ENGLISH NOTES
POETRY
Can overcome what Time + God = Separate entities/
African Elegy has occurred powers (Religion/ Faith/
(oppression) Spirituality) “We” –
We are the miracles that God made Statement (non- Collective/
To taste the bitter fruit of Time. negotiable) Reader included
We are precious. Adversity/ Oppression “Miracles” contrasted
by “Bitter fruit”
And one day our suffering
“Suffering” contrasted by “Wonders” –
Will turn into the wonders of the earth.
will be considered miracles due to
strength + endurance
There are things that burn me now Shift in perspective – “burn me”
Which turn golden when I am happy. contrasted with “golden”
Do you see the mystery of our pain? Don’t know why suffering
That we bear poverty Shift in who is being addressed
And are able to sing and dream sweet things “bear poverty” – burden/
weight contrasted with “sweet
Won’t let poverty make us bitter things” +”sing” (joyous)
And that we never curse the air when it is warm
Or the fruit when it tastes so good
Or the lights that bounce gently on the waters?
We bless things even in our pain. Guidelines/ Instructions/ Advice
We bless them in silence.
That is why our music is so sweet.
Incomprehensible/
It makes the air remember. Unknown
There are secret miracles at work
That only Time will bring forth. Dead cannot sing – he has seen
some the miracles he speaks of
I too have heard the dead singing.
And they tell me that Repetition – Rhythm/ Anaphora?
Ancestors Gentleness is not
giving advice/ devoid of
guidance
This life is good passion/ emotion/ drive
They tell me to live it gently
, With fire, and always with hope.
There is wonder here
Awe – Spirituality/ gentleness/ hope/
And there is surprise fire let you see this wonder
Reminded of God’s
In everything the unseen moves.
power/ control/ plan
The ocean is full of songs.
Higher power / God is not the enemy/
The sky is not an enemy. there is a plan
Destiny is our friend. Good things are coming
Summary – Surrealism: aimed at expressing imaginative dreams +
visions free from conscious rational control. Elegy: Mournful poem usually
written in response to death. Poem of serious reflection (typically lament for
the dead). Okri’s elegy is not mournful instead it is reflective + thoughtful. Poet
is speaking about his African culture (“we” + “our”). Speaker asks unique
African spirit for answers to life’s paradoxes. Explores the miracle of what
being African means to him – the endurance of suffering, ability to find joy +
beauty in the midst of pain, spiritual union with nature’s bounty + an
irrepressible sense of optimism despite their suffering. Poem laments the
people but also filled with hope.
Tone – Quiet confidence/ Acceptance/ Hope/ Optimism
Mood – Hopeful/ Optimistic
Themes – Man is precious because he was created by God/ May not
understand why one suffers, but one should not lose hope/ Overcome
difficulties by being positive/ Life is filled with mysteries + it should be
appreciated/ Hope, miracles, poverty, pain, time + suffering
Suggesting that civil war was impending (1982 South
Africa ) Poem is vague to avoid being banned
POETRY
Can overcome what Time + God = Separate entities/
African Elegy has occurred powers (Religion/ Faith/
(oppression) Spirituality) “We” –
We are the miracles that God made Statement (non- Collective/
To taste the bitter fruit of Time. negotiable) Reader included
We are precious. Adversity/ Oppression “Miracles” contrasted
by “Bitter fruit”
And one day our suffering
“Suffering” contrasted by “Wonders” –
Will turn into the wonders of the earth.
will be considered miracles due to
strength + endurance
There are things that burn me now Shift in perspective – “burn me”
Which turn golden when I am happy. contrasted with “golden”
Do you see the mystery of our pain? Don’t know why suffering
That we bear poverty Shift in who is being addressed
And are able to sing and dream sweet things “bear poverty” – burden/
weight contrasted with “sweet
Won’t let poverty make us bitter things” +”sing” (joyous)
And that we never curse the air when it is warm
Or the fruit when it tastes so good
Or the lights that bounce gently on the waters?
We bless things even in our pain. Guidelines/ Instructions/ Advice
We bless them in silence.
That is why our music is so sweet.
Incomprehensible/
It makes the air remember. Unknown
There are secret miracles at work
That only Time will bring forth. Dead cannot sing – he has seen
some the miracles he speaks of
I too have heard the dead singing.
And they tell me that Repetition – Rhythm/ Anaphora?
Ancestors Gentleness is not
giving advice/ devoid of
guidance
This life is good passion/ emotion/ drive
They tell me to live it gently
, With fire, and always with hope.
There is wonder here
Awe – Spirituality/ gentleness/ hope/
And there is surprise fire let you see this wonder
Reminded of God’s
In everything the unseen moves.
power/ control/ plan
The ocean is full of songs.
Higher power / God is not the enemy/
The sky is not an enemy. there is a plan
Destiny is our friend. Good things are coming
Summary – Surrealism: aimed at expressing imaginative dreams +
visions free from conscious rational control. Elegy: Mournful poem usually
written in response to death. Poem of serious reflection (typically lament for
the dead). Okri’s elegy is not mournful instead it is reflective + thoughtful. Poet
is speaking about his African culture (“we” + “our”). Speaker asks unique
African spirit for answers to life’s paradoxes. Explores the miracle of what
being African means to him – the endurance of suffering, ability to find joy +
beauty in the midst of pain, spiritual union with nature’s bounty + an
irrepressible sense of optimism despite their suffering. Poem laments the
people but also filled with hope.
Tone – Quiet confidence/ Acceptance/ Hope/ Optimism
Mood – Hopeful/ Optimistic
Themes – Man is precious because he was created by God/ May not
understand why one suffers, but one should not lose hope/ Overcome
difficulties by being positive/ Life is filled with mysteries + it should be
appreciated/ Hope, miracles, poverty, pain, time + suffering
Suggesting that civil war was impending (1982 South
Africa ) Poem is vague to avoid being banned
