Olukayode Oki English Essay 21st January 2009

Compare ‘Search for My Tongue’ by Sujata Bhatt and ‘Love after

Love’ by Derek Walcott and explain what they teach us about
identity with close reference to language and imagery.

‘Search for My Tongue’ explains what it is like to speak and think in

two different languages. The poet wonders whether she might lose her
mother tongue to start with, however, her mother tongue remains in her
dreams. By the end, she is confident that it will always be a part of who
she is; “I think I’ve forgotten ... mother tongue ... it blossoms out of my
mouth”. ‘Love after Love’ is about the self and identity and knowing who
we are. The poet portrays this by suggesting we assume an identity, but
eventually discover who we are; He makes it seem like two people
meeting for the first time and sharing a meal together. Walcott presents
this in terms of the Eucharist of the Christian church; “Give bread. Give
Wine”. Both poems are about discovering one’s-self and knowing who you
are.

The writer of search for my tongue feels language is very important

to one’s identity; “I lost my tongue” emphasises the importance of
language. The tongue is part of your body and without it you cannot
speak. Also, if the phrase is used in a colloquial sense, it could mean that
you are tongue-tied – lost for words.

In the middle of the poem, the writing changes to Gujarati, the

poet’s native tongue. Although the Gujarati is transliterated phonetically
to English, it is still difficult for the reader; this helps us to empathize with
the poet

Unlike Search for my tongue, the writer of love after love is not
searching for our understanding, it is almost as if he is giving us an
instruction to enjoy our lives – “feast” on it.

The dominant imagery in Love after Love

The house is used as a metaphor, the door symbolizes new openings and
the mirror, reflection – reflecting on who you are

Religious imagery of communion – communing with one’s self – “Bread”

and “wine” to celebrate your life.
Olukayode Oki English Essay 21st January 2009

The title suggests that the poem is inviting us to love ourselves when
possibly an old love has ended or a beloved has died

Series of imperative – “will come ... You will ... Give wine. Give bread”. As
if this is a point in life we must all arrive at. Discovering the essence of
yourself – everything else is just images to be peeled away.

“elation” – Soft drawn out vowel sounds to convey the calm mood, pace
and harmony of the poem.

The diction in the poem is very simple

The use of caesura or punctuation requires the reader to stop and

contemplate

LAL is in second person, addressing the reader directly.

Search for my tongue

Crisis of identity

A plea for understanding and sympathy

Forget who you are to fit in – losing your roots

Written in second person – addressing the reader directly

“your mother tongue would rot , rot and die in your mouth” she feels if
you do not nurture your mother tongue you will lose it

Towards the end, there is a sense of celebration as she has rediscovered

her mother tongue