Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Derek Walcott’s "Homecoming: 1" is a deeply personal and evocative poem that explores the theme of returning to one’s roots, both physically and emotionally. In this poem, Walcott reflects on his connection to his homeland, St. Lucia, through vivid sensory images and cultural references that capture the essence of his identity and the deep ties to the island’s landscape, sounds, and traditions.

The poem opens with the declaration that the speaker’s "country heart" is not truly home until "Sesenne sings." This reference to Sesenne Descartes, a celebrated St. Lucian folk singer, immediately grounds the poem in the cultural context of St. Lucia, where Sesenne’s music embodies the spirit of the island. Her voice, described as having "woodsmoke and ground-doves in it," conjures up a rich, earthy imagery that connects the speaker to the island’s natural and rural life. The voice, "cracking like clay on a road," suggests the roughness and authenticity of the island’s culture, a voice weathered by time and experience, yet full of life and history.

The poem is filled with sounds that evoke both the speaker’s past and the island’s rhythms. The "cuatros" tightening the speaker’s heartstrings refers to a small, four-stringed guitar-like instrument used in Caribbean folk music, which underscores the nostalgic and emotional pull of the homeland. The "shac-shacs," or maracas, are likened to "cicadas under the fur-leaved nettles," further connecting music to the natural world. These sounds, along with the mention of traditional dances like "bel-air" and "quadrille," and the festive "la comette," invoke a sense of cultural continuity and celebration, even in the face of time and distance.

Walcott’s use of similes and metaphors heightens the sensory experience of the poem. A "voice like rain on a hot road" captures the refreshing and revitalizing nature of Sesenne’s singing, while the "smell of cut grass" evokes the familiar, simple pleasures of rural life. The language itself is "as small as the cedar’s and sweeter than any," suggesting both the modesty and richness of the island’s linguistic and cultural expressions, which, to the speaker, surpass any other language he has encountered during his travels.

The speaker’s journey through life is marked by a sense of displacement, as expressed in the line "that makes my right hand Ishmael." This biblical reference to Ishmael, a figure associated with exile and wandering, suggests that the speaker feels like an outsider, disconnected from his true home. Yet, the "star-fingered frangipani," a fragrant flowering tree, serves as his guide, symbolizing the beauty and spiritual connection that draws him back to his roots.

"Homecoming: 1" is a lyrical and poignant exploration of the speaker’s longing for home, where the music, landscape, and cultural traditions of St. Lucia provide a sense of belonging and identity. Through rich imagery and a deep connection to place, Walcott conveys the complexity of returning to one’s homeland after being away, capturing both the sweetness of reunion and the lingering sense of distance and exile. The poem resonates with a sense of pride in the island’s culture, while also acknowledging the emotional and spiritual journey of returning home.

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