In the poem “The Sea Eats the Land at Home”, Kofi Awoonor uses violent visual imagery along with powerful verbs and emotive language to create an impactful and memorable effect in the poem.
In the beginning, he uses the literal and metaphorical details and images of the sea to evoke sympathy and sadness from the reader which creates a resultant power in his words. Awoonor begins with “At home, the sea is in the town, Running in and out … Collecting firewood”. This implies that the ocean has entered the speaker’s home and is leaving their belongings and items essential for survival. The word “home” is symbolic of safety, security and warmth, which the speaker is now completely stripped of. Awoonor’s choice of the word “home” provides a sense of comfort and ease to the reader and could make them reminisce of their personal joyful memories. The motion of the sea entering entirely disrupts that peace that the speaker was experiencing. From the very beginning of the poem, Awoonor manages to use the word “home” and its destruction to create a memorable image of utter obliteration to the reader’s mind. The personification of the ocean “Running in and out” denotes the swift movements of the waves as it enters and leaves each house. Alternatively, this could be indicative of the allegorical message of the British colonial rule that Ghana was under at the time of Awoonor’s life. This personification could communicate the idea of British colonialism and how destructive it is – the colonizers infiltrated every home and took Ghanian people’s belongings without concern or regard for their lives. The “sea” that is repeated throughout the poem could indicate the “sea of men” who never seemed to stop entering and destroying the livelihoods of the Ghanian people like an uncontrollable flood. The phrase “Collecting firewood” is especially touching, as the stealing of firewood implies the stealing of fire and extinguishing their warmth. This could also be an oblique reference to stealing their nourishment along with their warmth as fire is essential for cooking food and staying warm. The word “firewood” would be a symbol of their souls and how the fire in their lives was looted. This is a powerful visual to the reader as they can see that there is no end to what these men take and how they have absolutely no regard for the lives of these people. This creates a resultant sympathy and sadness from the reader and the emotional impact is powerful. The speaker repeats the title “The sea eats the land at home.” and the repetition of this poignant line emphasizes the tragedy and dread inflicted on the Ghanian people. The repetition could also imply the repetitive destruction of their homes and acts as a constant reminder of their pain. Furthermore, the choice of the verb “eat” is powerful, as the personification highlights how the village is being swallowed by an implacable force which in turn creates a disturbing and powerful image in the reader’s mind.
In addition, Awoonor also uses vivid imagery to display the vulnerability of the Ghanian people against British colonialism to further emphasize the power and ability of the waves. The speaker says “It came one day at the dead of night, Destroying the cement walls, … the fowls, The cooking-pots and the ladles,”. This shows that the waves came unexpectedly and began its unstoppable annihilation. The use of the phrase “ came .. at the dead of night”, illustrates the unexpected disruption of what should generally be calm. The fact that these invaders attacked at the “dead of night” demonstrates that they know when these people are at their most vulnerable and defenceless state and therefore displays them as beasts intent on the destruction of this village who take advantage of their vulnerability. Like animals, they attack when their prey’s guard is down. The word “dead” also foreshadows the coming deaths and emphasizes to the sinister change in tone. The phrase “Destroying the cement walls” demonstrates the sheer strength of sea and severity of the situation. The “cement walls” that fortified their area and provided them with a sense of safety from danger has crumbled into pieces. The image of cement walls, one of the hardest and sturdiest materials being destroyed down by water, a seemingly powerless and weak liquid, exhibits the sheer power of the water. Awoonor uses this visual imagery to reinforce his point on the scale of this attack. The repetition of the word “the” makes the description seem like a collective and ongoing list of items that have been stolen from them. These objects, which make up their possessions and allow their survival has been taken from them and creates the idea that they are now left with nothing. The word “destroying” could also imply the idea that the sea has not only destroyed their homes but the whole domestic environment. The fact that the sea is stealing everyday items like ladles and cooking-pots could indicate how they are unable to feed and nourish themselves and the people around them. In addition to all points mentioned previously, it could also imply that their culture is also being washed away by the colonial invaders and their sea. They are left with nothing, without the items that their culture and livelihoods were built up on, which could further highlight the power of the waves and leaves a memorable impact on the reader. The poem has no rhyme scheme, which could reflect the uncontrollability and the unpredictable nature of the attacks and the sea and the lack of reasoning and pattern in their actions and behaviour.
Furthermore, Awoonor uses evocative visual and auditory imagery alongside religious imagery with words with religious connotations to demonstrate the despair and loss of the people. The speaker says “hear the wails and … shouts of the women, Calling on all the gods the worship, to protect them from the angry sea”. The auditory imagery of the “wails” and “shouts” creates a sense of hopelessness and desolation. This characterises the sea as a brutal raider and a part of thieves intent on destruction. The repetition of the letter “w” and the wailing/ crying sound that it makes illustrates the barbaric consequences of colonisation. This evokes sympathy and pity from the reader which has a lasting and memorable impact. The fact that they are “calling on all the gods” shows their desperation for at least a single deity to save them. The mention and reliance on God and the lack of response or help from the Gods, could signify how little hope they have if Gods – a force greater than humanity itself – cannot even help them. Awoonor uses the phrase “angry sea” to denote the aggressive behaviour of the sea. Alternatively, it could also connote the idea that a punishment has fallen from the Gods in the form of the sea and they are powerless to protect themselves since the sea is not only hungry but angry. Therefore, the recurring theme of religion and the lack of help from the Gods they believe in, emphasizes the hopelessness for their survival. The subtle yet powerful implications behind Awoonor’s words make this poem so impactful and memorable. The reader realises this which creates a tragic, helpless and unfading atmosphere.
Finally, Awoonor zooms into individuals and describes their pain and loss which has an emotionally powerful impact on the reader. By zooming in and giving an identity to these two women (Aku and Adena), makes their pain more personal and relatable to the reader. The speaker says “Aku stood outside where her cooking-pot stood, With the two children shivering from the cold,”. The juxtaposition of Aku and her plight demonstrates how the destruction is indiscriminate and arbitrary and displays how no one is safe from the domination of the waves, not even mothers and no one knows when the “sea of men” will recede. The idea that Aku is a mother of “two children shivering in the cold” is poignant and evokes sadness in the reader. I feel that this is extremely significant as earlier in the poem, the sea took their “firewood” which is representative of warmth and symbolic of their soul. Therefore, Aku is unable to keep her children warm and alive. This, in turn, makes the reader realize how little their chance of survival is and creates an overwhelming sense of sadness. Their lives have been cut short by the vicious, cold and heartless invaders. This is also linked with the phrases “dead of night” since by the coming night, there is a strong chance that they will be dead by night. The sinister and terrifying images created makes the reader ponder on the repeated allegorical message of colonialism which leaves a strong impact of loss and pain. The speaker then says “Adena has lost the trinkets which were her dowry and her joy”. This shows that Adena has lost her most precious belongings which brought her happiness. Additionally, the word “dowry” makes this loss even more impactful. A dowry is what a young girl needs for a good marriage in a traditional society like Ghana. This is especially powerful because it implies that the sea not only kills her current family members, but it also eliminates her chance of continuing her bloodline through marriage. It denotes that the town and the livelihoods of the villagers are permanently impacted and their opportunities for a future is shattered forever. This adds a personalised and tragic part to the narrative and the imagery created from these vivid personal experiences has a powerful impact on the reader. In addition the line “eternal hum of the living sea” shows how the sea is an unstoppable and neverending force. The word “eternal” suggests that there are huge forces that can interrupt our lives at any moment. It further implies that living with the threat of destruction and ruin is an inescapable part of human life. The phrase “living sea” also reinforces the fact that the sea is “alive” and reminds the reader of the idea of colonialism and its destructive nature on the culture and lives of the native people. Furthermore, the varying stanza lengths throughout the poem creates a quick impact which results in a lasting impression. Alternatively, this quick impact could also exemplify the frequent and quick invasions by the British colonies and how the disputes were always settled quickly because of the clear winner. The poem concludes with “Eats the whole land at home”. The slight alteration of the refrain has a forceful impact on the reader and concludes with an impactful ending. Awoonor’s choice of the word “whole” displays that the appetite of the sea is insatiable and will never stop until it has eaten everything. Alternatively, it could also suggest the idea that nothing is beyond the limits of the sea, not even people, their souls and their future.
In conclusion, Awoonor uses evocative and graphic words along with impactful auditory and visual imagery to create a lasting and powerful impression on the reader. The contextual details and allegorical message of Ghana being under the British colonial rule creates a deeper understanding from the reader and gives an unmissable power to Awoonor’s words and images.
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