Hanging in Egypt with Breyten Breytenbach by Chris Abani: The Poem and Analysis

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General Introduction

In "Hanging in Egypt with Breyten Breytenbach," Chris Abani reflects on his experiences in Egypt, exploring themes of history, identity, and the human condition. Through vivid imagery and introspection, the poem delves into the complexities of cultural heritage, personal struggle, and the universal quest for belonging.

The Poem

Hanging in Egypt with Breyten Breytenbach by Chris Abani 

There are stones even here

worn into a malevolence by time

gritting the teeth and tearing

the eyes with the memory.

Out in the desert, the wind

is a sculptor working the ephemera

of sand. Desperately editing steles

to write the names of thousands of slaves

who died to make Pharaoh great.

It is a fool's game.

And we are like the blind musician

at the hotel who tells us with a smile:

I'll see you later.

The guard at the pyramid eyes me.

Are you Egyptian? he demands,

then searches my bag for a bomb.

At the hotel they speak Arabic to me,

don't treat me like the white guests,

and I guess, even here, with all

the hindsight of history we haven't

learned to love ourselves.

I cannot crawl into the tombs, and cannot

explain why. How do you say: In my country

they buried me alive for six months?

And so you lie and tell yourself this is love.

I am protecting the world from my rage.

Rabab tells me: We know how to build graves

here. I nod. I know. It is the same all over Africa.

Do you have a knife? Do you have one?

the guards at the museum ask Breyten and me,

searching us. We call this on ourselves. We

are clearly political criminals.

I trace the glyphs chipped into stone.

As a writer I am drawn to this. If I could

I too would carve myself into eternity.

Breyten watching me says: Don't tell me

you've found a spelling mistake in it!

A line of miniature statues is placed

into the tomb to serve the pharaoh.

One for each day of the year. Four hundred.

The overseers are a plus. I think

even death will not ease

the lot of the poor here.

Statues: it seems the more I search the world

for differences the more I find it all the same.

Perhaps the Buddha was a jaded traveler too

when he said we are all one.

Mona argues about who should pay

to see the mummies. It isn't often I can

treat a girl to a dead body, Breyten insists.

A woman nearby tells her husand she can see

dead bodies at work. Why pay?

Do you think she works in a hospital? I ask.

That or the U.S. State Department, Breyten agrees.

From the top of Bab Zwelia, flat rooftops

spread out like a conference of coffee tables.

Broken walls, furniture, pots, litter the roofs

like family secrets sunning themselves.

Two white goats on a roof chew

their way through the debris.

On the Nile, Rabab sings in Arabic, tells me

she wants to be Celine Dion.

She is my sister calling me home to Egypt.

Perhaps one day I will be ready.

For now it is enough to know I can

be at home here.

 Title

The title "Hanging in Egypt with Breyten Breytenbach" suggests a sense of suspension or being caught in a moment, possibly reflecting the poet's feeling of being suspended between past and present, or between different aspects of his identity.

 Themes

1. History and Memory: Abani evokes the historical legacy of Egypt, referencing the labor and sacrifice of thousands of slaves to build monuments for Pharaoh. He writes, "Desperately editing steles / to write the names of thousands of slaves / who died to make Pharaoh great," highlighting the weight of history and its impact on the present.

   

2. Identity and Belonging: The poem explores themes of identity, particularly the poet's complex relationship with his African heritage in a foreign land. He reflects on the treatment he receives, noting, "At the hotel they speak Arabic to me, / don't treat me like the white guests," highlighting his sense of displacement and longing for acceptance.

3. Power and Oppression: Abani touches on themes of power dynamics and oppression, suggesting that even in death, the poor are not spared. He observes, "even death will not ease / the lot of the poor here," indicating the pervasive nature of inequality and suffering.

4. Cultural Differences and Similarities: Through his travels, Abani reflects on the similarities he finds across different cultures. He muses, "it seems the more I search the world / for differences the more I find it all the same," suggesting a realization of shared human experiences despite cultural diversity.

5. Home and Exile: The poem explores the concept of home and exile, with Abani expressing a longing for a sense of belonging. He is called "home to Egypt" by his sister figure, Rabab, yet he acknowledges that he may not be ready to fully embrace it, indicating a complex relationship with the idea of home.

 Literary Devices

1. Imagery: Abani uses vivid imagery to bring his experiences to life, such as describing the wind in the desert as "a sculptor working the ephemera / of sand," creating a visual and sensory image for the reader.

2. Metaphor: The poet employs metaphor to convey deeper meanings, such as comparing himself to a "blind musician" and the act of editing steles to a "fool's game," suggesting the limitations of human understanding and the futility of trying to rewrite history.

3. Irony: There is irony in the poem, particularly in the poet's interactions with the guards and tourists. For example, he notes the irony of being treated differently despite his African heritage, highlighting the complexities of race and identity.

4. Allusion: Abani makes a reference to Buddha, suggesting a philosophical reflection on the interconnectedness of humanity. He writes, "Perhaps the Buddha was a jaded traveler too / when he said we are all one," drawing on a well-known figure to emphasize a universal truth.

5. Symbolism: The statues in the tomb symbolize the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life and death. The poet's desire to "carve [himself] into eternity" reflects a longing for permanence and significance.

6. Dialogue: The use of dialogue, particularly in interactions with other characters like Breyten and Rabab, adds depth to the poem, providing insights into the poet's thoughts and emotions.

 Language and Mood

The language in the poem is rich and evocative, creating a mood of contemplation and introspection. Abani's use of descriptive language and vivid imagery transports the reader to the Egyptian landscape, while his introspective reflections on identity and belonging evoke a sense of longing and displacement.

 Context

Written by Chris Abani, a Nigerian poet and novelist known for his works that explore themes of identity, politics, and culture, "Hanging in Egypt with Breyten Breytenbach" is likely informed by Abani's personal experiences as an African writer traveling in Egypt. The poem reflects Abani's engagement with history, culture, and the complexities of human experience, echoing his broader body of work that grapples with themes of exile, belonging, and the search for identity.

 Conclusion

In "Hanging in Egypt with Breyten Breytenbach," Chris Abani offers a deep reflection on his experiences in Egypt, weaving together themes of history, identity, and the human condition. Through vivid imagery, literary devices, and introspection, Abani invites readers to contemplate the complexities of cultural heritage, personal struggle, and the universal quest for belonging, ultimately leaving us with a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of human experience across time and place.