Ol’ Higue 1st Level – Atharva

Plot
This poem can be described as a dramatic monologue, as it involves having the main persona
solely speak toward the audience, without any input/disruption from the audience. We also
know that this poem is written in the first-person point of view, as in line 1, the main
persona/narrator uses a personal pronoun. This tells us that the poem is written in the
perspective of the speaker.
This poem is about an old ‘higue’, which in Guyanese culture, is an old lady that turns into a
monster at night, that targets young children and is thirsty for their blood. In stanza 1, the old
higue explains her frustration at how she needs to earn a living by burning up like ‘cane fire’ to
scare the foolish people and get a few drops of blood. She also explains how it is annoying to
withstand the pain of salt as she counted a thousand grains of rice, which was how people
punished the old higue in Guyanese mythology. Stanza 2 then explains how the old higue
cannot live without getting the blood of a baby, and that she will die if she is not able acquire
the ‘pure blood’. Stanza 4 then explains how the old higue believes that the mothers of the
babies are already frustrated to begin with, as the babies require a lot of attention at any given
time, which tells us that the old higue believes that she is doing the mothers a favor by killing
their babies. Finally, the poem ends with the old higue stating that as long as mothers keep
having babies, the longer that the higue will live.
Setting
This poem takes place in Guyana. We know this because in stanza 1, Mark McWatt mentions an
old ‘higue’, which is part of Guyana’s folklore and mythology. The poet also mentions the
traditions of how salt was thrown at the old higue to maker her suffer. By making this reference
to Guyana’s folklore and Mythology, Mark Mcwatt emphasizes the cultural significance of the
society that this poem takes place in, as by mentioning an old higue that traumatizes foolish
people, Mark McWatt shows us how this particular population contains strong beliefs in this
type of regional folklore.
Characters
Old Higue: The old higue is an old lady that turns into a monster at night, that targets young
children and is thirsty for their blood. In stanza 1, the old higue explains her frustration at how
she needs to earn a living by burning up like ‘cane fire’ to scare the foolish people and get a few
drops of blood. She also explains how it is annoying to withstand the pain of salt as she counted
a thousand grains of rice, which was how people punished the old higue in Guyanese
mythology. This shows us how the old higue is just trying to survive with harsh conditions in this
this society.
Context
“Old Higue”
“Ole Higues are also known as “Fire Rass” or Angeli. The ole higue is always a woman. It is said
that she sucks the blood of unsuspecting victims as they sleep. Her favourite victims are young
children and babies.” (Thingsguyana.com)

“The ole higue’s distinguishing feature is the fact that, during the day, she lives among other
Guyanese as a somewhat introverted and quiet old lady. At night, this seemingly harmless old
woman removes her skin, places it gently in a calabash, and travels across the sky as a ball of
fire heading to the home of her intended victim.” (Thingsguyana.com)
Citation:
GxMedia. “Old Higue”. Thingsguyana.com. July 7, 2016. https://www.thingsguyana.com/ole-
higue/. Accessed 28th October 2020.