City Johannesburg
In 'City Johannesburg', Mongane Wally Serote explores the complex relationship between the speaker and the city of Johannesburg, reflecting on themes of survival, identity, and socio-economic struggle. The poem opens with a salute to the city, where the speaker's hand searches for his pass, symbolizing the struggle for existence in an urban environment. The line 'My hand like a starved snake rears my pockets' evokes a vivid image of desperation, as the speaker grapples with poverty and hunger, which are personified through his stomach's groans. This establishes a tone of both affection and critique towards Johannesburg, a city that embodies both life and struggle.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes leaving behind his 'love'—the familiar sights and sounds of his community, represented by 'comic houses and people'. The imagery of 'whirling dust' and 'my death' suggests a cyclical relationship with the city, where life and death coexist. The phrase 'Where death lurks in the dark like a blade in the flesh' starkly illustrates the dangers and harsh realities of urban life, emphasizing the constant presence of mortality amidst the vibrancy of the city.
The poem's emotional arc shifts as the speaker navigates the city’s roads, described as 'black and white and roboted', reflecting the mechanized and often impersonal nature of urban life. The mention of 'neon flowers' highlights the allure of Johannesburg, yet this allure is juxtaposed with the stark reality of 'frozen expressions' on the faces of its inhabitants, suggesting a disconnect between the city's vibrancy and the emotional desolation of its people.
Serote employs powerful metaphors and vivid imagery to convey the duality of Johannesburg as a place of both opportunity and despair. The repeated phrase 'Jo’burg City' serves as a refrain that underscores the speaker's complex feelings towards the city, encapsulating both admiration and critique. Ultimately, the poem speaks to the broader experience of urban life in post-apartheid South Africa, where the legacy of apartheid continues to shape the realities of its citizens, making it a poignant reflection on identity and survival in a challenging environment.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| salute | greet | to show respect or honor to someone | salute |
| pulses | beats | to move rhythmically or steadily | pulses |
| trousers | pants | a piece of clothing worn from the waist to the ankles | trousers |
| pass | permit | a document allowing someone to enter or travel | pass |
| starved | very hungry | suffering from lack of food | starved |
| devours | eats greedily | to consume something eagerly or ravenously | devours |
| coppers | coins | small, low-value coins | coppers |
| comic | funny | related to humor or laughter | comic |
| dongas | shanties | informal housing or makeshift shelters | dongas |
| whirling | spinning | moving rapidly in a circular motion | whirling |
| erosion | wearing away | the process of being gradually destroyed | erosion |
| frozen | cold and stiff | unable to move or change | frozen |
| expressions | faces | the look on someone's face that conveys emotion | expressions |
| furrows | grooves | long, narrow trenches or lines | furrows |
| dry | without moisture | lacking water or vitality | dry |
| might | strength | power or force | might |
| feebleness | weakness | lack of strength or power | feebleness |
| blood | fluid in the body | the red liquid that circulates in the body | blood |
| fun | enjoyment | activities that are enjoyable or entertaining | fun |
| nothing | zero | not anything; no single thing | nothing |
| tears | crying drops | drops of liquid that come from the eyes when someone cries | tears |
| like | similar to | used to compare two things | like |
| death | end of life | the cessation of life | death |
Mongane Wally Serote (born 8 May 1944) is a South African poet and writer known for his political resistance against apartheid. He was arrested in 1969 and later spent years in exile before returning to South Africa in 1990.
View on Wikipedia