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Lament of the Silent Sisters by Kofi Awoonor
(For Chris Okigbo, the well-known poet, killed in 1967 in the Nigerian civil war.)
That night he came home, he came unto me
at the cold hour of the night
Smelling of corn wine in the dawn dew.
He stretched his hand and covered my forehead.
There was a moon beam sparking rays in particles.
The drummer boys had got themselves a goat.
The din was high in the wail of the harvest moon.
The flood was up gurgling through the fields
Birth waters swimming in floods of new blood.
He whispered my name in far echo
Sky-wailing into a million sounds
across my shores. His voice still bore
the sadness of the wanderer
To wail and die in a soft lonely echo
That echo I heard long ago
In the fall of night over my river,
In the distant rustle of reeds
At growth in the strength of my river.
Once upon an evening I heard it
Strung clear as the gong of the drummer boys
Bright burnished like the glint edge of
the paschal knife, ready anxious to cut
My cords and enter into my fields.
I was still a dream then
Carried by the flimsy whiffs
Of sweet scents borne aloft on the vision
Of my coming flood
That will bear me slowly and gently
Into his world of smiles and smells.
He was not very gentle with me
But I did not complain. The thrust
was hard and angry, severing the tiny cord
Shattering the closed gates of raffia
Gathering at its eye the reeds to feed my fishes.
My flood had not risen.
The canoe carried on the strength
Of his man rowed steep down my river
into a tumultuous eternity
Of green hills and mountains
That reeled and rolled to the river shore
To clasp and bear me away.
Then the floodgates opened
for justice to cleanse to purify
My evening of awakening
In the turbulence of his triumph
Into the bright evening of my rebirth.
The birth was tedious
The pangs were bitter
Into the bright evening I rushed
Crying I have found him I have found him.
He stood there rustling in the wind
The desire to go was written large upon his forehead.
I was not ready for his coming
I was not ready for his loneliness,
for his sad solitude against the rustling wind.
I was not ready for his entrance
Into my fields and shores of my river.
The entrance of raffia was closed
closed against his lonely solitude.
He stood beneath my entrance
In his approach I knew the steps he took
Like the departing Lazarus
Marching toward his grave.
I was not ready.
The flood was gurgling at his estuary
swimming within me birth waters
warmed by his coming. He was silent
mute against the rushing of the wind
to cry and die for his homeland.
My flood had not risen then.
Across my vastness he marched into the wind
his arms folded upon his chest,
his eyes searching for the gates
that will open his amulets
to snatch and wear his talisman of hope.
He marched into the wind
howling through door posts
to catch the boatman at the dawn point.
to ferry him across my river.
But I was not ready.
My hands stretched to cover his
in the darkness, to cover his eyes
in the agony of his solitude
to call him names I knew
to put the dressing from my womb
upon his cudgel scars,
to hold his hand in the clasp of nightfall.
He was mute; the wind had stopped rustling
He was erect like the totem pole of his household
He burned and blazed for an ending
Then I was ready. As he pierced my agony
with his cry, my river burst into flood.
My shores reeled and rolled
to the world's end, where they say
at the world's end the graves are green.
General Introduction
Poet and Poem
Lament of the Silent Sisters is a poignant poem by Kofi Awoonor, a prominent Ghanaian poet and academic. Born in 1935, Awoonor was known for his works that intricately blend traditional Ewe poetry with contemporary themes. His writing often reflects his African heritage, colonial history, and socio-political issues. Lament of the Silent Sisters was written as an elegy for the Nigerian poet Christopher Okigbo, who died in the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. Awoonor’s works, including this poem, are marked by a deep sense of loss and an exploration of African identity.
Title
The title, Lament of the Silent Sisters, immediately suggests a mournful and reflective tone. The word "Lament" indicates a song or poem expressing sorrow, and "Silent Sisters" might refer to women who have been silenced or marginalized, possibly mourning in silence. This sets up a theme of unexpressed grief and the quiet suffering of those who remain voiceless.
Themes in "Lament of the Silent Sisters" by Kofi Awoonor
1. Loss and Mourning
The primary theme of Lament of the Silent Sisters is loss and mourning, expressed through the death of the poet Christopher Okigbo. The poem is an elegy, a lamentation for a friend and fellow poet who died tragically. Awoonor reflects on the void left by Okigbo's death, capturing the sorrow and sense of irrevocable loss. The imagery of "flood" and "birth waters" symbolizes the overwhelming nature of grief and the tumultuous emotions experienced during mourning.
2. Legacy and Memory
Awoonor explores the theme of legacy, particularly how individuals are remembered after their passing. The poem reflects on Okigbo's contributions to literature and culture, symbolized by the recurring image of "the drummer boys" and "gong," which may represent the continuation of cultural and artistic traditions. The poet's struggle to remember and honor Okigbo's life and work is a central concern, highlighting the enduring impact of his legacy.
3. Cultural Identity and Tradition
The poem delves into cultural identity, particularly the intersection of African traditions with contemporary realities. Awoonor often integrates traditional African symbols and rituals in his poetry, as seen here with references to "raffia" and "amulets." This blending of traditional and modern elements underscores a respect for cultural heritage while also acknowledging the changing dynamics of African societies.
4. The Transience of Life
Awoonor meditates on the transient nature of life, encapsulated in the metaphor of a river and the journey of a canoe. The imagery of "the flood" and "the river" symbolizes the flow of time and the inevitability of death. The poem suggests that life is fleeting and that individuals must navigate its currents, often facing moments of profound change and transition.
5. Isolation and Solitude
The theme of isolation is prominent, as the poem describes Okigbo's "loneliness" and "solitude." This isolation is not just physical but also existential, reflecting the poet's inner turmoil and the broader sense of alienation in a world marked by conflict and loss. The imagery of "the wind" and "darkness" enhances the feeling of solitude and the struggle for connection and understanding.
6. The Role of the Artist
Awoonor also contemplates the role of the artist in society, particularly in times of crisis. The poem suggests that artists like Okigbo serve as chroniclers of their times, capturing the essence of cultural and historical moments. The references to "drummer boys" and "the paschal knife" may symbolize the artist's duty to bear witness and speak truths, even in the face of adversity.
"Lament of the Silent Sisters" is a rich poem that explore the complexities of loss, cultural identity, and the human condition. Awoonor’s use of metaphor, imagery, and symbolism not only honors the memory of Christopher Okigbo but also engages with broader existential questions. The poem stands as a testament to the enduring power of art to capture and convey the depths of human experience.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor
The poem is rich with metaphorical language, such as in "The flood was up gurgling through the fields," where "flood" metaphorically represents overwhelming emotions or events, perhaps referring to the turmoil of war or personal loss.
2. Imagery
Awoonor employs vivid imagery, like "moon beam sparking rays in particles" and "the din was high in the wail of the harvest moon." These descriptions evoke a strong sense of the environment and atmosphere, immersing the reader in the scene.
3. Personification
The poem personifies elements of nature and emotions. For instance, "His voice still bore the sadness of the wanderer," giving human-like qualities to the voice, suggesting it carries deep emotional weight.
4. Symbolism
"The canoe carried on the strength / Of his man rowed steep down my river" symbolizes the journey of life and possibly the passage to death. The river could represent the flow of life, with its depths and currents symbolizing challenges and transformations.
5. Alliteration
The use of alliteration, as seen in "silent sisters" and "soft lonely echo," adds a musical quality to the poem and emphasizes the melancholic tone.
6. Simile
Awoonor uses similes to draw comparisons, such as "Strung clear as the gong of the drummer boys," likening the clarity of a voice or message to the distinct sound of a gong, enhancing the auditory imagery.
Language and Diction
Awoonor’s choice of words is both formal and evocative, blending lyrical descriptions with profound emotional undertones. The language shifts from gentle and reflective to intense and powerful, mirroring the emotional journey of the poem. The use of words like "pierced," "thrust," and "shattering" conveys a sense of violence and rupture, reflective of the tumultuous context of Okigbo’s death and the broader social upheavals.
Mood and Tone
The mood of the poem is somber and introspective, infused with a deep sense of mourning and reflection. The tone varies from tender reminiscence to an almost prophetic seriousness, reflecting Awoonor’s contemplation on loss, identity, and legacy.
Context
The historical context of the poem is crucial, as it was written in response to the death of Christopher Okigbo, who died fighting for the secessionist state of Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War. The poem reflects the collective grief of a generation of African intellectuals and artists who were profoundly affected by the violence and political turmoil of the time. The cultural context also involves the blending of African traditional beliefs with contemporary issues, a hallmark of Awoonor’s work.
Conclusion
Lament of the Silent Sisters serves as a powerful elegy that encapsulates the grief and loss experienced during a time of great upheaval. Kofi Awoonor’s use of rich imagery, metaphors, and symbolic language not only memorializes Christopher Okigbo but also speaks to the broader human experience of loss and the search for meaning in the face of tragedy. The poem's layers of meaning, enhanced by its cultural and historical context, make it a profound meditation on the complexities of life and death.
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