Third World Geography by Cirilio F. Bautista --- an analysis
Hello guys! For my first blog for today, this will be the analysis of our lesson, Third World Geography by Cirilio F. Bautista
Third World Geography
by Cirilo F. Bautista
A country without miracles sits heavy on the map, thinking of banana trees rotting in the sunlight. The man who watches over it has commandeered all hopes, placed them in a sack, and tied its loose end. He goes around carrying it on his back. When asked what is inside, he says, “Just a handful of feathers, just a handful of feathers.” That’s how light the burden of government is in peace time— any tyrant can turn it into a metaphor. You kneel on the parched earth and pray for rice. Only the wind hears your useless words. The country without miracles tries to get up from the page, but the bold ink and sharp colors hold it down.
1. Who is the speaker and audience of the poem?
Answer: Invisible speaker and audience
2. Structure of the poem
Free Verse, Descriptive poem
3. Tone of the Writer?
Oblivious
4. What type of imagery is present in the poem?
A country without miracles
Sits heavy on the map
Only the wind Hears your useless words.
The country “sits” like a human. Therefore it is personification
Winds ‘hears’ like a human. Therefore it is personification
5. Line by line analysis
A country without miracles
Sits heavy on the map
Question:
What country does the speaker refers to?
Answer:
The Philippines since the author is a Filipino
Question:
What is miracles? Is it possible in one’s life? Why does Philippines is refer as country without miracles?
Answer:
Miracle is something unexpected in your life. Yes it is possible. Philippines need miracles to change up it’s obsolete system (Corruption, poverty, drugs, crimes, low standard of life, etc.)
Thinking of banana trees rotting
In the sunlight.
Question:
What is something about “banana tree”?
Answer:
Technically, we export bananas around the world and we are known for it.
Bananas represent our identity and our foods and goods, therefore, rotten identity and foods
The man who watches over it
Has commandeered all hopes
Question:
Who is the “man”? What is meant by commandeered all hopes?
Answer:
The man represents our leaders, our president, down to mayors.
“Commandeered all hopes” means they are holding all the means for us to grow
Placed them in a sack,
And tied its loose end.
He goes around carrying it
On his back
Question:
What will happen if you put something on a sack with a lose end? What does it represents?
Answer:
It will go through and be wasted. It means our “kaban ng bayan” is just being wasted by the government leaders. (Plunder, Corruption, etc.)
When asked what is inside,
He say, “Just a handful of feathers,
Just a handful of feathers.”
That’s how light the burden
Of government is in peace time –
Question:
What does this line means? What are in the sack? Are they feathers? Then why did the man said they were?
Answer:
They are not feathers they are bananas. This means that the man keeps the bananas away form us.
in much better sense, government keeps away our rights , our benefits to have better lives.
Any tyrant can turn it into a metaphor.
Question:
What is a tyrant? Can be the “man” can be a tyrant? What does it means?
Answer:
A tyrant is a very oppressive leader who holds people by hands. Yes a leader can be tyrant. He can use his power to order people around, play them in their hands foolishly.
You kneel on the parched earth
And pray for rice.
Only the wind Hears your useless words.
Question:
Who are being refer to us prayer? Why ony the winds hears the useless words?
Answer:
People who are rallying. No one gives attention to them.
The country without miracles
Tries to get up from the page,
But the bold ink and sharp colors
Hold it down.
Question:
Who are the people using “bold ink and sharp colors”?
Answer: This can be very tricky line. Media are using bold ink and sharp colors. through news and writings they keep on lambasting a government without even proposing a solution. Another can be us voters. Why? by using ink, we keep voting leaders who do not deserved to lead us.
Theme: The poem describes current political situation of the Philippines