The Poem
Part 1
Sometimes a man gets tired of going to sea as now
when the voices I hear speak nothing but shame, and silence.
When the calabash goes to the river and never returns
The carver is drenched in tears, the drinker is famished.
Sometimes all we have is the inheritance of loss
the infidel body wrapped in the thickness of sins
There is wickedness beneath the tranquil sea.
And the heaviness above craves the lightness of love.
So I return to the red sea that flows in the vein.
Part 2
certainty is far behind in the coast, and it is up behind the hills
each time you think you arrive there, it is uncertainty that lies waiting
To embrace fire, you must breathe the wind
To claim the sea's presence, you must share the river's route;
To die you must be afraid to live...
And if you cannot kill the smoke, why do you start the fire?
To become the sorcery of days
You must possess the gaze that blinds beyond the light.
Part 3
you were not in these places, but there's a scent of each in you
i should know
i wished you were beside me in lagos, mealha, cachopo,
in portugal,
the rustic air reminds me of the valley of a thousand stories,
as in durban, south africa, which awakens the midsummer night's dream
of the bright woodlands of Stockholm, Sweden,
where I could read my palms and the fine letters
of jared diamond's guns, germs and steel…
the little streets knew our steps, lost in a circle of eden, innocent to the lights
as it was in the delicate neck of the dance in addis, ethiopia
as it was in salzburg, austria, where friendship was won suddenly by ideas and
instinct
as it was in Cambridge, uk where we organized parties for books and stars
and i wished you were close by in the crazed joys of riga,
and ventspils, latvia...
and even absent in the many other places, you always remain
as the sturdy baobab in my heart's savannah...
in the mouth of night, every firefly has your attitude
gather my blood, rivers of song…
Part 4
i love you as
the sun kisses the day,
i love you as
the moon wraps the tender night,
i love you as
the rivers run into the rimless sea,
i love you as
the wind caresses my naked skin
in the promise of rain,
i love you as
love is; and because they say love doesn't last,
i don't want to love you anymore,
i just want to be,
with you. I want to walk your coast
in silence, in laughter, and in tears,
one with you as the colour of night.
I want to marry you again in the age of enlightenment
You will be my muse
You will kill me and resurrect me
You will make me dance to the song in your eyes
You will make me all over and I will be made
You are the lovely stretch marks over my bones
You're the sweetness of day, the lovely mystery of night,
and the everlasting breath...
i want to do to you what needles of rain do
to the parched earth
i want to do to you what the morning sun does
to butter nuggets
what the honey bee does to the pollen in the shrub
i want to hide in you, and hide you in me,
that the world will end and come alive again, and again
i want to love every alphabet that spells your name.
Gather my blood, rivers of song.
General Introduction
"Gather my blood, rivers of song" by Remi Raji is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and longing. The poem is divided into four parts, each delving deeper into the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
In the first part, the speaker expresses weariness with the world's injustices and the longing for connection amidst turmoil. The imagery of returning to the "red sea that flows in the vein" suggests a search for solace and identity within oneself.
The second part delves into the theme of uncertainty and the paradoxes of existence. The speaker reflects on the necessity of embracing challenges and the interplay between life and death, questioning the purpose of starting something without being able to finish it.
The third part is a nostalgic ode to shared experiences and missed opportunities for connection. The speaker yearns for the presence of a loved one in various places around the world, symbolizing the universal longing for companionship and understanding.
Finally, the fourth part is a declaration of love and commitment, expressed through vivid imagery and metaphors. The speaker desires to be completely intertwined with their beloved, to the point of merging identities and transcending the limitations of time and space.
Overall, "Gather my blood, rivers of song" is a deeply emotional and evocative poem that explores the depths of human relationships and the eternal quest for love and connection.
Themes:
1. Love and Longing: The poem explores the profound emotions of love and longing, depicting the speaker's intense desire for connection and companionship.
2. Identity and Self-Discovery: There's a theme of self-exploration and identity as the speaker reflects on their experiences and searches for meaning within themselves.
3. Uncertainty and Paradox: The poem grapples with the uncertainty of life and the paradoxical nature of existence, highlighting the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
4. Nostalgia and Memory: Nostalgia plays a significant role as the speaker reminisces about past experiences and yearns for the presence of a loved one in various places.
5. Transcendence and Unity: The poem explores the idea of transcending physical boundaries and merging with the beloved, symbolizing a desire for unity and eternal connection.
Literary Devices:
1. Imagery: The poem is rich in vivid imagery, creating sensory experiences that evoke emotions and enhance the reader's understanding of the speaker's inner world.
2. Metaphor: Metaphors are used throughout the poem to convey complex emotions and ideas, such as comparing love to the sun kissing the day or the moon wrapping the night.
3. Personification: Personification is employed to give human qualities to abstract concepts, such as uncertainty lying in wait or the wind caressing the skin.
4. Symbolism: Various symbols, such as the red sea flowing in the vein or the rivers of song, are employed to represent deeper meanings related to identity, emotion, and connection.
5. Repetition: The repetition of phrases like "I love you as" and "gather my blood, rivers of song" creates a rhythmic pattern and emphasizes the intensity of the speaker's emotions.
6. Allusion: The poem references geographical locations and cultural concepts, adding layers of meaning and providing context for the speaker's experiences and memories.
Conclusion
"Gather my blood, rivers of song" by Remi Raji is a profound exploration of love, longing, and the complexities of human existence. Through vivid imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, the poem delves into themes of identity, uncertainty, nostalgia, and transcendence. The speaker's heartfelt expressions of love and desire for unity with their beloved resonate deeply, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of connection and longing. Ultimately, the poem serves as a timeless ode to the enduring power of love and the universal quest for understanding and companionship in the face of life's uncertainties.