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Questions and Prayers
when the locusts come, will you greet them
with tears and blood, in the aftermath of fractured years?
when the termites come with fangs of iron
can you be the grit stubbornness of rocks?
when your throat is filled with fire
why do you watch in silence?
where will you give birth to the red hunger
of truth, who will welcome the sailing tongue?
where will you hide amid these impatient clouds
will you go where the smoke is perfumed light
when your throat is filled with fire?
will you bury the anger in the coffin of laughter?
you are a poet, the incurable child,
can you dream a song for tomorrow?
or are you cursed to cry without ceasing
about wilted seasons fattened in sorrow?
each time you leave you weep
as each time a lover leaves you on a rough road,
each time the wind brings the news of your own bleeding
they ask what will you do, why are you silent as the dead bee?
even if you spit poison as the saliva of oceans
what will happen, what will happen?
still do not sleep, dream but scream at slumber,
will you forget those forgotten in the teeth of dogs
those to whom agony is both foretaste and dessert
whose faces are painted in gloom, who bleed still and dance in hope?
Salute them all, who never said farewell to our tale.
Salute them, who always return, flowers in the diseased heart.
To all the seeds, all the fruits, and all the plants
and all the trees without names, offer a prayer of rains
To the locusts and termites, spoilers of rivers
and plunderers of farms, let the tongue become the fire,
let the fire borrow the shine of a thousand-edged sword,
let the sword burn and soothe the land.
"Questions and Prayers" by Remi Raji is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that delves into themes of resilience, silence, and the struggle for truth and justice in the face of adversity. The poem poses a series of rhetorical questions that challenge the reader to confront difficult circumstances and their responses to them.
The imagery of locusts, termites, and fire evokes a sense of impending danger and destruction, while the references to silence and watching suggest complicity or passivity in the face of injustice. The poet calls on the reader, particularly addressing poets as "the incurable child," to dream of a better future and to resist despair and apathy.
The poem celebrates the resilience of those who endure suffering and continue to hope, urging the reader to salute those who have not given up despite facing hardship. The concluding lines offer prayers for renewal and transformation, invoking the elements of rain, fire, and sword as symbols of cleansing and redemption.
Overall, "Questions and Prayers" invites reflection on the human condition and the need to confront injustice with courage and solidarity.
"Questions and Prayers" by Remi Raji explores several themes and employs various literary styles to convey its message effectively.
Themes:
1. Resilience: The poem celebrates the resilience of individuals who endure suffering and hardship, yet continue to hope and persevere in the face of adversity.
2. Silence vs. Action: There is a recurring motif of silence and passivity juxtaposed with the call for action and speaking out against injustice. The poem challenges the reader to consider the consequences of silence in the face of oppression.
3. Truth and Justice: The poem grapples with the search for truth and justice in a world plagued by suffering and exploitation. It questions where one can find the courage to confront injustice and uphold the principles of truth and fairness.
4. Hope and Despair: There is a contrast between hope and despair throughout the poem. While it acknowledges the pain and sorrow of existence, it also encourages the reader to dream of a better future and to resist despair.
Literary Styles:
1. Imagery: The poem is rich in vivid imagery, employing metaphors such as locusts, termites, fire, and swords to evoke a sense of danger, destruction, and transformation.
2. Rhetorical Questions: The poem is structured around a series of rhetorical questions that provoke thought and introspection in the reader. These questions challenge the reader to consider their own beliefs and actions in the face of injustice.
3. Symbolism: Various symbols are used throughout the poem to convey deeper meanings. For example, fire symbolizes both destruction and purification, while the sword represents strength and resilience in the face of oppression.
4. Repetition: The repetition of phrases such as "when your throat is filled with fire" and "Salute them all" adds emphasis to key ideas and themes, reinforcing their significance in the poem.
Overall, "Questions and Prayers" combines powerful imagery, thought-provoking questions, and symbolic language to explore themes of resilience, silence, truth, and hope in the face of adversity.
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