great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

“Absent tree” (Stanza VI)

There are a series of small, yet image-provoking words featured in Niyi Osundare’s poem titled, “Hole in the Sky.” All of them in some way or another pertain to the state of the Earth, but in a negative light. This is evident in the phrase “absent tree,” featured in stanza VI. The nature part of this phrase is obviously in the word “tree.” A tree is a part of nature that holds purpose. It has the ability to provide humans with not just food and oxygen, but also with other necessities of life including shelter, medicine and even tools. Without such an entity, there is no progression of life within society. That is exactly the state of the Earth when Osundare refers to it as “absent.” Describing something as absent is purposely done to show that there is emptiness or nonexistence, which is part of the poet’s intentions when describing the Earth. The image referenced to below is a representation of the words, “absent tree.” There is an emptiness, or absence, being depicted in this image of the Earth. Surrounding this single tree are no trees and that might be purposely depicted to show that the environment is declining. This idea of Earth’s state of decline is the same decline Osundare speaks of in the poem. It is also important to take note of the one tree that is standing. It is not standing strong because of its tilt, which is a sign of weakness, foreshadowing the Earth becoming totally “absent.”

Elhadary, Pakinam. “10 Feathers From The East.” N.p., 17 July 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.