Talk To the Peach Tree

• Background about the poet Sipho Sepamla


  he was a SA poet and novelist and many of his writings were banned by the Apartheid government. His poems work on irony, satire and humour. This specific poem was written during a period of change and negotiations about Apartheid
• Explain the title and reference to a peach tree

  the tree in his garden and in another poem of his called The Will. He leaves it to his children in his will, while making subtle comments about life under the apartheid system. A tree represents growth, strong roots, family structure
• What is the function of the free verse in this poem?


  this is unconventional for poetry, which indicates breaking away from control -> links to being free from apartheid
• Explain the function of the anaphora of the word "Let's" throughout the poem


  it highlights an encouraging tone and represents unity
• Who do the "swallows visiting" represent in line 1?


  birds (people) migrating from Europe to SA during summer -> for the good times, but then leave when things get bad during the winter -> are unaware of the hardships faced
• Sepamla uses ... as he makes exaggerated and absurd suggestions about discussions leading to the end of apartheid.

  hyperbole
• Explain the function of the absurd actions suggested in lines 1-6: "let's talk to swallows visiting...afternoon shadow...our pets"


  the absurdity creates humour, however the underlying message is serious and is suggesting that white people do not know anything about the struggles of suppressed South Africans
• Explain the use of the imagery of "afternoon shadow" in line 3


  shadows represent the absence of light, therefore this is paradoxical/ironic for the shadow to ask the day where the light is. The shadow could also represent those under oppression
• Explain the metaphor in line 5: "raise our pets to our level..."


  those oppressed under Apartheid were regarded as the pets of the Apartheid regime; to be caged, controlled etc. "Level" could suggest equality
• What is the function of the typography (indentation) in lines 7 to 10: "words have lost...overstate her case"?


  to indicate these stanzas are commentaries and indicates a difference
• What does the poet mean when he says "words have lost meaning" in line 7?


  he means that talking has become useless. Attempts to negotiate change with the apartheid government had failed. Instead, more repressive measures had been introduced to suppress black people
• Explain "like all notations they've been misused"


  notations are communication tools such as symbols or words that have become so warped that their original intentions have been lost. Language has been twisted and used to convey lies and propaganda and hence cannot be trusted
• Explain line 10: "a whining woman can overstate her case"


  whining usually has negative connotations of complaining. This implies that by overdoing a statement or by speaking too much, the real meaning of the words is lost
• Explain the effectiveness of the absence of the "Let's" in line 11


  the tone becomes more confrontational and commanding
• Explain the metaphor in line 11: "Talk to the paralysing heat..."


  this implies that those oppressed have no freedom -> cannot move -> are paralysed
• What do the words "rubbish heap," "stench" and "down there" relate to


  the way black people were regarded by the white authorities -> rubbish that was to be thrown away; something bad that created a bad smell; inferior. This emphasises the harsh reality of black people during apartheid
• Explain the use/symbolism of the "peach tree" in line 15

  the peach tree is rooted and grounded in a permanent place in the garden -> it has the land it belongs to, where as black people oppressed during apartheid did not have land, and were not even considered citizens -> they had no sense of belonging
• What does the "moon going down" symbolise in line 17? (Personification)


  as the moon goes down, the light shone from it will disappear -> symbolising the loss of hope. However, when the moon goes down, the sun rises (daylight), symbolising new hope. Could also signify that the whole world is aware of their situation, but have been bystanders and have not done anything to change it -> the daylight here does not represent new hope for them
• What does the command "come on" in line 19 do?


  highlights an urgent/determined/encouraging tone/attitude
• Who is the "devil" in line 20?


  the apartheid government/those who supported it
• What does the closing line "it's about time" imply?


  the oppression of black people has gone on for too long, and the time has come to speak directly to the powers who have been oppressing them
• Explain the change in tone throughout the poem?

  in the beginning it was satirical and encouraging, but then it changed to confrontational and urgent
• Describe the overall tone of the poem

  cynical, despair, frustration, conversational
• What are the themes of the poem?

  life during Apartheid, the desire for change, people must see everything from different perspectives
• Let's talk to the shallows visiting us in summer


  let's-let us,standing together

  swallows- migratory birds (westernizers)

  us in summer- temporary
• Ask how it is in other countries


  they have freedom that others do not have
• let's talk to the afternoon shadow


  shadow- Africans have been shadows of themselves - lost identity, pride
• ask how the day has been so far

  laid back: satirical tone(makes light of how tough life has been during apartheid)
• let's raise our pets to our level

  pets to our level - power dynamic- masters/owners vs. pets

  metaphor :Apartheid vs oppressed
• ask them what they don't know of us

  them vs us
• words have lost meaning


  communication with government has not been successful
• like all notations they've been misused


  propaganda (false narrative)
• most people will admit

  most people - subjective
• a whining woman can overstate her case


  useless arguements lead nowhere so constructive dialogue needs to take place
• talk to the paralyzing heat in the air


  heat: link to summer + shadow
• inquire how long the mercilessness will last


  inquire - fake politeness

  mercilessness: anger, bitterness, want for justice
• let's pick out items from the rubbish heap

  pick out- privilege

  worthless,disgusting, discarded
• ask how the stench is like down there


  stench: smell of riddance dead bodies so strong , connot be ignored
• let's talk to the peach tree


  peach tree- identity, courage,belonging
• find out how it feels to be in the ground

  rooted:belonging somewhere