(toc) #title= (Table of Content)
General Introduction
"The City" by Mohamed Abdul Hai is a reflective and deeply evocative poem that explores themes of identity, homecoming, cultural roots, and the quest for belonging. Through vivid imagery and rich symbolism, the poet delves into the complexities of personal and collective memory, juxtaposing the physical and metaphysical realms to convey a profound sense of longing and rediscovery.
The City by Mohamed Abdul Hai
Today, I’ll return, oh Sinnar,
Where the dream, like trees, sprouts
Under the canopy of night water,
Disrobed, in my fall and winter,
Then, shaky, by the land’s fire;
Strewn, a jade–feathered blaze,
To ripen in the night of my blood veins,
Into cherry fruit in my summer;
Mirrors of a body
Whose dreams rise
Unto the silence,
Like stars in my sky.
Today, I’ll return home, Sinnar;
Where the sign is a thread
Of black radiance, vacillating
Between the echo and the sound;
The forest and the desert;
Between the fruit, ripened,
And the ancient root. (5)
You are my tongue, my rivulet
Sheltering my stars,
The gold seams shimmering within my black rock
And the fire wherein I ventured
Into the great love.
So, unlock, custodians of Sinnar, tonight
Unlock the gates of the city for the returnee,
Unlock, for the returnee, the gates of the city tonight
Unlock the gates of the city, tonight.
“Are you a Bedouin?”
“No…!”
“From the land of the Negros?”
“No…”
“I’m one of you. A wanderer,
Singing in one tongue, praying in another,
Returning home from distant seas,
Where the dreams of havens were not lit,
In their green silence;
A heathen, lost for years on end
On borrowed tongue and eyes,
Have lingered in the chambers of the sea
Looking for the weird water fairy,
Yielding to the wind,
In the hollowed inside of the horrific sea cranium
Dreaming of a land bestowed to the alien-
Fading under sunlight, to be reborn out of night’s fire-
Of sea-girls, copulating with the god of sea, in a bed of foam
(As to whatever poets intone.)
And thereupon, the planet of horror glimmered,
I fell face down;
I saw what was there to be seen:
Black rain falling
Off a sky of copper, red haze,
Mulberry and apples growing, in white trees
There, neither water nor earth
Except for what was attenuated,
By the acid, of frothy vapours.
And I’ve heard what was there to be heard:
Laughter of the human skeleton;
Human flesh, in a sea of phosphor, molten,
Writhing under the gripping agony of the word.
And I beheld what was to be beheld:
How rattling serpents beset,
When waves of frothy smoke, emit
A green corpse, in the dark, alight,
On a bed of burning sand.
Speak out, oh friend: what do you behold
Amidst the reefs of the archipelago?
The land of Deek Al-Jin or the slain Queis? (6)
The land of Oedipus or Lear;
Or the labyrinths of Othello?
The land of Senghor, smudged
In stagnant molten sea copper?
Or sea vapour concocting,
Phantom cities? Visions of unattainable glamour? (7)
When the sea monster stirred its thighs:
Would it come around from shelly slumber?
Or would it spit out an intimate mesh of fire and torrid water?
And I wept for what was to be yearned for:
Who would ever lend me wings
To my homeland’s splendour?
Through the salt’s sun and impotent storm,
A language, with ancient love, luminous?
Then, when the sea, as a mirror,
With boundless fish of the sky was filled,
On the vividly radiant water
The drowsy chime, awakened,
I begged for what was to be invoked:
Would I ever return home?
Cloaked in my dream-like awakening,
Bearing my dream, a foreboding,
In the murky primordial memory, and tribal longing,
Among my dead, and the spectre of childhood fables.
I am one of you; your wound is mine;
Your bow is my weapon;
A pagan, worshiping his homeland
And a blind mystic, exalting his vision
And the divine fires of God.
So, open up, custodians of Sinnar,
Open the gate of primal blood,
Let the ancient tongue celebrate its roots,
Where the crystals of presence are but a blue flare
In the waters;
Where flocks of birds
Emanate out the body of fire,
To chant on the crowns on foreheads.
So, unlock, custodians of Sinnar,
Unlock for the returnee, tonight, the gates of the city,
Unlock, the gates of the city, tonight
Unlock the gates of the city, tonight…
Unlock
“We will open the city’s gates for the knocker,
If you’re one of us we would know
We would spot our own visage in you,
Welcome back home anew.
And if, then, you are a stranger to us;
We welcome our guests,
With whatever it takes:
Our lives as well as wealth; …so,
Come in, then
We’ve unlocked the gates for you, oh knocker
We’ve unlocked…”
I entered,
Barefooted, taciturn,
Naked, disguised in a ragged garment.
I crossed, in the dark,
Withdrawn; in the shadowy recesses of utterance.
And I slept,
As water’s child sleeps in the wetted pebbles;
Birds in their nests;
Fruits in their branches
And stars in the placenta of the skies.
Title
The title, "The City," serves as a focal point for the poem's thematic exploration. It symbolizes not only a physical place but also a metaphorical space of belonging, memory, and cultural heritage.
Themes
1. Identity and Belonging: The poem explores the narrator's search for identity and belonging, as exemplified by the lines, "Are you a Bedouin? / No…! / From the land of the Negros? / No…" These questions reflect the narrator's struggle to define himself in relation to different cultural and geographical contexts.
2. Homecoming: The poem portrays a deep longing for homecoming, as the narrator expresses a desire to return to Sinnar, symbolizing a return to his roots and ancestral land. This theme is emphasized in the lines, "Today, I’ll return home, Sinnar," highlighting a nostalgic yearning for a place of origin.
3. Cultural Roots: Through imagery such as "Where the sign is a thread / Of black radiance," the poem celebrates the narrator's cultural roots and heritage. The reference to "ancient root" underscores a connection to the past and a sense of continuity with tradition.
4. Memory and Nostalgia: The poem is imbued with a sense of memory and nostalgia, as the narrator recalls past experiences and longs for a return to a place of childhood fables and tribal longing. This theme is encapsulated in the lines, "In the murky primordial memory, and tribal longing, / Among my dead, and the spectre of childhood fables."
5. The Search for Meaning: The poem delves into existential questions, pondering the nature of reality and existence. Through imagery of the sea and its mysteries, the poem contemplates the enigmatic aspects of life and the human experience.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor: The poem uses metaphor to convey deeper meanings, such as "Where the dreams of havens were not lit, / In their green silence," which metaphorically describes unfulfilled aspirations.
2. Symbolism: The city of Sinnar symbolizes not just a physical place but also a cultural and spiritual home, representing the narrator's longing for belonging and identity.
3. Imagery: The poem is rich in imagery, painting vivid pictures of landscapes and emotions. For example, "Black rain falling / Off a sky of copper, red haze," creates a vivid image of a desolate environment.
4. Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "Unlock the gates of the city, tonight" emphasizes the narrator's urgent desire to return home and be welcomed back.
5. Alliteration: The poem uses alliteration, such as "cloaked in my dream-like awakening," to create a rhythmic and musical quality.
6. Personification: The sea is personified as a mirror, reflecting the narrator's longing and inner turmoil.
Language and Mood
The language of the poem is poetic and evocative, using imagery and symbolism to create a mood of longing, nostalgia, and introspection. The use of vivid descriptions and metaphors enhances the emotional depth of the poem, inviting readers to reflect on their own sense of identity and belonging.
Context
The poem is set against the backdrop of a journey, both physical and metaphorical, as the narrator reflects on his past experiences and cultural heritage. The references to different geographical and cultural elements suggest a complex and layered identity, shaped by a multiplicity of influences.
Conclusion
"The City" by Mohamed Abdul Hai is a poignant and introspective poem that delves into the complexities of identity, homecoming, and cultural heritage. Through vivid imagery, rich symbolism, and evocative language, the poem invites readers to reflect on their own sense of belonging and the meaning of home.
Leave a comment behind