RECEPTACLE

RECEPTACLE
I slept and slept deep
In my reduced state of consciousness,
I saw a sharp, hooked claw like a fork.
This fork-like object took me up
And placed me on a shoulder
The shoulder of a month old baby girl
The baby girl had whole planets
Tied up with a string round her neck
It looked like African beads on her neck
I am the adult
But this baby girl spoke in riddles
The planets on her neck were hatching
I sometimes forget what she gives birth to
Her children were so many in 1939
And even in 1945
Even when her planets hatches
And her hatchings were premature
Or grown birds
At times her good children see
Mother’s bosom as a place for debris
Despite all, a beast of burden
Is one of her beautiful names
Written by:

MORDI IFEANYI APEX

Writer/Educator/Tutor

University of Benin

Department of English

STRUCTURAL REVIEW
This poem is enwritten to all women, weak and strong. The main idea of the poem is strength and respect attributed to womanhood.
The poem is set in the poet’s mind “RECEPTACLE” as the poem’s title refers to woman’s natural mysterious capacity to adapt to inconceivable challenges.
As Line 12 reads:

The planets on her neck were hatching
The poet extends the use of zoomorphism to expatiate on the woman’s nature to accept her situation even as it is already part of her as the poet says
“The planets on her neck were hatching”.
The planets here also signifies :

“”” the 9months during her pregnancy. Each months have something to tell about her. “””””
Starting from the beginning of the poem
Line 1-4 says:
I slept and slept deep
In my reduced state of consciousness,
I saw a sharp, hooked claw like a fork.
This fork-like object took me up

And placed me on a shoulder
The poet try to tell us about the caring nature of a mother. The fork-like object signifies the hand of a woman. Her hand signifies her caring nature for the baby which at this state,the baby experience a deep sleep as the poet says in line 1-2:
I slept and slept deep
In my reduced state of consciousness,
The woman according to the poet is ready to accept whatsever her planets hatches/gives birth to as the poem alludes/signifies the woman as Mother Earth.
Line 13-15:
I sometimes forget what she gives birth to
Her children were so many in 1939
And even in 1945
The use of allusion and indirect personification is a way of showing respect to the womanhood. 1939 to 1945(World War II) events in history which cost the earth at that time a lot of time regain its value. The woman here is referred to as mothers earth who still stands despite all burden, depression, and what the 1939-1945 which caused the death of some 50 million people, most of whom were civilian.
Here the children the mother earth gave birth within that 1939 to 1945(World War II) were;
1. Mortality
2. Hunger-
3.Dispossession
4.Persecution
5. Migration.
The poet affirms that pregnancy and child birth does not only make the woman a beast of burden,but she is a beast(decorated name ) of kinds of burden as
line 21-22 says:
Despite all, a beast of burden
Is one of her beautiful names
The poet also submits that this mark of respect is given to a newly born baby girl as
lines 4-8 reads:
This forklike object took me up
And placed me on a shoulder
The shoulder of a month old baby girl
The baby girl had whole planets
Tied up with a string round her neck
The poet generally aspire to understand more about the strength of a woman. Here also when it comes to true strength and the ability to endure pain for 9months women blow men away especially how she adapts when all hope is lost as
line 13,19 and 20 reads:
I sometimes forget what she gives birth to
At times her good children see
Mother’s bosom as shoulder for debris
Here is a question for my fellow bloggers and readers:
1. What are you contribution,opinion and views about the poem?

2. In the society you find yourself, do pregnant women have access to these antenatal care in hospitals?

3. Being a bearer of a child in your womb for 9 months. What are the things you feel during that period?( I need an inspirational answers)

4. Bringing a child to this world — Did it change your kind of person? or perceptions about Life? ( I need an inspirational answers)

5. Can the poem relate with your perception of women during pregnancy?
Please let me know all your reactions, views and insights in the comment box below!
Typed and Edited by:
Kogwuonye Patrick Onyeka
Writer/Blogger/Educator/Tutor
University of Benin
Credited to:
pregnant women in the world