, The Discardment
by Alan Paton
We gave her a discardment
A trifle, a thing no longer to be worn.
Its eyes shone, she called and cried,
The great bulk of her pirouetted
Danced and mimed, sang snatches of a song.
She called out blessings in her native tongue
To her fellow-servants
To strangers and to patrons—
To all the continent of Africa
To see this wonder, to participate
In this intolerable joy.
And so for nothing
Is purchased loyalty and trust.
And the unquestioning obedience
Of the earth’s most rare simplicity.
So for nothing
The destruction of a world.
, The Discardment (Alan Paton)
Poetʼs Background
(1948) author of ‘Cry, the Beloved Countryʼ
NP come to power
(1964) evidence at Rivonia Trials
Pietermaritzburg, KZN
National Pres. of Liberal Party
Diepkloof Reformatoryʼs Principal
believed in humane reforms
Poemʼs Background
apartheid South Africa!
Title
connotations!
not wanted / useless / ready to be thrown out
articles!
the = definite
emphasis / importance
the Poem!
1. ‘Weʼ v. ‘herʼ
a. the family v. the domestic worker
i. pronouns = power dynamics
1. singular + separate from us (us v. them)
2. comma = parenthesis
a. elaborate on unimportance
by Alan Paton
We gave her a discardment
A trifle, a thing no longer to be worn.
Its eyes shone, she called and cried,
The great bulk of her pirouetted
Danced and mimed, sang snatches of a song.
She called out blessings in her native tongue
To her fellow-servants
To strangers and to patrons—
To all the continent of Africa
To see this wonder, to participate
In this intolerable joy.
And so for nothing
Is purchased loyalty and trust.
And the unquestioning obedience
Of the earth’s most rare simplicity.
So for nothing
The destruction of a world.
, The Discardment (Alan Paton)
Poetʼs Background
(1948) author of ‘Cry, the Beloved Countryʼ
NP come to power
(1964) evidence at Rivonia Trials
Pietermaritzburg, KZN
National Pres. of Liberal Party
Diepkloof Reformatoryʼs Principal
believed in humane reforms
Poemʼs Background
apartheid South Africa!
Title
connotations!
not wanted / useless / ready to be thrown out
articles!
the = definite
emphasis / importance
the Poem!
1. ‘Weʼ v. ‘herʼ
a. the family v. the domestic worker
i. pronouns = power dynamics
1. singular + separate from us (us v. them)
2. comma = parenthesis
a. elaborate on unimportance
