Palimpses
De Lange, Johann
Context
Many trees are cut down daily to make paper products. Every piece of paper we
write on was originally a tree. If trees could talk - what would they say? And if the
trees could not speak - who would speak on their behalf?
Many poets write about the writing process, This poem is not an exception. It really
is not just about writing, but also about life. This means that the poem is universal,
because it applies to all people.
Johann de Lange was born on 22 December 1959 in Pretoria. In 2011 he won the
Hertzog Prize for poetry with his collection Die algebra van nood. He also writes
short stories.
Read more about him at www.johanndelange.blogspot.com.
Analysis:
assonansie The repetition of vowel sounds shortly after each other.
(assonance) Remember, it's about sound, not letters: "uit selfs die
fynste grein - from even the finest grain" (line 11).
Here it's the ei / y sound that shares the form of the
assonance.
"saag en maal - sawing and grinding" (line 6) is also
an example of assonance.
alliterasie The same consonants are repeated shortly after each
(alliteration) other, for example: "en pulp en plet - and pulp and
press" (line 7), for emphasis.
beeldspraak The poet makes use of an image to better explain. It is
(figurative/metaphorical said here that "trees write". The trees cannot really
language) write, but we know exactly what the speaker intended. It
is therefore the use of figurative language. The
"wrinkle-free air/uncreased sky things" (line 2) is
also beautiful imagery. We know immediately that there
is no cloud in the sky.
De Lange, Johann
Context
Many trees are cut down daily to make paper products. Every piece of paper we
write on was originally a tree. If trees could talk - what would they say? And if the
trees could not speak - who would speak on their behalf?
Many poets write about the writing process, This poem is not an exception. It really
is not just about writing, but also about life. This means that the poem is universal,
because it applies to all people.
Johann de Lange was born on 22 December 1959 in Pretoria. In 2011 he won the
Hertzog Prize for poetry with his collection Die algebra van nood. He also writes
short stories.
Read more about him at www.johanndelange.blogspot.com.
Analysis:
assonansie The repetition of vowel sounds shortly after each other.
(assonance) Remember, it's about sound, not letters: "uit selfs die
fynste grein - from even the finest grain" (line 11).
Here it's the ei / y sound that shares the form of the
assonance.
"saag en maal - sawing and grinding" (line 6) is also
an example of assonance.
alliterasie The same consonants are repeated shortly after each
(alliteration) other, for example: "en pulp en plet - and pulp and
press" (line 7), for emphasis.
beeldspraak The poet makes use of an image to better explain. It is
(figurative/metaphorical said here that "trees write". The trees cannot really
language) write, but we know exactly what the speaker intended. It
is therefore the use of figurative language. The
"wrinkle-free air/uncreased sky things" (line 2) is
also beautiful imagery. We know immediately that there
is no cloud in the sky.
