Analysis of the sea eats the land at home

It is a narrative poem where the sea is personified, which makes it appear more vivid. The use of the word ‘running and collecting’ makes the sea appear furtive and stealth-like accentuating it’s human-like qualities. Had the poet used the word flowing, the impact of the personification would have been reduced. “It came at the dead of the night’ indicating the sea sneaking in at night was a conscious choice made by the sea. The sea is given reasoning abilities, it knows when the residents of the town will be more vulnerable. The sea is also described to be « angry » and this is again personification and gives the sea a threatening aura. The « hum of the living sea »indicates that the sea is always in the background, ready to destroy again and emphasises its « eternal » power.

By introducing characters such as Aku, Awoonor shows the vulnerable position in which the devastating sea leaves people, it doesn’t just « eat land » it affects real people too and this garners sympathy from the reader.

The whole poem has a lot of visual imagery. The first line is the classic example of the strong imagery and from then on this sort of imagery continues. « Destroying cement walls », « shouts of women », « struggling in water » are some examples of the visual imagery.  Symbolism is also used in the poem. Aku and her children were standing where « her cooking pot stood ». The past tense « stood » is used to convey a sense of loss. Indeed, the kitchen area is symbolic of warmth and home. In the freezing cold when she stands it also symbolises that she is yearning for some physical warmth as well as some emotional strength.

The sea which represents the power of nature, is presented as being extremely punitive: much like God. There are references to “gods” upon which the women of the town call on. The flood of the the town resembles the Biblical flood, during which all of humanity save for Noah and his family were wiped out. Indeed, both God and the sea in their rage spare no one, as the images of Aku’s displaced family shows and destroys everything in its passage. The use of the sea as symbolism for God effectively creates a stark image of power and makes it appear more lively and vivid.

The sea eats everything without any difference and there is no power in the world that can stop as it eats the “whole land at home.” Nothing and no one is left untouched by its sheer force.

The poem recounts a story of distraught and unending sorrow. And Awoonor presents an overall picture of destruction that has profound impact as a home is supposed to be safe and secure yet man (and its man made things) will always be overcome by nature.

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