The Sea by Syl Cheney-Coker Summary & Analysis [African Poetry]

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African Poetry: The Sea by Syl Cheney-Coker Summary, Setting, Author's Background, Themes, Language, Style and Likely Theory/Essay Questions for JAMB, WAEC and NECO Literature Students Syllabus.

It is no longer news that the above selected poetry is among the selected texts for literature students in the WAEC, NECO and JAMB Syllabus.

Well we have decided to help students by providing some insights such as summary and poetic devices and analysis of the poem to aid them understand and prepare ahead of their examination.

Poem Text

"The Breast of the Sea" by Syl Cheney-Coker

After our bloody century, the sea will groan
under its weight, somewhere between breasts and anus.
Filled with toxins, her belly will not yield new islands
even though the orphans of East Timor wish it so.

The sea is only capable of so much history:
Noah's monologue, the Middle Passage's cargoes,
Darwin's examination of the turtle's shit,
the remains of the Titanic, and a diver's story
about how the coelacanth was recaptured.
Anything else is only a fractured chela
we cannot preserve, once the sea's belly
has washed itself clean of our century's blight.

Throbbing, the sea's breasts will console some orphans,
but Sierra Leone won't be worth a raped woman's cry,
despite her broken back, this shredded garment,
her hands swimming like horrors of red corals.
But do you, O Sea, long-suffering mistress,
have the balm to heal the wound of her children,
hand to foot the axe, alluvial river flowing into you?

Author's Background

Syl Cheney-Coker is a Sierra Leonean poet, novelist, and literary scholar, known for his deeply political and historical works that explore colonialism, war, suffering, and social injustices. Born in 1945, he is regarded as one of West Africa’s most powerful literary voices, using rich imagery and historical references to address themes of human suffering, African struggles, and global injustices.

In The Breast of the Sea, Cheney-Coker reflects on the atrocities of the past century, including war, slavery, colonial exploitation, and environmental destruction. The poem uses the sea as a witness to human history and suffering, questioning whether it can provide healing for wounded nations like Sierra Leone.

Setting

The setting of the poem is both historical and metaphorical, as it addresses centuries of human suffering and the sea’s role as a witness to history.

• Physical Setting: The sea is the central element, acting as a recorder of human history, violence, and suffering.
• Historical Setting: The poem references major historical events, including:
  • The Middle Passage (slave trade)
  • The Titanic disaster
  • Darwin’s scientific explorations
  • The wars and suffering in East Timor and Sierra Leone

The poem suggests that history repeats itself through endless cycles of oppression, war, and environmental destruction.

Summary of "The Breast of the Sea"

The poem reflects on humanity’s violent past and its impact on the sea, which has witnessed slavery, war, and environmental destruction.

• In the first stanza, the poet describes the sea as struggling under the burden of human violence. The reference to "breasts and anus" suggests that the sea is both a nurturing force (breast) and a place where waste and destruction are dumped (anus). Despite this suffering, the sea cannot create new islands or a better future for orphaned children like those in East Timor.

• In the second stanza, the poet reflects on the sea’s historical memory, listing events such as Noah’s biblical flood, the slave trade, Darwin’s scientific discoveries, and the sinking of the Titanic. The sea has absorbed these tragic histories, but it also has a way of washing away humanity’s sins, leaving only fragments behind.

• In the third stanza, the poet focuses on Sierra Leone, describing it as a country that has suffered immense violence and trauma. The country is compared to a raped woman with a broken back, symbolizing colonial exploitation, civil war, and destruction. The poet questions whether the sea can heal Sierra Leone’s wounds, suggesting that true justice and healing remain elusive.

The poem ends with a desperate plea to the sea, asking if it can cleanse the wounds of history and provide peace to its suffering children.

Stanza Structure and Analysis

The poem consists of three stanzas, each varying in length. It is written in free verse, with no fixed rhyme scheme. This irregular structure reflects the chaotic and unpredictable nature of history and suffering.

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Stanza One (Lines 1–4)

• The poem opens with a reflection on the violence of the past century, describing it as "bloody".
• The sea is personified, as it "groans under its weight," suggesting that it has absorbed the pain and destruction of human history.
• The "breasts and anus" metaphor presents a contrast between nourishment (breasts) and waste (anus), symbolizing how the sea both nurtures life and suffers from pollution and human cruelty.
• Despite the suffering of orphans like those in East Timor, the sea is powerless to create a new future for them.

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Stanza Two (Lines 5–12)

• The poet lists historical events the sea has witnessed, including:
  • Noah’s biblical flood (a reference to divine punishment)
  • The Middle Passage (the transportation of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic)
  • Charles Darwin’s scientific observations
  • The sinking of the Titanic
  • The discovery of the coelacanth, a prehistoric fish
• These references suggest that the sea has been a constant observer of human history, but it cannot preserve everything—only fragments of history remain.
• The "fractured chela" (a broken claw of a sea creature) symbolizes how history is incomplete and fragile.

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Stanza Three (Lines 13–19)

• The poet shifts focus to Sierra Leone, portraying it as a raped and broken woman, symbolizing the brutality of war, colonialism, and suffering.
• "Her hands swimming like horrors of red corals" → Suggests bloodshed and suffering.
• The poet addresses the sea directly, asking whether it has the power to heal Sierra Leone’s wounds.
• The final line ("hand to foot the axe, alluvial river flowing into you") refers to the destruction of the country’s resources and people, with rivers carrying away the remnants of violence.

Themes in "The Breast of the Sea"

1. History and Memory

   • The poem presents the sea as a witness to human history, from the Bible to the slave trade to modern wars.

2. Violence and Human Cruelty

   • The poem describes centuries of violence, oppression, and suffering, questioning whether humanity ever truly changes.

3. Suffering and Injustice

   • The poet highlights the suffering of victims, especially in Sierra Leone and East Timor, and how they are often forgotten by history.

4. The Power and Limitations of Nature

   • The sea is vast and eternal, but it cannot erase human suffering or bring justice.

5. The Search for Healing

   • The poet questions whether the sea can heal wounds, suggesting a longing for justice and redemption.

Language and Style

• Imagery:

  • "Her hands swimming like horrors of red corals" → Suggests bloodshed and suffering.
  • "The sea will groan under its weight" → Personifies the sea as burdened by human history.

• Personification:

  • "The sea will groan" → Gives the sea human emotions, as if it feels pain from history.

• Symbolism:

  • "The Middle Passage’s cargoes" → Represents slavery and colonial exploitation.
  • "Noah’s monologue" → Suggests divine judgment on humanity.

• Tone:

  • The tone is dark, reflective, and mournful, emphasizing the weight of history and human suffering.

WAEC/NECO Likely Questions on "The Breast of the Sea"

SECTION A: Comprehension Questions

1. What is the central theme of the poem?
2. How does the poet use historical references to strengthen the poem’s message?
3. What does the sea symbolize in the poem?
4. Explain the imagery in "her hands swimming like horrors of red corals."

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SECTION B: Thematic Questions

5. How does the poem explore violence and suffering in history?
6. Discuss the role of nature in the poem’s message.

 

These questions are designed to test comprehension, thematic understanding, literary appreciation, and critical thinking skills