How does the speaker memorably convey his thoughts and feelings at this moment?
The speaker conveys his thoughts and feelings through his close relationship with the land, his
sense of hope for the coming year, and his awareness of the threats to his crop. By addressing
Asase Yaa, the African Earth goddess, he expresses both reverence and dependence, making his
prayer deeply emotional and vivid.
The speaker memorably conveys his deep connection with the land through his reverence for
Asase Yaa, the African Earth goddess, whom he addresses as “Mother of Earth.” By personifying
the soil as a maternal figure, he expresses a sacred relationship with the land, one of respect and
dependence. His reference to “the soil I have placed my tools” and “on whose soil I will hoe”
reflects not only his physical labor but also a sense of partnership with the earth. The repetition
of “I will” emphasizes his commitment and highlights the cyclical nature of his work, which
mirrors the cycles of life and the seasons. Through this portrayal, the speaker positions himself
as a devoted caretaker, underscoring his respect for the earth's fertility and its pivotal role in
sustaining life.
The speaker also conveys a strong sense of hope for the year ahead. He expresses this
optimism in his prayer for the earth to “drink and be happy” and for the crops to “eat [and] rest.”
This metaphorical language imbues the land with human qualities, suggesting a desire for
harmony between the farmer and the earth. His hope is further reinforced by the wish for the year
to “be fruitful beyond the fruit of your labour,” indicating his aspirations not just for survival but
for abundance. The vivid imagery of “shoots faithful to tip, juice to stem, leaves to green” conveys
a vision of thriving crops, encapsulating his belief in the earth's potential to reward his labor. This
moment of optimism is central to his prayer, reflecting both gratitude for past harvests and faith
in future prosperity.
However, alongside this hope, the speaker vividly portrays his fears about the threats to his
crops. He lists potential dangers, including “the knife or the cutlass,” “roots blunt,” “shoots break,”
and natural calamities like “hot harmattan” and “damp rot.” These threats are described in detail,
using a combination of harsh consonants and evocative imagery, such as the “tunnelling
termites” raising their “red monuments.” The alliteration of “tunnelling termites” creates a sense
of relentless destruction, while the term “monuments” ironically likens their damage to grand,
enduring structures, emphasizing their devastating impact. This detailed depiction highlights the
precariousness of his livelihood and the many forces beyond his control, creating a stark
contrast with his earlier optimism.
The speaker’s choice of language also reflects his emotional investment in the success of the
harvest. Phrases like “may the knife… not cut me” and “winds shatter, damp rot” carry a tone of
urgency and vulnerability, suggesting that the survival of the crops is tied directly to his own well-
being. This alignment of his fate with the earth's underscores his dependency on nature and
intensifies the stakes of his prayer. The repeated use of imperatives, such as “drink and be
happy,” suggests a desperate plea to Asase Yaa to grant him her blessings. This stylistic choice
heightens the emotional intensity of the poem, making the speaker's hopes and fears tangible to
the reader.
Ultimately, the speaker’s thoughts and feelings are powerfully conveyed through his blend of
reverence, hope, and vulnerability. His close relationship with the land, personified as Asase Yaa,
reflects a deep spiritual bond, while his vivid descriptions of both the promise of abundance and
the fear of calamity highlight the fragility of his livelihood. By framing his labor within the broader
cycle of life and nature, the speaker’s prayer becomes a poignant meditation on humanity's
dependence on the earth and the delicate balance required for survival. This universal theme
resonates beyond the specific cultural context, making the poem both personal and profoundly
relatable.
