Excavation by Chris Abani: The Poem and Analysis

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General Introduction

"Excavation" by Chris Abani is a poignant and reflective poem that delves into the depths of memory, love, and the cyclical nature of life. Through vivid imagery and a thoughtful tone, the poet explores the essence of human experience and the inevitability of change and decay.

Excavation

for David Doris

By Chris Abani 

The fecund smell of loam, rotting wood, mushroom, and beets.

Other things also – earthworms at their workings.

They eat and excrete every grain of earth.

An eternity of sustenance and renewal, a world reformed.

Brother, our love is an endless summer turned over and over,

and yet so much is still this –

that we are deformed early, the pattern set:

curry still smells good, rhubarb baked in a pie,

tea heavy with milk and sugar reminds us that failure is

sated only for that moment, mitigated for a while between

the aroma of preparation and the last scrape of the fork.

 Title

The title "Excavation" suggests a process of digging deep, perhaps into the layers of the past or the subconscious, to unearth hidden truths or memories. It sets the stage for a poem that explores themes of introspection and discovery.

 Themes

1. Cycle of Life and Nature: The poem reflects on the cyclical nature of life, comparing it to the process of earthworms eating and excreting every grain of earth, symbolizing sustenance and renewal.

   "An eternity of sustenance and renewal, a world reformed."

2. Memory and Nostalgia: Through references to familiar scents like curry, rhubarb, and tea, the poem evokes a sense of nostalgia and memory, highlighting how certain smells can transport us back in time.

    "curry still smells good, rhubarb baked in a pie, tea heavy with milk and sugar reminds us..."

3. Love and Relationships: The poem explores the enduring nature of love, likening it to an "endless summer turned over and over." It suggests that despite deformities and failures, love persists.

   "Brother, our love is an endless summer turned over and over..."

4. Impermanence: Despite the comforting scents and memories, the poem also hints at the transient nature of life and happiness, suggesting that failure is only temporarily mitigated by pleasant aromas.

    "...reminds us that failure is sated only for that moment, mitigated for a while..."

5. Acceptance of Imperfection: The poem acknowledges the imperfections and deformities inherent in life, suggesting that these imperfections are part of the pattern that is set early on.

    "...and yet so much is still this – that we are deformed early, the pattern set..."

 Literary Devices

1. Imagery: The poem is rich in sensory imagery, evoking the smells of "loam, rotting wood, mushroom, and beets," as well as the tastes of "curry, rhubarb baked in a pie, tea heavy with milk and sugar." These images create a vivid picture of the setting and enhance the poem's themes.

    "The fecund smell of loam, rotting wood, mushroom, and beets."

2. Metaphor: The comparison of love to an "endless summer turned over and over" is a metaphor that suggests the enduring nature of love despite the passage of time.

    "Brother, our love is an endless summer turned over and over..."

3. Symbolism: Earthworms are used symbolically to represent the cycle of life and renewal, as they eat and excrete every grain of earth, contributing to the sustenance and reforming of the world.

    "An eternity of sustenance and renewal, a world reformed."

4. Alliteration: The repetition of the "s" sound in "sustenance and renewal" creates a soothing and rhythmic effect, enhancing the poem's contemplative tone.

    "An eternity of sustenance and renewal..."

5. Irony: The poem uses irony in the mention of comforting scents like curry, rhubarb, and tea, juxtaposed with the idea that these scents only temporarily mitigate the failure and deformity inherent in life.

    "...reminds us that failure is sated only for that moment, mitigated for a while..."

6. Personification: The earthworms are personified, described as actively "at their workings," which adds a sense of agency to their actions.

    "Other things also – earthworms at their workings."

 Language and Mood

The language in the poem is evocative and rich, using sensory imagery to create a vivid picture of the setting and emotions being conveyed. The mood is contemplative and nostalgic, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of love, memory, and impermanence.

 Context

Written for David Doris, the poem may be a personal reflection or tribute to a specific relationship or memory. The use of the second-person pronoun "Brother" suggests a close bond between the speaker and the addressed, adding a layer of intimacy to the poem's themes.

 Conclusion

"Excavation" by Chris Abani is a beautifully crafted poem that explores themes of memory, love, and the cyclical nature of life. Through vivid imagery and thoughtful reflection, the poet invites readers to contemplate the impermanence of life and the enduring nature of love and memory.