Before the Next Song

The poem Before the Next Song is a comment about social vices which mar the social fabric. The poet tackles the subject of moral decadence in a graphic manner. Issues such as prostitution, rather than being glorified, are presented in immense contempt. As a titular work of art for the anthology as a whole, the poem is rich, not only in thematic concerns but also in stylistic features.

The first part focuses on the activities taking place inside a night club at night where people are gathered to have pleasure. The second part shifts the focus to some place just outside the night club where the ladies of the night lie in ambush waiting to pounce on unwary men.

The poem opens on a disappointing note. Music is abruptly interrupted by a scratch on the record as the needle is “leap-frogging”. The hyperbole of leap-frogging indicates an awkward behaviour. This conjures up a society that is engaged in bizarre activities that punctuate the smooth flow of life. The combination of onomatopoeia and repetition on the word “delek” has a cacophonous sound effect that suggests chaos in the society. This is reinforced by the personification of the juke-box which  “coughs”. The word “cough” connotes an unhealthy state. The poet argues that there are social ills that affect the society rendering it dysfunctional.

By employing the biblical allusion of “Adam” and “Eve”, the poet suggests that mankind in its totality has lost the moral compass. According to the bible, Adam and Eve are the first parents and as such, they represent all human beings. Men are seen “clutching the air for support”, a clear indication that the moral principles have been ditched by the society.There is general filth signalled by the olfactory image of  “a heavy pursuing odour”. The simile of “sweat drops shaken from an enemy’s fist” also adds to the notion of filth by introducing an unpleasant visual image. The two images generate disgust which the poet uses as a tool to show disapproval towards the unorthodox behaviour exhibited by the members of the society.

Alcoholism is criticised mercilessly. The poet contends that alcoholism diminishes the ability to judge prudently thus leading to risky behaviours. Slurred speech has been used to demonstrate that alcohol can impair speech. Distorted articulation brings out a mocking tone. The poet is ridiculing the man for failure to produce a well formed speech because of the effect of alcohol. The man also struggles to walk properly as his limbs are now “wet clay pillars”. The man’s endeavour to walk is emphasised by the metaphor of “wading in mercury” since mercury is a heavy liquid metal. A tactile image of a heavy object is created by this metaphor to suggest that the man feels as if his legs are too heavy to walk.

The wall that “looms ahead” speaks volumes about the society’s moral position. The wall is personified as a person who is “dressed in graffiti”. Dirty language and obscene drawings can be seen on the wall. This alludes to the moral deterioration of the society. It insinuates that the society has acquired a new set of moral standards in place of the original upright ones. The previous moral principles have been veiled by the ‘dress’. The poet thus castigates modernity particularly the way it is manifests itself in urban areas. To emphasise this, the poet uses legal language “in flagrante delicto” to register his condemnation. The phrase is in Latin and can be loosely translated into English as “caught red handed”. The allusion to the “Jurassic Park” denotes non-nativeness of the modern lifestyle. The film “Jurassic Park” satirises the de-extinction attempt which was meant to revive dinosaurs and other ancient animals. The poet therefore laughs at people who try to introduce practices that are foreign and detrimental to the society.

Prostitution is an indictment of the society. The close proximity of the prostitute to the wall which is littered with filthy language serves to illustrate that the poet is experiencing repugnance towards prostitution. The simile of “gravel ladled with polythene spoon” buttresses the notion of disgust introduced earlier on in the poem. The voice of the prostitute is sensual hence the poet describes it as “soft”. Only the voice is enough to set the man’s heart throbbing “like Chitako-chaNgonya’s drum”. This implies that the man is sexually aroused by the coaxing voice of the prostitute for he eventually “steers” the woman towards a car, where they engage in sexual intercourse. The poet deplores alcohol for it impairs judgement thus making it easy for people to engage in casual sex.

The poet’s semantic field suggests that the society is no longer a safe place to be. The word “snake” creates terror and fear. When the snake pauses “to listen”, it is readying itself to strike its victim. The poet suggests that there are dangers looming in the society. The poem therefore can be read as a warning about the modern societies. The look of the prostitute leaves “potent venom”. Prostitutes are thus portrayed as dangerous people who have the potential to kill.

Despair is suggested by the sudden shift of the mood of music, from the lively boisterous atmosphere to a somber “dirge”. The poet expresses a lament for those who die as a result of sexual immorality. The word “East” refers to the future generation. It has been used as a proper noun to signal the importance of the future generation because it is the one which will perpetuate the legacy of the society. The word “east” implies newness since a new sun rises from the east everyday. But in this context, the next generation is doomed because of the advent of AIDS pandemic.