In the Midst of Hardship by Latiff Mohidin

At dawn they returned home

their soaky clothes torn

and approached the stove

their limbs marked by scratches

their legs full of wounds

but on their brows

there was not a sign of despair

The whole day and night just passed

they had to brave the horrendous flood

in the water all the time

between bloated carcasses

and tiny chips of tree barks

desperately looking for their sons

albino buffalo that was never found

They were born amidst hardship

and grew up without a sigh or a complaint

now they are in the kitchen, making

jokes while rolling their ciggarete leaves

In the Midst of Hardship by Latiff Mohidin

At dawn they returned home

their soaky clothes torn

and approached the stove

their limbs marked by scratches

their legs full of wounds

but on their brows

there was not a sign of despair

The whole day and night just passed

 they had to brave the horrendous flood

in the water all the time

between bloated carcasses

and tiny chips of tree barks

desperately looking for their sons

albino buffalo that was never found

They were born amidst hardship

and grew up without a sigh or a complaint

now they are in the kitchen, making

jokes while rolling their ciggarete leaves

SYNOPSISThis poem is about a family who faces hardship whereby their sons albino buffalo is nowhere to be found.
A flood occurs and they go out to find the buffalo. They reach home early in the morning without the buffalo and yet
there is no sign of despair in them. Meanwhile, they can still crack jokes and roll the cigarettes.

Figurative meaning by stanza

STANZA 1They returned home at day break and headed for the stove. This is probably because they were hungry.
However, I have also received some feedbacks saying that they went straight to the stove to dry themselves as they were
drenched with the flood water. Their clothes were soaking wet and tattered. Their bodies were covered with scratches and
wounds. Yet, they did not display any signs of being worried.

STANZA 2They were out in the flood the whole day and night. They were surrounded by dead animals and parts of trees
that had been destroyed by the flood. We know that the animals were already dead because of the phrase bloated
carcasses. They searched desperately for their sons albino buffalo but were unable to find it.

STANZA 3They were born into poverty and difficulty, but they do not complain about their suffer. Instead, they sit in the
kitchen, cracking jokes while smoking cigarettes. This shows that they face difficulties all the time and this time there is
no different. They have inner strength that makes them strong to face any hardship poses to them.

SETTINGThe setting of the poem is in the house.

THEMESBeing resilience when facing hardship / Family love / Acceptance of way of life

MORAL VALUES

1. We should learn to accept problems in life with a positive outlook.

2. We must attempt to face and solve problem.

3. Facing hardship is part and parcel of life.

4. If we face a problem, do not feel despair.

TONE, MOOD, ATMOSPHERE

1. Understanding and sympathetic / 2. Acceptance of situation

POINT OF VIEW

Third person pint of view.

LANGUAGE & STYLE

Language is simple and easy to understand. The style is simple with no rhyming scheme.

POETIC DEVICES

Imagery Gives picture of poets thoughts e.g soaky clothes torn and legs full of wounds

Alliteration e.g. but on their brows Symbols e.g. horrendous flood and bloating carcasses

Diction e.g. stove and brows

Execise

32. a. Which phrase in stanza 1 shows that the people are injured? (1 mark)

b. Give the meaning of the following words:

(i) soaky (1 mark)

(ii) limbs (1 mark)

(c) Do you admire the actions of the people? Give a reason for your answer. (2 marks)

32 a.When did the family go back home?

b.Why do you think some family members approached the stove?

c.The word horrendous means _____________

d. In your opinion, how should people react to difficult times? (2 marks)

32 a. Which lines indicate the suffering that the people endure while out in the rain?

b. How long did the heavy downpour occur??

c. In your opinion, why did the boy love the albino buffalo so much? (2 marks)

Exercise 1 (phrases)

Quotation from the poem Which line means

1. not feeling gloomy?

2. their clothes were drenched and torn?

3. their hands and legs had cuts all over?

4. had to put up with the dreadful flood?