English Poetry: Namaqualand after rain
Biographical information: William Plomer
-
Meaning and Message
We are reminded that life finds a way to survive and renew itself even in the harshest
conditions
Looking at the annual transformation of the arid, 'semi-desert' of Namaqualand into a
blanket of flowers
The appreciation of South Africa's natural beauty and 'awe inspiring' scenery and wildlife
Title
Namaqualand translates to land of the khoi khoi (native tribe in South Africa)
A desert region in the north west of South Africa and south west Namibia
Extends 1000 kms along the West coast of South Africa
For most of the year it is an arid, barren desert but rains in July/August brings
flowers
The rain is a catalyst for growth/new life/relief
The title established place and time
Reinforces the main message
Celebration of beauty and rejuvenating power of nature
Symbolic of rebirth and end of period of drought/harsh conditions
Stanza 1
Alliteration:
Shows how full the earth is of rain
Lines 1:
"again": Underlines a dramatic statement or opening, the event has happened before
The land is being brought back to life
Lines 2:
"Imbued" : to saturate
"lyric": Its light, beautiful, sweet, calm, melodic, pleasant, flowing
The rain has soaked into the soil and changed the environment completely
, Lines 3:
"re-": again
"sap": life giving
The fluid that circulates the plants vascular system transporting
glucose/sugar/nutrients to the plants (fuel for growth)
The extreme transformation of nature that the rains bring
Lines 4:
"quickening": refers to the first time one can feel a baby moves
Rain brings the first signs of life
Stanza:
The landscape feels alive from the rain
The land is pregnant with possibilities
Stanza 2
Lines 5:
Shift in perspective (bigger landscape to small roots in the ground)
"explode": Intensity, bursts of activity in the way that the roots spread
"String of stars": image of plenitude/infinite/spread in every direction
(Comparison/metaphor)
Alliteration:
Conjures images of strings of twinkling lights
Joy/happiness/ the roots are glistening with water
Lines 6:
"bulb": Bulbs have been dormant
Must stop dreaming and awaken/come to life
Preciousness blooming and sharing itself with the word
Lines 7:
The sticky, sugar sap that leaks from flowers as they blossom
We see the image of transformation from bulbs to flowers
Lines 8:
"raceme": Group of flowers attached to a stem
Blossom into honey coloured jewel-like droplets
Precious
Biographical information: William Plomer
-
Meaning and Message
We are reminded that life finds a way to survive and renew itself even in the harshest
conditions
Looking at the annual transformation of the arid, 'semi-desert' of Namaqualand into a
blanket of flowers
The appreciation of South Africa's natural beauty and 'awe inspiring' scenery and wildlife
Title
Namaqualand translates to land of the khoi khoi (native tribe in South Africa)
A desert region in the north west of South Africa and south west Namibia
Extends 1000 kms along the West coast of South Africa
For most of the year it is an arid, barren desert but rains in July/August brings
flowers
The rain is a catalyst for growth/new life/relief
The title established place and time
Reinforces the main message
Celebration of beauty and rejuvenating power of nature
Symbolic of rebirth and end of period of drought/harsh conditions
Stanza 1
Alliteration:
Shows how full the earth is of rain
Lines 1:
"again": Underlines a dramatic statement or opening, the event has happened before
The land is being brought back to life
Lines 2:
"Imbued" : to saturate
"lyric": Its light, beautiful, sweet, calm, melodic, pleasant, flowing
The rain has soaked into the soil and changed the environment completely
, Lines 3:
"re-": again
"sap": life giving
The fluid that circulates the plants vascular system transporting
glucose/sugar/nutrients to the plants (fuel for growth)
The extreme transformation of nature that the rains bring
Lines 4:
"quickening": refers to the first time one can feel a baby moves
Rain brings the first signs of life
Stanza:
The landscape feels alive from the rain
The land is pregnant with possibilities
Stanza 2
Lines 5:
Shift in perspective (bigger landscape to small roots in the ground)
"explode": Intensity, bursts of activity in the way that the roots spread
"String of stars": image of plenitude/infinite/spread in every direction
(Comparison/metaphor)
Alliteration:
Conjures images of strings of twinkling lights
Joy/happiness/ the roots are glistening with water
Lines 6:
"bulb": Bulbs have been dormant
Must stop dreaming and awaken/come to life
Preciousness blooming and sharing itself with the word
Lines 7:
The sticky, sugar sap that leaks from flowers as they blossom
We see the image of transformation from bulbs to flowers
Lines 8:
"raceme": Group of flowers attached to a stem
Blossom into honey coloured jewel-like droplets
Precious
