Analysis of "I Remembered to Die" from The Hole in a Donut by Chibueze Prince Orie

Synopsis

The persona begins the poem with a statement: “I suddenly remembered to die.” The repetition of this statement in lines 1 & 2 of stanza 1 and lines 4 and 5 of stanza 6 shows that the statement is not merely stating but also emphasising. It is obvious that the persona is contemplating death, so the statement is indicating a threat to life or drawing attention to the threat to his life.

From stanza 2 to 5, the poet gives reasons for remembering to die, which are unpaid salaries that result in their shirking their duties, and they are left to chew their cord. The poet and his colleagues are owed for three months by their employer, probably the government mentioned in stanza 5. As they are being owed, they are unable to fulfil their responsibilities and feed themselves and their dependants.

Theme

1. Theme of Helplessness:

   • People owed salaries are helpless. For civil servants, their salary is their major source of income. If the salary is not being paid, they find it difficult to fend for their immediate and extended families, hence responsibilities will be staring at them. Their helplessness is extended to their dependants, especially those that rely on them for their upkeep.

2. Theme of Disappointment:

   • Every worker deserves their salary. But when owed, it breeds disappointment and dissatisfaction. The poet states the need to move away from where their government has left them.

Style

1. Repetition:

   • The persona uses repetition in stanzas 1 and 6 when he states “I suddenly remembered to die.” Repetition is used for emphasis. It is used to draw the reader's attention to the sense or image evoked. The repeated lines evoke the image of death or threat to life, which means that the poet is drawing attention to their plight, which is life-threatening. For one to remember to die means he is contemplating committing suicide, or death is the only option left for them.

   Some of the repetitions identified are:

   • Stanza 1, lines 1 & 2: I suddenly remembered to die
   • Stanza 6, lines 4 & 5: I suddenly remembered to die
   • Stanza 4, line 1: The word “calls” is being repeated. It means phone calls from dependants.
   • “Three months” is being repeated in stanza 2, lines 2, 3, and 4, and “three moons” in line 5 of the same stanza.
   • In stanza 4, “We pretended hearing ...” is repeated in lines 2 and 3; “We feigned ...” is repeated in lines 4 and 5 of stanza 4.

2. Imagery:

   • In addition to the imagery of death evoked in stanzas 1 and 6, there is also the image of relocation and dislocation.
   • The image of relocation is seen when the persona says there is a need to move from where the government left them, while dislocation is seen in the repetition of “move” which emphasises the need to move.
   • It is obvious that it is not their wish to move. The push-push factor is non-payment of salaries for months. Perhaps, if salaries are paid, the persona might not consider relocating.

3. Alliteration:

   • Alliteration is seen in stanza 4, line 1. There is a repetition of the letter “c” in all the words.
   • Letter “m” is repeated in the last line of stanza 4.