Island man Grace Nichols

Life on a Caribbean Island

Life in London

Imagine…

Differences between life on a Caribbean island and life in London

CULTURE Guyana: Country on the north coast of South America; Country on the north coast of South America; One of the poorest nations in the Western hemisphere; One of the poorest nations in the Western hemisphere; Gained independence from Britain in Gained independence from Britain in 1966.

SURFACE MEANING A man who used to live on a Caribbean island still dreams of this place even now when he lives in London. A man who used to live on a Caribbean island still dreams of this place even now when he lives in London.

Island Man Morning and island man wakes up to the sound of blue surf in his head the steady breaking and wombing wild seabirds and fishermen pushing out to sea the sun surfacing defiantly from the east of his small emerald island he always comes back groggily groggily groggily groggily Comes back to sands of a grey metallic soar to surge of wheels to surge of wheels to dull North Circular roar muffling muffling his crumpled pillow waves island man heaves himself Another London day

Island Man (for a Caribbean island man in London who still wakes up to the sound of the sea) Morning And island man wakes up To the sound of blue surf In his head The steady breaking and wombing wild seabirds and fisherman pushing out to sea the sun surfacing defiantly from the east of his small emerald island he always comes back groggily groggily Clear link with other traditions Alliteration with the letter 's' This word has many associations, but the predominant image is one of comfort and security very positive image Repetition, as if he cannot believe it, or is reluctant to acknowledge Note the vibrant colours

muffling his crumpled pillow waves island man heaves himself Another London day Grace Nichols Comes back to sands of a grey metallic soar to surge of wheels to dull North Circular roar Repetition, as if he cannot believe it, or is reluctant to acknowledge Stark last line, physically isolated, with no preposition or verb Suggest comparison of a man heaving himself on to an island Capital letters but no punctuation in poem a busy road around London Change of perspective here Colour contrast, not vibrant but drab

IDEAS, ATTITUDES, FEELINGS Ideas: Ideas: –Comparing the simple beautiful way of life on a Caribbean island to the noise and rush of a modern city –When far away from home some people will over idealise it –Never forget where you come from Attitudes: Attitudes: –Island man does not seem to feel at home in London therefore there is a sense of being out of place and not belonging –The opportunities of London are far removed from the beauties of the Caribbean Feelings: Feelings: –Homesick –Idealising the past / previous home –Regret –Dull repetitive nature of present working life

Metaphor sands / of a grey metallic soar (London as an unpleasant beach) sands / of a grey metallic soar (London as an unpleasant beach) Personification the sun surfacing defiantly the sun surfacing defiantly to dull North Circular roar to dull North Circular roar Alliteration sun surfacing sun surfacing Stanza 3 = Sands, soar, surge (like the sounds of the sea) Stanza 3 = Sands, soar, surge (like the sounds of the sea) Repetition groggily groggily groggily groggily muffling muffling muffling muffling Language

Island Man There is no punctuation in the poem. Why? What image does the Island man have in his head? How does the poet’s choice of language reflect that image? There is no punctuation in the poem. Why? What image does the Island man have in his head? How does the poet’s choice of language reflect that image? There are more capital letters on the second part of the poem. Why? Think of the formality of capital letters. There are more capital letters on the second part of the poem. Why? Think of the formality of capital letters.

Island Man Island: “blue surf” “blue surf” “wild seabirds” “wild seabirds” “fishermen” “fishermen” “emerald island” “emerald island”London: “grey metallic soar” “grey metallic soar” “to surge of wheels” “to surge of wheels” “dull North Circular roar” “dull North Circular roar” “Another London day” “Another London day”