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Street Kid by Tatamkhulu Afrika
Ripped men's jersey hangs
to below his knees.
Shoulder, bared
and seeking as a hand,
reaches to me as from a ruin.
Crooked black
feet twist
into trodden-flat
approximations of shoes.
Same-all-the-way-down
shanks and thighs,
knottings of knees,
buttocks I can hold
in the palm of a hand,
piston him on:
now slow,
measuredly as a crane,
now quick
as a fit, a cricket one
twitch ahead of my step,
flea fleeing my nails.
He hold out his hand.
Dead,
his eyes do not plead:
only the hand.
I press a coin in it:
my last small change.
'More', he says,
voice flat,
demanding, as a man's,
lips ferally off
his teeth, eyes alive.
Shocked, I step
back, admonish him,
telling him I, too,
am poor, that there's a home
for kids like him -
free baths,
kip, a meal -
block to go.
The shades come down again.
Yet somehow now
he's taking a steadier aim,
aware as a mugger turned
to a more than a stray
brushing of our sides,
eyes' twin
speculativeness plunged
into the soft cringe of my spine,
raping me with the raw
animalism of its steel,
ageless callousness of the child.
Someone passes
us and he turns,
quickly, following,
holding out his hand,
all other human sentience but
the fields he prowls.
General Introduction
"Street Kid" by Tatamkhulu Afrika is a poignant portrayal of a child's harsh reality living on the streets. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Afrika exposes the physical and emotional struggles of a young boy navigating a world that is unkind and unyielding. The poem captures the essence of desperation, resilience, and the stark contrast between the innocence of youth and the brutality of street life.
Title
The title "Street Kid" immediately sets the stage for the reader, indicating that the poem will focus on the life of a child living on the streets. It evokes a sense of sympathy and curiosity about the child's circumstances, drawing attention to a marginalized segment of society often overlooked.
Themes
1. Poverty and Desperation
- The boy's worn-out appearance, described with "Ripped men's jersey hangs to below his knees," highlights his extreme poverty. His request for more money, despite receiving a coin, signifies his desperation.
2. Innocence Lost
- The boy's dead eyes, which "do not plead," contrast sharply with his demanding voice, reflecting the loss of innocence. His actions are driven by survival instincts rather than the playful curiosity typical of children.
3. Isolation and Alienation
- The boy's interaction with the narrator, who admonishes him and steps back in shock, underscores his isolation. Despite being among people, the boy is profoundly alone, a sentiment echoed in the line, "eyes alive" but "all other human sentience but the fields he prowls."
4. Human Resilience
- The boy's persistence, as he continues to follow another person after the narrator refuses him, demonstrates his resilience. His ability to adapt and survive in harsh conditions speaks to the indomitable human spirit.
5. Society's Indifference
- The narrator's reaction to the boy, offering minimal help and then admonishing him, reflects society's general indifference to the plight of street children. The mention of a home for kids, which the boy seems uninterested in, points to systemic failures in addressing the root causes of homelessness.
Literary Devices
1. Imagery
- Afrika uses vivid imagery to describe the boy's physical state: "Shoulder, bared and seeking as a hand, reaches to me as from a ruin." This creates a powerful visual of the boy's desperate situation.
2. Simile
- The comparison "now quick as a fit, a cricket one twitch ahead of my step" likens the boy's movements to a sudden and erratic twitch, emphasizing his agility and the unpredictability of his life.
3. Metaphor
- The line "the raw animalism of its steel" metaphorically describes the boy's gaze as penetrating and dehumanizing, likening his look to something cold and hard, indicative of his hardened life.
4. Personification
- Afrika personifies the shades in "The shades come down again," suggesting the boy's retreat into a hardened, impersonal demeanor when faced with rejection.
5. Symbolism
- The coin given by the narrator symbolizes a token gesture of charity that is insufficient to change the boy's circumstances. It represents society's minimal efforts to address deeper issues of poverty.
6. Juxtaposition
- The juxtaposition of the boy's dead eyes with his demanding voice ("Dead, his eyes do not plead: only the hand") highlights the disparity between his outward appearance of lifelessness and his inner will to survive.
Language and Mood
Afrika's language is stark and descriptive, employing a mix of colloquial and formal tones to convey the harshness of the street kid's life. The mood shifts from empathy to discomfort and ultimately to a sense of helplessness and resignation. The use of direct speech ("'More', he says, voice flat, demanding, as a man's") adds to the realism and immediacy of the boy's plight.
Context
Tatamkhulu Afrika, a South African poet and writer, often explored themes of social injustice, poverty, and the human condition in his work. "Street Kid" reflects his commitment to giving a voice to the marginalized and exposing societal flaws. The poem resonates with the broader context of post-apartheid South Africa, where economic disparities and social challenges remain pervasive.
Conclusion
"Street Kid" is a powerful and evocative poem that sheds light on the harsh realities faced by homeless children. Through its vivid imagery, compelling themes, and masterful use of literary devices, Afrika not only draws attention to the boy's plight but also critiques societal indifference. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity and the need for greater empathy and action towards the less fortunate.
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