FIRST DAY AFTER THE WAR by Mazisi Kunene

First Day After the War 

Mazisi Kunene

1.We heard the songs of a wedding party.

2.We saw a soft light

3.Coiling round the young blades of grass

4.At first we hesitated, then we saw her footprints,

5.Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!

6.She woke us up with a smile saying,

7.'What day is this that comes so suddenly?‘

8.We said, 'It is the first day after the war.‘

9.Then without waiting we ran to the open space

10.Ululating to the mountains and the pathways

11.Calling people from all the circles of the earth.

12.We shook up the old man demanding a festival.

13.We asked for all the first fruits of the season

14.We held hands with a stranger

15.We shouted across the waterfalls

16.People came from all lands

17.It was the first day of peace.

18.We saw our Ancestors traveling tall on the horizon.

 About the poet ...

 Born in Durban in 1930

 He spent over 30 years in exile and returned in 1993

  In 2005, he was honoured with the title of Poet Laureate

  Mazisi Kunene died on 12 August 2006

      We heard the songs of a wedding party.
We saw a soft light

The poet appeals to the reader's sense of hearing (heard the

songs) and vision (saw a soft light).

The songs of celebration

Sibilance of the “s” consonant sound – alliteration

Coiling round the young blades of grass

Coiling – wind around in loops or spirals, completely covered

Metaphor – the poet compares the young married couple to

young blades of grass. The married couple are young like fresh

new growth of grass.

Metaphor – the glow of happiness on the young couple is

compared to light on new grass.

Also suggests a new dawn, new beginning, fresh new start

At first we hesitated, then we saw her footprints,
Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!

 

Hesitated suggests unbelief, doubt

Personification – freedom is described as having footprints, a

face and eyes. Kunene uses the concept of the democracy as a

character. Democracy is feminised by the pronoun “her”.

Furthermore, freedom or democracy is said to have footprints, a

face and eyes.

'footprints' refers to the area affected or covered by freedom;

freedom makes its mark with its footprints.

"face' refers to one's identity. Freedom is identified as such when

it emerges.

'eyes of freedom' could suggest the innocense of freedom

       She woke us up with a smile saying,
'What day is this that comes so suddenly?‘

Metaphor  -  the poet compares South Africa under the

oppression of apartheid to a long sleep. Democracy wakes the

country up out of its apartheid sleep.

'with a smile' suggests the welcoming nature of freedom.

'Day' refers to the dawn of democracy – day of the first

democratic elections.

Suddenly has a hint of ‘violence’ or of interrupting the sleep of

apartheid. Apartheid is demolished and freedom has come.

We said, 'It is the first day after the war.‘

Metaphor – apartheid is compared to war. War is unjust and

innocent lives are lost. Apartheid was unjust and many lives were

lost.

Then without waiting we ran to the open space
Ululating to the mountains and the pathways
Calling people from all the circles of the earth.

The poet appeals to the reader’s auditory sense.

Onomatopoeia – the pronunciation of the word ‘ululating’

imitates actual ululating. Ululating is defined as a loud, shrill or cry

of sorrow or of rejoicing. In this case it is the African sound of

rejoicing one hears at a wedding celebration.

Metaphor – the ululating is compared to an announcement or

celebration of freedom. It is to be heard by all so that all will

celebrate the freedom from apartheid.

'circles of the earth' refers to all the tribes and language groups on

the earth.

We shook up the old man demanding a festival.
We asked for all the first fruits of the season

The old man could refer to the elderly who have been subjected

to apartheid for many years. A festival is demanded because of

the freedoms they were denied. It is owed to them and long

overdue.

Alliteration  - “first fruits”. The f consonant sound suggests an

overflowing / abundance of crops/ fruit.

“first fruits of the season” is a Biblical allusion to the tithe which is

an expression of gratitude for God’s blessings.

The idea of responding with gratitude for the advent of

democracy is suggested. This is particularly necessary after the

experience of hardship during the oppressive apartheid regime. 

We held hands with a stranger

This line suggest a reconciliatory action.

Black and white (strangers – apartheid separated people on the

basis of their skin colour).

We shouted across the waterfalls
People came from all lands

The announcement of the advent of democracy is shared with all

neighbouring countries  / across borders.

It was the first day of peace.

We saw our Ancestors traveling tall on the horizon.

The ancestors finally find their rest from the oppression that they

were subjected to. They are relieved and travel in the spirit world

with pride (travelling tall).

Their blood was shed by the injustice of apartheid. Now that

injustice is atoned.

The spirits of the African ancestors are known as amadlozi and

they play a very important role in the lives of their living

descendants.

The tone of the poem is celebratory and praise for democracy in

South Africa.