Remembrance Day by Chinua Achebe: Poem and Analysis

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The Poem

Your proclaimed mourning

your flag at half-mast your solemn face yoursmart backward step and salute at the flowered foot of empty graves your glorious words-none, nothing will their spirit appease. Had they the choice they would gladly have worn for you the same stricken face gladly flown your drooped flag spoken

your tremulous eulogy-and been alive.... Admittedly you suffered too. You lived wretchedly on all manner of gross fare; you were tethered to the nervous precipice day and night; your groomed hair lost gloss, your smooth body roundedness. Truly you suffered much. But now you have the choice of a dozen ways to rehabilitate yourself. Pick any one of them and soon you will forget the fear

and hardship, the peril on the edge of the chasm.... The shops stock again a variety of hair dyes, the lace and the gold are coming back; so you will regain lost mirth and girth and forget. But when, how soon, will they their death? Long, long after you forget they turned newcomers again before the hazards and rigors of reincarnation, rude clods once more who once had borne the finest scarifications of the potter's delicate hand now squashed back into primeval mud, they will remember. Therefore fear them! Fear their malice your fallen kindred wronged in death. Fear their blood feud; tremble for the day of their visit! Flee! Flee! Flee your guilt palaces and cities! Flee lest they come to ransack your place and find you still at home at the crossroad hour. Pray that they return empty-handed that day to nurse their red-hot hatred for another long year....

Your glorious words are not for them nor your proliferation in a dozen cities of the bronze heroes of Idumota.... Flee! Seek asylum in distant places till a new generation of heroes rise in phalanges behind their purified child-priest to inaugurate a season of atonement and rescue from fingers calloused by heavy deeds the tender rites of reconciliation

General Introduction

"Remembrance Day" by Chinua Achebe is a poignant poem that explores the theme of remembrance and the aftermath of war. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Achebe reflects on the complexities of mourning, guilt, and the desire for rehabilitation in the aftermath of conflict.

Title

The title "Remembrance Day" suggests a day dedicated to remembering and honoring the sacrifices of those who have died in war. It sets the tone for a poem that delves into the complexities of remembrance and mourning.

Themes

1. Guilt and Responsibility: The poem explores the theme of guilt and responsibility in the aftermath of war. Achebe suggests that those who survive may feel guilty for living while others have died, and they may seek ways to rehabilitate themselves and forget the fear and hardship they endured.

    "But now you have the choice of a dozen ways to rehabilitate yourself. Pick any one of them and soon you will forget the fear and hardship, the peril on the edge of the chasm..."

2. Memory and Remembrance: Achebe emphasizes the importance of remembering the sacrifices of the fallen. He warns against forgetting their deaths and urges the living to remember the dead, lest they seek revenge for perceived wrongs in the afterlife.

    "But when, how soon, will they their death? Long, long after you forget they turned newcomers again before the hazards and rigors of reincarnation..."

3. Rehabilitation and Healing: The poem also touches on the theme of rehabilitation and healing after trauma. Achebe suggests that there are ways to rehabilitate oneself after the horrors of war, but true healing requires acknowledging and remembering the past.

    "...so you will regain lost mirth and girth and forget."

4. Fear and Consequences: Achebe evokes a sense of fear and impending consequences for those who fail to remember the sacrifices of the dead. He warns of the potential for revenge and blood feuds if the living do not honor the memory of the fallen.

    "Therefore fear them! Fear their malice your fallen kindred wronged in death."

5. Hope and Redemption: Despite the grim warnings, the poem ends on a note of hope, suggesting that a new generation of heroes will rise to inaugurate a season of atonement and reconciliation, offering the possibility of redemption for past wrongs.

    "Seek asylum in distant places till a new generation of heroes rise in phalanges behind their purified child-priest to inaugurate a season of atonement and rescue..."

Literary Devices

1. Imagery: Achebe uses vivid imagery to depict the aftermath of war, such as the image of the flag at half-mast, the flowered foot of empty graves, and the shops stocking hair dyes and lace again.

2. Metaphor: The poem employs metaphor to convey complex ideas, such as comparing the survivors' suffering to being tethered to a nervous precipice and their potential for rehabilitation to regaining lost mirth and girth.

3. Alliteration: Achebe uses alliteration, such as in the phrase "your glorious words-none, nothing," to create rhythm and emphasize key ideas.

4. Repetition: The repetition of the word "flee" in the poem creates a sense of urgency and reinforces the idea of escaping the consequences of forgetting the dead.

5. Irony: There is irony in the contrast between the survivors' ability to rehabilitate themselves and the enduring memory and potential for revenge of the dead.

6. Symbolism: The poem uses symbols, such as the flag at half-mast and the empty graves, to represent loss, mourning, and the need for remembrance.

Language and Mood

The language of the poem is powerful and evocative, conveying a sense of mourning, guilt, fear, and ultimately, hope. The mood shifts from solemn reflection to urgent warning, ending with a note of cautious optimism.

Context

Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic, was deeply influenced by the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). "Remembrance Day" was likely written in response to the aftermath of this war, reflecting Achebe's concerns about memory, guilt, and reconciliation in post-war Nigeria.

Conclusion

"Remembrance Day" is a thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of remembrance, guilt, and rehabilitation in the aftermath of war. Through vivid imagery, powerful language, and a range of literary devices, Achebe challenges the living to remember the sacrifices of the dead and warns of the consequences of forgetting. Yet, the poem ends on a note of hope, suggesting that redemption and reconciliation are possible through the actions of future generations.