Black woman

"Black woman"

By

Leopold Sedhar Senghor

Black Woman

Naked woman, black woman

Clothed with your colour which is life,

with your form which is beauty!

In your shadow I have grown up; the

gentleness of your hands was laid over my eyes.

And now, high up on the sun-baked

pass, at the heart of summer, at the heart of noon,

I come upon you, my Promised Land,

And your beauty strikes me to the heart

like the flash of an eagle.

Naked woman, dark woman

Firm-fleshed ripe fruit, sombre raptures

of black wine, mouth making lyrical my mouth

Savannah stretching to clear horizons,

savannah shuddering beneath the East Wind's

eager caresses

Carved tom-tom, taut tom-tom, muttering

under the Conqueror's fingers

Your solemn contralto voice is the

spiritual song of the Beloved.

Naked woman, dark woman

Oil that no breath ruffles, calm oil on the

athlete's flanks, on the flanks of the Princes of Mali

Gazelle limbed in Paradise, pearls are stars on the

night of your skin

Delights of the mind, the glinting of red

gold against your watered skin

Under the shadow of your hair, my care

is lightened by the neighbouring suns of your eyes.

Naked woman, black woman,

I sing your beauty that passes, the form

that I fix in the Eternal,

Before jealous fate turn you to ashes to

feed the roots of life.

Line by line analysis of the poem

1. "Black Woman"

   - This line sets the tone for the entire poem, identifying the subject and celebrating black womanhood.

2. "Naked woman, black woman"

   - The repetition of "woman" emphasizes the focus on femininity and nakedness, suggesting vulnerability and authenticity.

3. "Clothed with your colour which is life, with your form which is beauty!"

   - Here, the poet praises the woman's skin color as vibrant and life-giving, and her physical form as inherently beautiful.

4. "In your shadow I have grown up; the gentleness of your hands was laid over my eyes."

   - This line suggests the nurturing and protective role of black women, who provide comfort and guidance to those around them.

5. "And now, high up on the sun-baked pass, at the heart of summer, at the heart of noon, I come upon you, my Promised Land,"

   - The imagery of a sun-baked landscape and the reference to "Promised Land" evoke a sense of longing and reverence, positioning the black woman as a symbol of hope and fulfillment.

6. "And your beauty strikes me to the heart like the flash of an eagle."

   - This simile emphasizes the sudden and powerful impact of the woman's beauty, likening it to the swift and majestic flight of an eagle.

7. "Naked woman, dark woman"

   - The repetition of "woman" and the adjective "dark" further emphasize the focus on black femininity and darkness as a source of richness and depth.

8. "Firm-fleshed ripe fruit, sombre raptures of black wine, mouth making lyrical my mouth"

   - These metaphors celebrate the woman's physical attributes, comparing her to ripe fruit and black wine, and suggesting that her presence brings joy and inspiration.

9. "Savannah stretching to clear horizons, savannah shuddering beneath the East Wind's eager caresses"

   - This imagery evokes the vastness and vitality of the savannah, symbolizing the woman's strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

10. "Carved tom-tom, taut tom-tom, muttering under the Conqueror's fingers"

    - This metaphor suggests the woman's connection to African heritage and culture, with the tom-tom drum representing tradition and resistance against oppression.

11. "Your solemn contralto voice is the spiritual song of the Beloved."

    - Here, the poet celebrates the woman's voice as a source of spiritual strength and connection, echoing the reverence of sacred music.

12. "Oil that no breath ruffles, calm oil on the athlete's flanks, on the flanks of the Princes of Mali"

    - This metaphor compares the woman's skin to smooth oil, highlighting its beauty and resilience, and references the historical greatness of African civilizations.

13. "Gazelle limbed in Paradise, pearls are stars on the night of your skin"

    - These metaphors further extol the woman's physical beauty, comparing her to a graceful gazelle and likening her skin to a starry night sky.

14. "Delights of the mind, the glinting of red gold against your watered skin"

    - This imagery suggests that the woman's beauty transcends the physical realm, evoking feelings of admiration and wonder.

15. "Under the shadow of your hair, my care is lightened by the neighbouring suns of your eyes."

    - Here, the poet expresses a sense of comfort and solace in the presence of the woman, likening her gaze to multiple suns that dispel darkness.

16. "Naked woman, black woman,"

    - This repetition reinforces the central focus on the black woman as the subject of the poem, celebrating her identity and essence.

17. "I sing your beauty that passes, the form that I fix in the Eternal,"

    - The poet affirms the timeless and enduring nature of the woman's beauty, suggesting that it transcends mortal limitations and is immortalized in art and memory.

18. "Before jealous fate turn you to ashes to feed the roots of life."

    - This line acknowledges the impermanence of life and the inevitability of death, expressing a desire to celebrate and preserve the woman's beauty before it is lost to time.

Overall, the poem celebrates the beauty, strength, and cultural significance of black women, using vivid imagery and metaphor to evoke admiration and reverence.

Analysis of the poem

The beauty and sensuality of a black lady are celebrated in this poems. The speaker calls attention to the woman's nakedness at the opening of the poem, connecting it to her vitality and natural looks. Then he talks about how he felt her adoring connection on his eyes as he grew up in her shadow. This implies that the woman has supported and nurtured the speaker throughout their lives.

The speaker compares the woman to a Promised Land in the second stanza, a land of prosperity and beauty. Her beauty overwhelms him, striking him like an eagle's flash.Then, describing her physical characteristics—such as her firm skin, gorgeous fruit, and gazelle-like limbs—he employs a number of analogies. These analogies create feelings of sensuality and longing.

The speaker turns his attention to the woman's spiritual attributes in the third stanza. Her voice is described by him as a serious contralto, implying that she is a wise and profound woman. In order to imply that she is both aristocratic and strong, he also likens her to an athlete and a princess. In addition, the speaker praises the woman's brilliance and her capacity to make him happy.The speaker states at the poem's conclusion that he hopes to capture the woman's beauty forever in his poems. She is beautiful, but she is also fragile, so he wants to capture it in writings before it fades. As a result, the poem becomes a monument to the strength of beauty and love, as well as the speaker's will to keep them alive.

All things considered, "Black Woman" is a strong and poignant poem that honors the sensuality and beauty of a black woman. The speaker paints a vivid and unforgettable picture of the woman through the use of vivid images and metaphors, and his true and ardent adulation of her beauty is evident. In addition, the poem delves into the themes of love, grief, and the want to keep beauty in remembrance.

Figures of speech in the poem

Here are 10 figures of speech found within the poem along with evidence from the text. 

Do well to look for more and add them in the comment section.

1. Simile:

   - Evidence: "And your beauty strikes me to the heart like the flash of an eagle."

   - Explanation: The comparison of the woman's beauty to the swift and powerful movement of an eagle emphasizes the sudden and impactful nature of her allure.

2. Metaphor:

   - Evidence: "Firm-fleshed ripe fruit, sombre raptures of black wine, mouth making lyrical my mouth."

   - Explanation: The poet compares the woman's physical attributes to ripe fruit and black wine, suggesting that her presence brings pleasure and inspiration.

3. Personification:

   - Evidence: "Savannah shuddering beneath the East Wind's eager caresses."

   - Explanation: The portrayal of the savannah as shuddering beneath the caresses of the East Wind gives it human-like qualities, adding depth and vividness to the imagery.

4. Symbolism:

   - Evidence: "Carved tom-tom, taut tom-tom, muttering under the Conqueror's fingers."

   - Explanation: The tom-tom drum symbolizes African heritage and resistance against colonial oppression, representing the strength and resilience of black culture.

5. Alliteration:

   - Evidence: "Savannah stretching to clear horizons, savannah shuddering beneath the East Wind's eager caresses."

   - Explanation: The repetition of the "s" sound in "savannah stretching" and "savannah shuddering" creates a rhythmic and melodic effect, enhancing the poetic imagery.

6. Assonance:

   - Evidence: "Oil that no breath ruffles, calm oil on the athlete's flanks, on the flanks of the Princes of Mali."

   - Explanation: The repetition of the long "o" sound in "oil," "no," and "flanks" creates a smooth and flowing rhythm, echoing the luxurious and serene quality of the woman's skin.

7. Hyperbole:

   - Evidence: "And your beauty strikes me to the heart like the flash of an eagle."

   - Explanation: The comparison of the woman's beauty to the striking flash of an eagle exaggerates its impact, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of her allure.

8. Apostrophe:

   - Evidence: "Naked woman, black woman, I sing your beauty that passes, the form that I fix in the Eternal."

   - Explanation: The direct address to the woman as "Naked woman, black woman" and the declaration of singing her beauty personifies the abstract concept of beauty, making it tangible and vivid.

9. Imagery:

   - Evidence: "Gazelle limbed in Paradise, pearls are stars on the night of your skin."

   - Explanation: The vivid descriptions of the woman as a "gazelle limbed in Paradise" and her skin as a night sky filled with stars create powerful visual imagery, evoking a sense of awe and admiration.

10. Oxymoron:

    - Evidence: "Oil that no breath ruffles, calm oil on the athlete's flanks, on the flanks of the Princes of Mali."

    - Explanation: The juxtaposition of "calm oil" and "athlete's flanks" suggests a contrast between stillness and motion, adding depth to the description of the woman's skin.