Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ethiopia" by Audre Lorde is a poem of brevity, but its weight in implications and the vast landscape of human suffering it evokes are immeasurable. Comprising only a few lines, the poem encapsulates the theme of deprivation, particularly how it affects the body and spirit, through the lens of a child's experience in Ethiopia. The poem lays bare the horrifying reality of extreme poverty and malnutrition, manifested through the fragility of the child's body.

In the opening line, "seven years without milk," we are immediately confronted with the stark truth of deprivation. Milk, a symbol of nourishment and childhood, is absent. The lack of it stands not merely as a nutritional gap but as a theft of a basic aspect of childhood itself. The reference to "seven years" amplifies the severity of the situation, as these are formative years in a child's life. Such a protracted period of deprivation suggests irreversible damages, not just physically but also emotionally and psychologically.

The line "everyone dances for joy / on your birthday" presents a vivid contrast to the preceding deprivation. The people around the child create an atmosphere of celebration, presumably to offer the child a slice of normalcy, a momentary respite from a harsh life. Yet, this joy is immediately undercut by the following lines: "but when you clap your hands / break at the wrist." Here, the tragic climax of the poem unfolds. The simple act of clapping, often associated with joy and celebration, becomes a moment of physical breakdown for the child. It signifies the extreme fragility that years of malnutrition have wrought on the child's bones, which are so weak that they "break at the wrist."

The final lines, "and even grandmother's ghee / cannot mend / the delicate embroideries / of bone," are heartbreaking in their quiet resignation. Ghee, clarified butter used in various cuisines and considered wholesome and nourishing, is ineffective here. The image of bone as "delicate embroideries" captures the intricacy and fragility of human life that has been eroded by years of deprivation. The grandmother's traditional knowledge and care, symbolized by the ghee, are rendered powerless against the structural hardships the child has endured.

In "Ethiopia," Audre Lorde employs sparse language and vivid imagery to craft a powerful narrative of suffering and deprivation. The poem serves as a grim reminder of the real consequences of poverty and malnutrition that affect millions worldwide, encapsulated in the brittle bones of a single child in Ethiopia. It raises questions about social justice and the collective responsibility to safeguard the well-being of the most vulnerable among us. By focusing on the detailed individual experience, Lorde amplifies the gravity of a global issue, making it deeply personal and thus, impossible to ignore.