In Detention by Christopher van Wyk
He fell from the ninth floor
He hanged himself
He slipped on a piece of soap while washing
He hanged himself
He slipped on a piece of soap while washing
He fell from the ninth floor
He hanged himself while washing
He slipped from the ninth floor
He hung from the ninth floor
He slipped on the ninth floor while washing
He fell from a piece of soap while slipping
He hung from the ninth floor
He washed from the ninth floor while slipping
He hung from a piece of soap while washing
Questions
During the years of struggle for democracy, many people were detained by the police and held without trial. Many activists were killed in detention, and the police offered lame explanations for these deaths.
- How many official explanations for deaths in detention are mentioned in this poem?
- How does the poet show that he does not believe these explanations?
- How does the poet use humour in this poem? Is it, in fact, funny?
- What is the tone of the poem?
Writing Exercise
People in authority often give explanations, or justifications for their actions. Parents say things like "I'm doing this for your own good". Teachers say things like "But it's not my job to remind you". Older brothers or sisters say things like "But mommy said I could". Politicians say things like "We have a mandate from the people".
Chose one explanation of your own, and write a poem by repeating the line again and again, but scrambling the word order.
Here's an example:
Punishment
This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you
This is hurting me more than it is going to you
This is going to me more than it hurts to you
This is hurting you more than it is going to more than you
This is you more than it is me
This is me more than it is you
This is hurting
This is you
This is hurting
This is going to hurt you
