A Far Cry From Africa by Derek Walcott - Poem Analysis

— Derek Walcott
A Far Cry from Africa by Derek

Walcott
‘A Far Cry from Africa’ is a poem based around the
struggles in Africa. One would presume it is at least
partially autobiographical.
A Far Cry from Africa by Derek Walcott is a poem based

around the struggles in Africa. One would presume it is at
least partially autobiographical and so it’s a fairly safe
assumption that the narrative voice is indeed Walcott’s own.
Explore A Far Cry from Africa

1 Form and Tone
2 ‘A Far Cry From Africa’ Title
3 Detailed Analysis
4 About Derek Walcott

Form and Tone

A Far Cry from Africa is written in free verse. It is presented in
two stanzas one consisting of twenty-one lines the other
consisting of eleven. It does not follow a strict rhyming
pattern, although end rhymes feature prominently throughout
the poem. The effect of this is that the poem has a stilted,
disjointed feel which mirrors the feelings expressed within
the poem. The rhythm is also inconsistent, although the line
lengths are similar the beats in each line alter which again
adds to the sense of discord. The poem is deeply rooted in
Africa. The language used helps to make the poem feel
culturally African.
You can read the full poem here.
‘A Far Cry From Africa’ Title

The title is in itself fairly interesting. It certainly has a double
meaning. The obvious meaning is that it is using the phrase
which means that the events are “far removed” from what
you expect in Africa, but actually, I think the title is subversive
and is supposed to be taken very literally. Meaning that in
Africa there are people crying.
Detailed Analysis
Lines 1-4
“ A wind is ruffling the tawny pe

(…)
Corpses are scattered through a paradise.
The first two lines reference the Kikuyu. This is one of the
biggest tribes in Kenya. There is an interesting use of imagery
here as they are described as being “as quick as flies” the
poet talks of them being massacred, In the fourth line he
makes a really striking comparison between the Veldt area
which he considers a paradise, and the fact it is littered with
corpses. Rhyme is used in the opening section with an ABAB
pattern. This might make you come to expect that to be a
reoccurring pattern, but this is not the case and this helps
give the poem a “stilted edge”.
Lines 5-9
“ Only the worm, colonel of carrion, cries:

(…)
What is that to the white child hacked in bed?
In the fifth line, we see the use of alliteration. Worms are

“picked on” here, being referred to as the colonel of Carrion.
The suggestion being that where you find rotting flesh, you
find worms. He personifies them though and gives them an
almost militant voice as they exclaim ‘Waste no compassion
on these separate dead!’ this gives them a villainous quality.
In the 8th line, he refers to the locals as salient, this is a
clever piece of imagery it gives the impression that these
people are isolated. It also has a double meaning with
military connotations. I think that the point the poet is trying
to make is how the colonials use their data and skew facts in
order to portray the Kikuyu as savages. Of course this doesn’t
tell the full story. I guess then that this whole begging section
is laden with irony, maybe even dramatic irony as an informed
reader would realise that these views aren’t an accurate
description of the issues that have existed in Africa.

Lines 10-13
“ To savages, expendable as Jews?

(…)
Have wheeled since civilization’s dawn
In the tenth lines, we see a very powerful metaphor as

Walcott draws on a comparison between the atrocities being
committed here and the ones committed by the Nazis during
the Second World War. At least that’s what one would
assume by referring to Jews as expendable. Once again A Far
Cry from Africa turns to imagery and the use of nature. Here
Ibises are used and their cries referenced. According to the
narrator these cries:
“ Have wheeled since civilizations dawn
I feel this is probably a metaphor for the repeated slaughter

and genocide of civilizations highlighting that this is an issue
that has been prominent throughout the history of mankind.
Of course, this is conjuncture on my part.
Lines 14-17
“ From the parched river or beast-teeming plain.

(…)
Seeks his divinity by inflicting pain.
The next four lines follow what have come before in creating
a really visceral image. Walcott uses repetition of the word
beast here in order to cement his comparison. The
suggestion here is then that the men that carry out the
atrocities may as well be animals. He then goes on to attack
religion by suggesting that man
Seeks his divinity by inflicting pain.
“

Lines 18-21
“ Delirious as these worried beasts, his wars

(…)
Of the white peace contracted by the dead.
The next four lines are really interesting. It isn’t totally clear
who the “he” that is referenced in these lines is, but I am
assuming it is supposed to represent mankind. If this is the
case then the words are pretty damning here. They are
described as delirious and once again we see the word beast
employed. There is once again the use of graphic description
using words like carcass and dread here help to convey the
dark and grim tone. There is a lovely piece of wordsmanship
here as Walcott uses the phrase “white peace” this is used
almost as an oxymoron as the peace he is describing is born
of the multiple deaths. Just another example of the strong
use of irony throughout the poem.
Lines 22-23
“ Again brutish necessity wipes its hands

Upon the napkins of a dirty cause, again
There is a wonderfully glib line here as the process of wiping

one’s hands. This innocuous act is made powerful by being
allied to the idea of “man” or perhaps more specifically the
“white man” being dismissive about what is going on.
Metaphor is used fantastically here, it is so thinly veiled as to
almost be construed as sarcastic.

Lines 24-27
In the 24th line, he uses the phrase
“ A waste of our compassion, as with Spain
Once again this is very sarcastic and certainly not the view of
the narrator himself who clearly, as we later see, wrestles
with his lineage and heritage. The use of Superman helps to
date the piece and highlights that it is contemporary and that
these are current affairs. He refers to himself as being
poisoned by the blood of both. We can assume that this is
referring to his mixed heritage.
Lines 28-33
“ I who have cursed

(…)
How can I turn from Africa and live?
This final section of the poem really brings us to the crux of

the entire poem. The poet struggles to deal with his lineage
and his association between that lineage and the atrocities
carried out by those nations. By the same token, he is torn as
he clearly has an affection for the language of his mother
tongue.
About Derek Walcott

Derek Walcott was a St Lucian poet who among his many
accolades received a Nobel prize for literature. Given the fact
that he is of South American descent, it seems strange that
Walcott wrote about events in Africa, although you could
make the assumption that it was due to an interest in a fellow
colonial country.
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Home » Derek Walcott » A Far Cry from Africa
About Lee-James Bovey

Lee-James, a.k.a. LJ, has been a Poem Analysis team
member ever since Novemer 2015, providing critical analysis
of poems from the past and present. Nowadays, he helps
manage the team and the website.
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— Derek Walcott

A Far Cry from Africa by Derek

A Far Cry from Africa by Derek Walcott is a poem based

Explore A Far Cry from Africa

2 ‘A Far Cry From Africa’ Title

4 About Derek Walcott

Form and Tone

You can read the full poem here.

‘A Far Cry From Africa’ Title

“ A wind is ruffling the tawny pe

“ Only the worm, colonel of carrion, cries:

In the fifth line, we see the use of alliteration. Worms are

“ To savages, expendable as Jews?

In the tenth lines, we see a very powerful metaphor as

“ Have wheeled since civilizations dawn

I feel this is probably a metaphor for the repeated slaughter

“ From the parched river or beast-teeming plain.

“ Delirious as these worried beasts, his wars

“ Again brutish necessity wipes its hands

There is a wonderfully glib line here as the process of wiping

“ A waste of our compassion, as with Spain

“ I who have cursed

This final section of the poem really brings us to the crux of

About Derek Walcott

Discover the Essential Secrets

Your Email Address

Sign up to unveil the best kept secrets in poetry,

Home » Derek Walcott » A Far Cry from Africa

About Lee-James Bovey

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