Naked woman, black woman
Clothed with your colour which is life,
with your form which is beauty!
In your shadow I have grown up; the
gentleness of your hands was laid over my eyes.
And now, high up on the sun-baked
pass, at the heart of summer, at the heart of noon,
I come upon you, my Promised Land,
And your beauty strikes me to the heart
like the flash of an eagle.
Naked woman, dark woman
Firm-fleshed ripe fruit, sombre raptures
of black wine, mouth making lyrical my mouth
Savannah stretching to clear horizons,
savannah shuddering beneath the East Wind's
eager caresses
Carved tom-tom, taut tom-tom, muttering
under the Conqueror's fingers
Your solemn contralto voice is the
spiritual song of the Beloved.
Naked woman, dark woman
Oil that no breath ruffles, calm oil on the
athlete's flanks, on the flanks of the Princes of Mali
Gazelle limbed in Paradise, pearls are stars on the
night of your skin
Delights of the mind, the glinting of red
gold against your watered skin
Under the shadow of your hair, my care
is lightened by the neighbouring suns of your eyes.
Naked woman, black woman,
I sing your beauty that passes, the form
that I fix in the Eternal,
Before jealous fate turn you to ashes to
feed the roots of life.
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Comments
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"negritude"
From guest Kit (contact)
As striking and regal as this poem may seem at first glance, the negritude movement, of which Senghor was undoubtedly involved in, portrayed women (as you can see above) distinctly as sex objects and as mothers. These limited roles are self-evident in a poem that, whilst a beautiful salute to a motherland, noticably does not give this woman a voice of her own. Is she not clearly subjugated here? i.e. "the Conqueror's fingers"... -
From guest William K. Davis (contact)
thank you for this vision of lovelyness about the Mother land. -
analysis
From guest tobi (contact)
pls can someone send me the analysis, themes and explanation of the poem
MOD MESSAGE
As is often the case the answer, as far as it can be obtained by people other than the poet, is present in the poem and in the comments posted by previous readers. -
Many thanks to Marigoes and OP for posting the full version of this beautiful poem here.
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Agree with all of the comments below, the imagery fits a woman and makes a metaphor for a nation, and that is the beauty to my ear...a love poem and an ode to love of country, intertwined so elegantly...PK
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wow. hadn't thought of it being a metaphor for a nation, but that totally makes sense too! thanks for pointing that out! and, yes, i agree with everyone, this poem/poet is amazing!
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Well I think the beloved woman is Senegal:
"Moaning under the hands of the conqueror"
Senghor was Senegal's first president. -
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You were right about his beloved woman being Senegal. After reading the full version I could see it too.
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This is rich!
My goodness how regal I feel after reading these words. I must read them to memory. Beautiful. Leaving me speechless and breathless. This is one that got past me and I work over here. LOL
I must investigate this poet further. Hmm... I adore this poem! I 'll send more over to read it!
Renee
OP Mod/Researcher -
This is so sensual and beautiful. Reads as an ode to that beloved woman.
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