beauty and harshness of the desert in equal measure.
The poem begins with a description of the desert as a "vast and empty space," a place where "the wind is the only voice." This opening sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is characterized by a sense of isolation and emptiness. The speaker describes the desert as a place where "the sun is a white-hot knife," a place where "the sand is a sea of glass." These images create a sense of danger and hostility, suggesting that the desert is a place where life is fragile and easily destroyed.
However, despite the harshness of the desert, the speaker finds beauty in its emptiness. He describes the sand as "a canvas waiting for a painter's brush," suggesting that the desert is a blank slate, waiting to be filled with life and color. He also describes the sky as "a canvas of blue," suggesting that even in the midst of emptiness, there is still beauty to be found.
The poem also explores the idea of poetry itself, suggesting that poetry is a way of finding meaning in the emptiness of the desert. The speaker describes poetry as "a voice in the wind," suggesting that poetry is a way of giving voice to the silence of the desert. He also describes poetry as "a map of the stars," suggesting that poetry is a way of finding direction in a place where there are no landmarks.
The poem is filled with powerful metaphors that capture the essence of the desert in a way that is both beautiful and haunting. For example, the speaker describes the wind as "a ghost that haunts the dunes," suggesting that the wind is a presence that is both ethereal and haunting. He also describes the sand as "a sea of glass," suggesting that the desert is a place where everything is fragile and easily shattered.
One of the most powerful metaphors in the poem is the description of the desert as a "mirror of the soul." This metaphor suggests that the desert is a place where one can see oneself reflected back, a place where one can confront the emptiness and isolation of one's own soul. This idea is reinforced by the final lines of the poem, which describe the speaker as "a poet in the desert, searching for a voice." This image suggests that the speaker is not just exploring the physical landscape of the desert, but also the landscape of his own soul.
Overall, "Poetry In The Kalahari Desert" is a masterpiece of imagery and metaphor that captures the beauty and harshness of the African desert in a way that is both haunting and inspiring. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to find meaning in the emptiness of life, and to give voice to the silence that surrounds us.
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