Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Chocolate Soldiers" by Calvin Forbes is a thought-provoking and vividly rendered poem that explores themes of colonialism, race, and the seductive allure of power through the metaphor of chocolate. Forbes employs rich imagery and historical allusions to critique the complex dynamics of imperialism and its continuing impacts.

The opening line of the poem, "Where's the winning without chocolate," immediately introduces the idea of conquest and the spoils associated with it, using chocolate as a symbol for both literal and metaphorical sweetness that accompanies victory. The speaker questioning the General sets a tone of irony, suggesting a critique of the justifications often given for colonial and militaristic endeavors.

The reference to "white bombs" landing on "Venus beach" with the "natives" responding by "shooting their tongues into our ears" evokes a scene of violent cultural clash and invasion. The imagery of white bombs could symbolize Western aggression, while the natives' reaction portrays a forced, invasive cultural exchange. The setting on Venus beach lends a surreal, almost mythical quality to the scene, suggesting that these themes are universal and timeless.

Forbes's use of the past tense in recalling a time when "chocolate was in front" and "strangers bit what our hand extended" evokes a historical perspective where chocolate (and by extension, colonial powers) once seemed benign and welcome, offering sweetness and trade. This contrasts sharply with the later realization that these interactions were part of broader strategies of domination and control—"not laying us but we laying them in the dungy hay."

The phrase "Brown candy melted in colonial mouths" further emphasizes the consumption of colonial products (in this case, chocolate) by colonizers, serving as a metaphor for the exploitation of colonized lands and peoples. The transformation from sweetness to politics symbolizes how economic goods were used to sweeten the harsh realities of colonial rule.

The transition to "white sons wrote home about Guam and bodies with nude ankles" shifts the focus to American imperialism in the Pacific, hinting at both the exoticization and sexualization of colonized peoples, and the casual way these views were communicated back home.

Forbes concludes with a reflection on the changing power dynamics, suggesting that "The brown will dominate even on Venus beach." This line predicts a reversal of colonial power structures, hinting at a future where the oppressed might rise against their oppressors. Yet, the speaker's admission of taking a mirror to "insure courageous chocolate dwells there" reveals a personal struggle with identity and legacy, questioning whether the seductive qualities of power and domination might still reside within oneself.

Overall, "The Chocolate Soldiers" by Calvin Forbes is a powerful meditation on the allure and consequences of power, using the symbol of chocolate to weave a narrative about colonialism, race, and resistance. It challenges the reader to consider the deep-seated complexities of historical injustices and their enduring impact on contemporary identities and power relations.

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