ANALYSIS OF THE POEM "EPILOGUE" (Grace Nichols) BY Samson Mwita

EPILOGUE

Grace Nichols (Guyana)

I have crossed an ocean

I have lost my tongue

From the root of the old

One

A new one has sprung

INTRODUCTION

This poem was written by a black woman from Guyana (Grace Nichols) who later moved to England. It expresses important ideas about separation and a new beginning.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

a.    The poet says she has “lost her tongue” what does that mean?

It means she has adopted a new language. She no longer speaks her native language (tongue).

b.    Which ocean has she crossed?

While she has crossed the real geographical ocean (Pacific) from Guyana - Caribbean all the way to England, “crossing the ocean” could also imply or symbolise other changes that happen to people. As she crossed the ocean she never remained the same because even her language changed.

c.    What does she mean when she says “a new one has sprung from the root of the old one’?

Here the poet talks something about the development of languages. We all know that languages are dynamic (always changing) and that they borrow words and even grammatical structure from each other. Languages like creoles come out of the blend of two or more languages. So the language she speaks originates/emanates from the old one.

d.    Comment on the structure of the poem.

The poem is made up of only one short stanza with 5 verses.

e.    What is the theme of the poem?

The central theme is separation and loss of identity.

The poetess shows that when most people move away from their motherland they tend to lose their identity and adopt the culture of the foreign land including but not limited to language.

Ø  The poem could be about Grace herself who moved from Guyana to England.

Ø  It could also be addressing all the Caribbean who left their homes and went to England.

Ø  But also all those people who left their own countries to go to the Caribbean in the last few hundred years, especially all those who were taken from Africa in slavery;

Ø  All black people all over the world whose roots can be traced back to Africa over the centuries;

Ø  All people all over the world, as scientists think that human life originated in Africa thousands of years ago.