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Man Alone by Catherine Obianuju Acholonu
lightening rends
the sky in two
roaring hurricane
advances with fire
pouring black hot sand
into your eyes
deadly mighty hawk
showering hot stones
drops pots of death
at such a time
even a nursing mother
drops infant helpless
dashing for shelter
you look and see
nothing
but desolation
listen and hear
nothing
nothing but the clatter
of hurrying footsteps
behind you
echoing through the night
you quicken your steps
a pair of frightened eye
glancing back
parched lips
knock against
each other
squeezing out the dry words
alone
man alone
those shared years
months
days
shrink into nothingness
nothing remains
but an infinite emptiness
the horror
of the discovery
that you are
man alone
General Introduction
"Man Alone" by Catherine Obianuju Acholonu is a poignant reflection on the existential isolation and vulnerability experienced in the face of overwhelming natural and human-made disasters. Through vivid imagery and stark contrasts, the poem explores the primal instinct for survival and the harsh reality of being confronted with a world devoid of comfort or companionship.
Title
The title "Man Alone" sets the tone for the poem, indicating a focus on the solitary nature of human existence, particularly in moments of crisis.
Themes
1. Isolation and Loneliness: The poem conveys a profound sense of isolation and loneliness, symbolized by the image of a man abandoned to face the destructive forces of nature alone. This theme is encapsulated in the lines, "the horror / of the discovery / that you are / man alone."
2. Vulnerability and Fear: The imagery of the roaring hurricane and the deadly hawk symbolizes the vulnerability of human life in the face of natural disasters and violence. This theme is reinforced by the portrayal of a nursing mother abandoning her infant in a desperate bid for survival.
3. Desolation and Emptiness: The poem evokes a sense of desolation and emptiness, both externally in the barren landscape and internally in the realization of one's solitary existence. This theme is highlighted in the lines, "nothing remains / but an infinite emptiness."
4. Survival Instinct: Despite the overwhelming sense of despair, the poem also explores the primal instinct for survival, as depicted by the man quickening his steps and the frightened eyes glancing back.
5. Transience of Human Connection: The poem suggests the fleeting nature of human connections, as the shared experiences of "years / months / days" are reduced to "nothingness" in the face of calamity.
Literary Devices
1. Imagery: The poem is rich in imagery, creating vivid pictures of the storm ("lightening rends / the sky in two") and the chaos of the disaster ("showering hot stones / drops pots of death"). These images evoke a sense of immediacy and intensity.
2. Personification: The hurricane is personified as it "advances with fire," adding to its menacing presence and emphasizing the destructive power of nature.
3. Symbolism: The hawk and the storm symbolize the dangers and threats that confront the protagonist, representing the harsh realities of the world.
4. Alliteration: The repeated use of the "h" sound in "roaring hurricane" and "hawk / showering hot stones" creates a harsh, cacophonous effect, mirroring the chaos and violence of the scene.
5. Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "man alone" emphasizes the central theme of isolation and reinforces the protagonist's existential crisis.
6. Contrast: The contrast between the natural beauty of the storm ("lightening rends / the sky in two") and its destructive power ("showering hot stones") underscores the unpredictability and danger of the world.
Language and Mood
The language in the poem is stark and evocative, reflecting the harshness of the situation. The mood is one of desperation and despair, as the protagonist confronts the harsh reality of his solitary existence in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Context
The poem can be seen as a reflection on the fragility of human life and the transient nature of human connections, particularly in the face of natural disasters and violence. It speaks to the universal experience of existential loneliness and the primal instinct for survival that transcends individual circumstances.
Conclusion
"Man Alone" by Catherine Obianuju Acholonu is a powerful meditation on the themes of isolation, vulnerability, and survival. Through vivid imagery and stark contrasts, the poem conveys the existential loneliness and desperation experienced in moments of crisis, while also highlighting the resilience and primal instinct for survival that defines the human experience.
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