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IT IS THE CONSTANT IMAGE OF YOUR FACE
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Dennis Brutus (28 November 1924 – 26 December 2009) was a South African activist in the 1950s and 1960s., educator, journalist, and poet best known for his campaign to have South Africa banned from the Olympic Games due to its racial policy of apartheid. (more)
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LITERAL MEANING
The persona reflects on the image of someone he cares for. This love interest accused him, with their eyes, of breaking their heart. The persona admits that both of them (he and the love interest) can make no excuses for his behaviour because the love interest does not take (www.bulbsoup.com) precedence over his land, or country. Despite this fact, the persona begs for mercy, pleading guilty for being seduced by his love interest's beauty. This person protects him dearly and he admits that, as a result of this, he has committed treason against his country. He hopes that his country, his other dearest love, will pardon him because he loves both his country and his love interest.
The persona reflects on the image of someone he cares for. This love interest accused him, with their eyes, of breaking their heart. The persona admits that both of them (he and the love interest) can make no excuses for his behaviour because the love interest does not take (www.bulbsoup.com) precedence over his land, or country. Despite this fact, the persona begs for mercy, pleading guilty for being seduced by his love interest's beauty. This person protects him dearly and he admits that, as a result of this, he has committed treason against his country. He hopes that his country, his other dearest love, will pardon him because he loves both his country and his love interest.
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It is the 3. constant image of your face
framed in my hands as you knelt before my chair the 4. grave attention of 1. your eyes surveying me amid my 5. world of knives 5 that stays with me, 1. perennially accuses and convicts me of 2. heart's-treachery: and neither you nor I can plead excuses for you, you know, can claim no loyalty - my land takes precedence of all my loves. 10 Yet I beg mitigation, pleading guilty for you, my dear, accomplice of my heart made, without words, 6. such blackmail with your beauty and proffered me such dear protectiveness that I confess without remorse or shame 15 my still-fresh treason to1. my country and hope that she, my other, dearest love will pardon freely, not attaching blame being your mistress (or your match) in tenderness. Poet: Dennis Brutus |
LITERARY DEVICES
1. PERSONIFICATION
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IMPORTANT WORD/ PHRASES
3. 'constant image' (Stanza 1, line 1)
This implies that the persona constantly, or always, remembers his love interest's face. It emphasizes the guilt he feels in relation to this person.
4. 'grave attention' (Stanza 1. line 3)
The love interest's eyes display grave attention. The word grave implies intensely serious, so this person is truly hurt.
5. 'world of knives' (Stanza 1, line 4)
A knife inflicts pain and destroys. The persona, therefore, is identifying his world with causing pain.
6. 'such blackmail with your beauty' (Stanza 2, line 12)
To blackmail someone is to have something (www.bulbsoup.com) over them that puts their will in your control. The love interest's beauty has captivated the persona in such a way that he betrays his country with this person.
3. 'constant image' (Stanza 1, line 1)
This implies that the persona constantly, or always, remembers his love interest's face. It emphasizes the guilt he feels in relation to this person.
4. 'grave attention' (Stanza 1. line 3)
The love interest's eyes display grave attention. The word grave implies intensely serious, so this person is truly hurt.
5. 'world of knives' (Stanza 1, line 4)
A knife inflicts pain and destroys. The persona, therefore, is identifying his world with causing pain.
6. 'such blackmail with your beauty' (Stanza 2, line 12)
To blackmail someone is to have something (www.bulbsoup.com) over them that puts their will in your control. The love interest's beauty has captivated the persona in such a way that he betrays his country with this person.
THEMATIC CATEGORY: Desire, Patriotism
ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is sadness. The persona is thinking about his two loves and how he is torn between them.
The tone of the poem is apologetic. The persona is guilt-ridden over this love triangle and sadness permeates the words that he uses to describe it.
The mood of the poem is sadness. The persona is thinking about his two loves and how he is torn between them.
The tone of the poem is apologetic. The persona is guilt-ridden over this love triangle and sadness permeates the words that he uses to describe it.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Brutus, D. 'It is the Constant Image of your Face' in A World of Poetry. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pearson Education Ltd, 2005.
Brutus, D. 'It is the Constant Image of your Face' in A World of Poetry. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pearson Education Ltd, 2005.
