Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s "Somewhere in Africa" is a powerful elegy, written in memory of the poet John Holmes, a figure whose life and death left a significant mark on Sexton. The poem blends personal grief, cultural reflection, and a vivid, almost mythical portrayal of death, weaving these elements into a narrative that explores the intersections of mortality, legacy, and identity.

The poem opens with a direct address to John Holmes, immediately placing the reader in the intimate space of mourning. The repetition of his name, "John Holmes," in the first and subsequent lines establishes the poem as a personal dialogue, a means for Sexton to grapple with his passing. The reference to "prayers and psalms" that were "never said" over Holmes suggests an absence of traditional religious rituals in his life, a void that contrasts with the solemnity of his death. Holmes, who "never said" these prayers, is depicted as being "praised by the mild God," a figure who seems distant and almost indifferent, leaving Holmes "timid, with no real age." This opening sets the tone for the poem, suggesting a life cut short, unfulfilled, and yet somehow smoothed over by the conventions of religion and society.

The poem critiques the way Holmes was mourned: "mourned with piety and grace under the University Cross." The mention of the "University Cross" and the "college chapel" situates his death within an academic and religious context, but Sexton seems to question the depth of this mourning, implying that it was perhaps too formal, too sanitized, to capture the true essence of Holmes. His "last book unsung" and "last hard words unknown" point to a body of work and a voice that were not fully recognized or celebrated in his lifetime, further underscoring the theme of unfulfilled potential.

Sexton vividly describes the physical decay brought on by Holmes' illness: "Dead of a dark thing, John Holmes, you've been lost / in the college chapel, mourned as father and teacher." His body is depicted as being overtaken by cancer, which "blossomed in your throat, / rooted like bougainvillea into your gray backbone, / ruptured your pores until you wore it like a coat." This imagery is stark and unsettling, illustrating how the disease consumed him, both physically and metaphorically. The comparison of cancer to "bougainvillea," a beautiful yet invasive plant, adds a layer of complexity to the depiction, suggesting that even in death, there is a strange, perverse beauty in the body's decay.

The poem then shifts to a more mythic tone, as Sexton imagines Holmes’ journey into death as one not bound by traditional Western religious concepts but rather guided by a "tribal female" deity. This God, who is "known but forbidden," represents a departure from the "mild God" of conventional Christianity. Instead, this deity is a "woman naked to the waist, / moist with palm oil and sweat, a woman of some virtue / and wild breasts, her limbs excellent, unbruised and chaste." This image is rich with symbolism, invoking the idea of a primal, earthbound spirituality that contrasts sharply with the sterile, institutionalized religion mentioned earlier.

The figure of this tribal female God becomes a guide for Holmes in the afterlife, as she "will place you / upon her shallow boat," and take him down the river, "with twelve strong men at the oars." This imagery evokes the idea of a passage into the afterlife that is steeped in cultural and spiritual significance, drawing on African symbolism and the idea of a journey into the unknown. The boat, filled with "ivory, the copra and the gold," symbolizes not just the material wealth of Africa but also the spiritual richness and depth of the culture. Holmes is depicted as being "cut from a single tree," a symbol of strength and endurance, now carried down the river of death by this powerful female deity.

In the final lines, Sexton brings the poem to a poignant conclusion: "John Holmes, cut from a single tree, lie heavy in her hold / and go down that river with the ivory, the copra and the gold." Here, she honors Holmes not just as a poet and a teacher but as someone whose life and death are part of a larger, timeless narrative. The image of Holmes "lying heavy in her hold" suggests both a return to the earth and a continuation of his journey beyond death, carried by the cultural and spiritual symbols that Sexton has so vividly portrayed.

"Somewhere in Africa" is a meditation on death, legacy, and the ways in which we are remembered—or forgotten—after we pass. Through her use of rich, evocative imagery and cultural symbolism, Sexton creates a powerful tribute to John Holmes, while also questioning the adequacy of traditional forms of mourning and remembrance. The poem challenges the reader to consider the complexities of life and death, and the ways in which cultural and spiritual narratives shape our understanding of these experiences.

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