Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Pepper Clark's poem "Abiku" delves into the Yoruba belief in the spirit child, or abiku, a being that is believed to be caught in a cycle of repeated birth and death. These spirit children are often thought to intentionally die and be reborn, causing great emotional and physical pain to their mothers. In this poem, Clark addresses the abiku directly, urging it to stay and break the cycle of death and rebirth. Through vivid imagery and an evocative tone, the poem explores themes of life, death, and the anguish of maternal love.

The poem opens with the speaker acknowledging the abiku's cyclical nature: "Coming and going these several seasons." This line reflects the recurring pattern of the spirit child's existence, where it repeatedly enters the world only to depart again, leaving a trail of sorrow in its wake. The speaker's plea for the abiku to "stay out on the baobab tree" suggests a desire for the spirit child to remain in the spiritual realm, or at least, to delay its inevitable return to the physical world.

Clark's reference to the baobab tree is significant, as it is often considered a symbol of life, longevity, and endurance in many African cultures. However, in this context, the baobab tree also represents a liminal space, a place where the abiku can linger between the spiritual and physical worlds. The speaker's suggestion that the abiku "Follow where you please your kindred spirits" implies a recognition of the child's otherworldly nature and a resigned acceptance that its existence is tied to forces beyond the human realm.

The poem then shifts to describe the realities of the physical world, where life is marked by hardship and uncertainty. The speaker acknowledges the imperfections of the home: "True, it leaks through the thatch / When floods brim the banks," and "the bats and the owls / Often tear in at night through the eaves." These images evoke a sense of vulnerability and fragility, as the home is not only physically vulnerable but also spiritually open to external forces, symbolized by the nocturnal creatures that invade the space. The harmattan season, with its dry, harsh winds, further adds to the precariousness of life, where "the bamboo walls / Are ready tinder for the fire."

Despite these challenges, the speaker insists that the home has provided sustenance and stability: "Still, it's been the healthy stock / To several fingers, to many more will be." This line suggests that the home, despite its flaws, has nurtured many lives and will continue to do so. The speaker's use of "fingers" as a metaphor for children who have been raised in the home emphasizes the generational continuity and the hope that future children will also thrive.

The speaker then directly addresses the abiku, urging it to "No longer then bestride the threshold / But step in and stay / For good." This plea is a powerful appeal for the abiku to end its cycle of departure and to fully commit to life in the physical world. The knife-scars "Serrating down your back and front / Like beak of the sword-fish" symbolize the rituals performed on the abiku in an attempt to bind it to life, to prevent it from returning to the spirit world. These scars, along with the notched ears that mark the abiku "As a bondsman to this house," are physical reminders of the attempts to anchor the spirit child to the family and to life.

The closing lines of the poem are filled with a deep sense of exhaustion and sorrow: "For her body is tired. / Tired, her milk going sour / Where many more mouths gladden the heart." The speaker reveals the toll that the abiku's repeated departures have taken on the mother, whose body is "tired" from the strain of childbirth and the emotional burden of losing her child over and over again. The reference to the mother's milk "going sour" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the nourishment meant for the child is wasted, soured by grief and the unfulfilled promise of life.

In "Abiku," John Pepper Clark poignantly captures the anguish of a mother caught in the tragic cycle of losing a child to the forces of the spiritual world. The poem is a powerful exploration of the intersection between the physical and spiritual realms, the pain of maternal love, and the hope for an end to the suffering caused by the abiku's repeated departures. Through its rich imagery and emotional depth, the poem offers a compelling reflection on the human desire for life, continuity, and the breaking of cycles that bring despair.

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