(toc) #title= (Table of Content)
Routine Drugs I—for Eldred Jones
BY AMA ATA AIDOO
They had asked me—
a worthy friend and
a loving brother—
to “stop shouldering
the world’s troubles,”
—one meaning Africa,
the other women—
“learn to
laugh and
live!”
I grow hot:
thinking that
laughing?
That’s easy:
it’s all we do instead of
crying.
And since there’s
so much to cry about
we laugh and
laugh and
laugh.
But
living?
You could tell them
that’s not easy.
In a real life
in a real world
perhaps.
But here
where
on a bare belly
for less than a cedi,
you gathered
in single pieces and
carried
ten bushels of
solid stones
your four-month-old baby
straddled on
your back,
slipped,
fell
broke your
arm—?
Laughing we do for
fear of
crying.
Living
we don’t discuss
here.
General Introduction
"Routine Drugs I—for Eldred Jones" by Ama Ata Aidoo captures the complexities of life, laughter, and survival, especially from the perspective of African women. The poem reflects the intense struggles faced by women in Africa, juxtaposing the often superficial advice to "laugh and live" with the harsh realities they endure. Aidoo’s work often highlights themes of gender, identity, and socio-economic issues, and this poem is no exception, as it provides a commentary on the resilience required to navigate daily adversities.
Title
The title "Routine Drugs I—for Eldred Jones" suggests a metaphorical treatment for coping with daily hardships. "Routine Drugs" may imply the habitual, almost medicinal laughter used as a defense mechanism against life's difficulties. The dedication to Eldred Jones, a respected African literary critic, hints at a personal connection or acknowledgment of shared understanding about these themes.
Themes
1. Burden of Responsibility
- The narrator is urged to "stop shouldering the world’s troubles," signifying the immense weight of societal and personal responsibilities. This theme underscores the expectation placed on individuals, especially women, to bear the weight of collective issues.
2. Irony of Laughter
- The poem contrasts the ease of laughing with the difficulty of living: "That’s easy: it’s all we do instead of crying." This theme reveals the irony where laughter is a mask for deeper sorrow, suggesting that laughter is a coping mechanism rather than a genuine expression of joy.
3. Economic Hardship
- The struggle of carrying "ten bushels of solid stones" for "less than a cedi" paints a vivid picture of economic deprivation. This theme highlights the grueling labor and insufficient compensation that characterize the lives of many women in impoverished conditions.
4. Physical and Emotional Pain
- The imagery of slipping, falling, and breaking an arm while carrying a child emphasizes the physical and emotional toll on women: "your four-month-old baby straddled on your back, slipped, fell, broke your arm." This theme addresses the compounded suffering that comes with physical injuries and emotional burdens.
5. Survival and Resilience
- The repeated assertion that "laughing we do for fear of crying" and "Living we don’t discuss here" illustrates the resilience needed to survive under dire circumstances. This theme showcases the fortitude required to endure continuous hardships without breaking.
Literary Devices
1. Irony
- The suggestion to "laugh and live" is ironic given the harsh realities described. The statement that "laughing? That’s easy: it’s all we do instead of crying" underscores the bitter irony where laughter is a facade for underlying pain.
2. Repetition
- The phrase "laugh and laugh and laugh" emphasizes the continuous, almost forced nature of laughter, highlighting it as a habitual, defensive act rather than a spontaneous reaction.
3. Imagery
- Vivid images like "on a bare belly for less than a cedi" and "carried ten bushels of solid stones" create a stark picture of the physical and economic struggles, making the reader visualize the hardships endured by the women.
4. Contrast
- The poem contrasts "laughing" and "living," where laughing is portrayed as an easier, albeit hollow, response compared to the complex and challenging act of truly living.
5. Metaphor
- The act of "shouldering the world’s troubles" serves as a metaphor for taking on heavy responsibilities, illustrating the burden carried by the individual, especially women in this context.
6. Rhetorical Question
- The rhetorical question "thinking that laughing?" challenges the reader to reflect on the superficiality of laughter when it’s used to mask deeper issues, prompting a deeper understanding of the underlying pain.
Language and Mood
The language of the poem is direct and evocative, using simple yet powerful imagery to convey the weight of the described experiences. The mood is somber and reflective, underpinned by a tone of frustration and resignation. The repetition of certain phrases and the stark contrasts between laughter and living amplify the emotional impact, making the reader keenly aware of the hardships faced by the women.
Context
Ama Ata Aidoo, a prominent Ghanaian author, often explores themes of gender, identity, and socio-economic challenges in her works. This poem reflects her focus on the struggles of African women, highlighting the intersection of personal and societal burdens. The dedication to Eldred Jones, a significant figure in African literary criticism, suggests a shared awareness and acknowledgment of these pressing issues.
Conclusion
"Routine Drugs" is a powerful reflection on the daily struggles and resilience of African women. Through vivid imagery, irony, and repetition, Aidoo underscores the superficiality of the advice to "laugh and live" against the backdrop of harsh realities. The poem serves as a reminder of the strength required to navigate life's adversities, offering a nuanced exploration of laughter as both a survival mechanism and a mask for deeper sorrow.
Leave a comment behind