‘Lost or Found World’ -Mongane Wally Serote (1944-) Imagery:
Skies of truth are now scenes Theatre
At the mercy of my curtain eyes,
I wink often more often, Tears
To draw the curtains
To cut and forget the skies. Blood
The sea of identity is tears, Flowers
A too salty expression
Bleeding my blue veins that’s my pen, Bees and honey
On the loose sands that shall sip,
And the wind shall help cover it, Old
From the needy arteries.
New
Mountains of hope are flowers,
Passes attracting cars like bees, Foundation of life
For the precious modern honey,
That is money.
This modern madness
Snaps flowers from their stems
Leaves dry dead bodies, walking up the street.
Old wishes is present deeds,
Bright with blinding for old
Dark with wonder for the new,
That’s where we are
Lost or found world!
Title
Gives black people a choice to accept the status quo and remain passive or to do
something about it. Majority remained passive during AH due to fear. Juxtaposition of
realities in SA. Lost = painful reality of AH. Found = possibility of hope for homeland.
Skies of truth are now scenes
Truth about AH system is obvious and in your face: not subtle. Skies = vast. Scenes =
fake. Therefore: endless amount of lies to cover the obvious truth.
At the mercy of my curtain eyes,
Choice: he can see the reality or block it out/ignore. Personal pronoun: it is up to him to
see or deny the truth. The people have power to take control.
I wink often more often,
Starts with personal pronoun. He can momentarily close his eyes to block out reality.
To draw the curtains
To hide the reality of AH by totally blocking out everything. Curtains can be opened and
closed: choice to see the reality or not.
Skies of truth are now scenes Theatre
At the mercy of my curtain eyes,
I wink often more often, Tears
To draw the curtains
To cut and forget the skies. Blood
The sea of identity is tears, Flowers
A too salty expression
Bleeding my blue veins that’s my pen, Bees and honey
On the loose sands that shall sip,
And the wind shall help cover it, Old
From the needy arteries.
New
Mountains of hope are flowers,
Passes attracting cars like bees, Foundation of life
For the precious modern honey,
That is money.
This modern madness
Snaps flowers from their stems
Leaves dry dead bodies, walking up the street.
Old wishes is present deeds,
Bright with blinding for old
Dark with wonder for the new,
That’s where we are
Lost or found world!
Title
Gives black people a choice to accept the status quo and remain passive or to do
something about it. Majority remained passive during AH due to fear. Juxtaposition of
realities in SA. Lost = painful reality of AH. Found = possibility of hope for homeland.
Skies of truth are now scenes
Truth about AH system is obvious and in your face: not subtle. Skies = vast. Scenes =
fake. Therefore: endless amount of lies to cover the obvious truth.
At the mercy of my curtain eyes,
Choice: he can see the reality or block it out/ignore. Personal pronoun: it is up to him to
see or deny the truth. The people have power to take control.
I wink often more often,
Starts with personal pronoun. He can momentarily close his eyes to block out reality.
To draw the curtains
To hide the reality of AH by totally blocking out everything. Curtains can be opened and
closed: choice to see the reality or not.
