Building the nation
By Henry Barlow (Uganda)
Today I did my share
In building the nation.
I drove a Permanent
Secretary
To an important urgent
function
In fact to a luncheon at the
Vic.
The menu reflected its
importance
Cold Bell beer with small
talk,
Then fried chicken with
niceties
Wine to fill the hollowness
of the laughs
Ice-cream to cover the
stereotype jokes
Coffee to keep the PS awake
on return journey.
I drove the Permanent
Secretary back.
He yawned many times in back
of the car
Then to keep awake, he
suddenly asked,
Did you have any lunch
friend?
I replied looking straight
ahead
And secretly smiling at his
belated concern
That I had not, but was
slimming!
Upon which he said with a
seriousness
That amused more than
annoyed me,
Mwananchi, I too had none!
I attended to matters of
state.
Highly delicate diplomatic
duties you know,
And friend, it goes against
my grain,
Causes me stomach ulcers and
wind.
Ah, he continued, yawning
again,
The pains we suffer in
building the nation!
So the PS had ulcers too!
My ulcers I think are
equally painful
Only they are caused by
hunger,
No sumptuous lunches!
So two nation builders
Arrived home this evening
With terrible stomach pains
The result of building the
nation –
-
Different ways.
ANALYSIS OF A POEM
1. THE POET
Henry
Barlow
2. TITLE
‘Building
the nation is a symbolic and ironical title. It is symbolic because it
symbolizes the whole building process of something especially a nation. And it
is ironical because it satirizes the people who boast that they are true
national builders while they are not.
3.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE POEM
“Building
the nation’ is about the views from two different national builders. The first
one is the leader and he publicly claims to be the real national builder while
in reality he is not. The second national builder is a true one although he
does no say it publicly. Despite their differences, they are all nation
builders.
SUMMARY OF THE STANZAS
1st Stanza
The
stanza relates the daily routine of the Permanent Secretary's driver who drives
a PS to various places. In this stanza, the driver explains how he has
participated in building the nation by driving a PS to luncheon at the Vic. To
PS, this is an important, urgent function to attend.
2nd Stanza
The
persona who is the PS Driver explains what has happened at important function
at the Vic. he explains how PS and his fellow dignitaries enjoy eating and
drinking at the Vic. They eat and drink as they share small talks, laughs and
some jokes.
3rd Stanza
The
driver says he drove the PS back after the luncheon is over. On the way back,
PS is tired and yawning many times in the back of the car. When PS asks the
driver if he had any lunch at the Vic, the driver says he hadn't but he is
slimming. PS is indifferent to the driver; he doesn't care what his driver eats
while he is enjoying with others at the Vic.
4th Stanza
In this
stanza, PS continue to be indifferent to the driver. He also says that he had
taken no lunch as well. This response amuses the driver. The PS says he only
attended to matters of the State and diplomatic duties. This is hypocrisy of
the PS and other leaders because they were not really at the matters of the
state and diplomatic duties. They were just enjoying themselves.
5th Stanza
PS
explains that all he is not interested in those things and they cause him
stomach ulcers and wind. He says those are the pains they suffer in building
the nation as leaders. The driver too says he has ulcers but they are caused by
hunger but not by sumptuous lunches which are always attended by PS.
6th Stanza
The last
stanza finalizes the poem by commenting on these two national builders. They
all arrive home with terrible stomach pains as result of building the nation.
4. PERSONA
(Who is
speaking in the poem). The persona of this poem is ironical, desperate, sad and
angry man who ridicules, satirizes and disapproves the irresponsible leaders
like the Permanent Secretary.
5. ADDRESSEE
(Whom
the speaker is speaking to). The addressee of this poem is the leader or
leaders who are hypocritical and does not care much about his/her people.
6. TONE
The tone
of the poet is ironic, satirical, sad and angry.
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