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Shaman by Tatamkhulu Afrika
The leopard lay,
long and dappled, under the leaves.
He saw me when
I still saw only the leaves.
His eyes, alerted, flamed
with more of wonderment than rage.
He had sheathed his claws and, once,
he swiped a paw across his nose.
‘I know you’, he said,
looking at me through the mask of shadows round his eyes.
I saw him wholly, then
his languid grace and power, yet
was not afraid, his voice being mild
as any mewing kitten’s, which meant
that I could love him if not yet trust,
and I dared to tremblingly scratch an ear.
He closed his eyes and roaringly purred,
frightening my hand, then grinned
a little, baring the black
slobber of his gums, the fangs
whiter than the white bones of the hill,
then again looked at me, a daze
of pleasure drawing back from his eyes, and thanked
me with a leathern tonguing of my skin.
‘Yes’, he said, ‘it was a long time ago.
This hill was then a living thing.
You, shaman, danced on it till you dropped
as one dead and a leopard leapt
from your ruin and ran,
slavering, under the holy moon.
What has become of you, brother man?
Does the magic herb no longer grow among these stones?’
I wept, then, huddled on
the rigid hinges of my knees,
hearing only silence thrum
through the shattered pipelines of my bones.
Below the alien city threshed
and howled and he looked
at me as at a wounded beast and slid
out the filial pity of his claws.
‘No!’ I shouted. ‘No!’
stammering like a frightened child.
‘You exceed your station; it is I
that flow and flower under a moon.’
He looked at me with sorrowing eyes.
‘But it is leopards that die
as shamans should,’ he said and crashed
out of the leaves as out of an ice of time.
General Introduction
"Shaman" by Tatamkhulu Afrika is a compelling poem that explores themes of identity, transformation, and the relationship between humans and nature. Through a surreal encounter between a shaman and a leopard, Afrika delves into the mystical and often turbulent connection between the past and present, self and spirit, and human civilization and the natural world. The poem is rich with imagery and symbolism, reflecting Afrika's deep engagement with African landscapes and spiritual traditions.
Title
The title "Shaman" immediately evokes the image of a mystical figure, often seen as a mediator between the human and spirit worlds. Shamans are traditionally believed to have healing powers, wisdom, and a deep connection to nature. This title sets the tone for a poem that navigates the realms of the spiritual and the physical, exploring the shaman's role in a changing world.
Themes
1. Transformation and Identity
- The shaman's interaction with the leopard symbolizes a journey of self-discovery and transformation. The shaman is reminded of his past identity and role: "This hill was then a living thing. / You, shaman, danced on it till you dropped."
- This transformation is also seen in the leopard, who, despite his power, shows gentleness and a connection to the shaman's past.
2. Nature vs. Civilization
- The poem contrasts the natural world with the encroachment of modern civilization: "Below the alien city threshed / and howled." The "alien city" represents the disruption of natural harmony by human progress.
- The leopard's lament about the "magic herb" no longer growing among the stones highlights the loss of nature's purity due to human activity.
3. Memory and Loss
- The theme of memory is central to the poem, with the shaman and leopard reminiscing about a time when the shaman was powerful: "What has become of you, brother man?"
- This sense of loss is palpable in the shaman's tears and the silence that "thrummed / through the shattered pipelines of my bones."
4. Connection to the Spiritual World
- The shaman's encounter with the leopard suggests a deep spiritual connection that transcends time and physical form: "I know you," he said, / looking at me through the mask of shadows round his eyes."
- The leopard's transformation into a shamanic figure underscores the mystical bond between them.
5. Power and Vulnerability
- The interplay between power and vulnerability is evident in the leopard's demeanor and the shaman's reactions. The leopard, a symbol of power, shows vulnerability by speaking softly and allowing the shaman to touch him.
- The shaman, despite his mystical past, displays vulnerability as he weeps and huddles on his knees, indicating a fall from his former power.
Literary Devices
1. Imagery
- Afrika uses vivid imagery to create a sense of place and emotion: "long and dappled, under the leaves," "the black / slobber of his gums," "the white bones of the hill."
- The imagery of the leopard and the natural surroundings enhances the mystical atmosphere of the poem.
2. Personification
- The hill is described as a "living thing," personifying nature and imbuing it with life and spirit. This device underscores the spiritual connection between the shaman and the natural world.
3. Simile
- Similes are used to draw comparisons that deepen the reader's understanding: "mild / as any mewing kitten’s," "as out of an ice of time." These comparisons highlight the contrasts and connections in the poem.
4. Metaphor
- The leopard serves as a metaphor for the shaman’s past power and the wild, untamed aspects of his identity. The leopard’s actions and words reflect the shaman’s own internal struggles and memories.
5. Symbolism
- The leopard symbolizes both the shaman's past power and the natural world's lost purity. The magic herb represents lost traditions and knowledge.
- The moon is a recurring symbol of mysticism and the passage of time.
6. Alliteration
- Afrika employs alliteration to create a musical quality and emphasize certain lines: "silent thrum / through the shattered pipelines," "filial pity of his claws."
Language and Mood
The language in "Shaman" is rich and evocative, blending poetic elegance with a sense of raw, natural power. The mood shifts from mystical and contemplative to sorrowful and introspective. Afrika's choice of words—such as "flamed," "slobber," "languid grace," and "shattered pipelines"—creates a vivid, almost tangible atmosphere that draws the reader into the shaman's experience.
Context
Tatamkhulu Afrika was a South African poet known for his deeply reflective and often political work. "Shaman" reflects his engagement with themes of identity, transformation, and the impact of colonialism and modernization on traditional ways of life. The poem can be seen as a reflection on the loss of cultural and spiritual practices in the face of modernity and the enduring power of nature and memory.
Conclusion
"Shaman" by Tatamkhulu Afrika is a powerful exploration of transformation, memory, and the enduring connection between humans and nature. Through the shaman's encounter with the leopard, Afrika delves into themes of identity, loss, and the spiritual ties that bind us to the natural world. The poem's rich imagery, symbolic depth, and evocative language create a haunting and thought-provoking meditation on the passage of time and the impact of modern civilization on ancient traditions.
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