Edward Kamau Brathwaite wrote the poem Ogun based on his personal memories of his great uncle, Robert O=Neil, a carpenter and wood carver. The poem can be divided into two basic sections. The first was a description of the workshop and the carpenter=s daily life. After a short transition, the second section was a description of how the carpenter carved the figure of god and what it meant to him. These sections were immensely filled with descriptive language showing imagery, diction, and movement. Brathwaite used these tools to express two separate tones and themes within his poem.
In the first part of Ogun, the common theme between stanzas was the work that the carpenter performs. The author was portraying to us that the wood was inanimate. The wood was very cold and lifeless. It was the carpenter that makes any type of alteration to the wood. The carpenter was Asmoothing the white wood out,@ and Ashaping squares for locks.@(lines 2 & 13).
This was contrasted to the second part where the wood seemed to take form; it came alive. On those Sunday=s the carpenter changed into a sculptor. He was creating life within his wood piece, and it was taking shape. Brathwaite said, Ait had swelled and shivered, breathing air.@ and Athe wood took shape: dry shuttered eyes, slack anciently everted lips, flat ruined face.@ (lines 31 & 40-41). .
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The poet=s use of images also expressed his feelings on the topic at hand. He spoke kindly of the carpenter and appreciated his work. Brathwaite realized all that the uncle had built, and even the toll it took on his body and wallet. Edward said, AMy uncle made chairs, tables, balanced doors on, dug out coffins.@ (Line 1-2). When he referred to the carpenter=s knuckles, he said, A[they] were silvered knobs of nails hit, hurt and flattened.@ (Lines 5-7). Brathwaite also acknowledged the economic effect it had on his uncle. He said, ABut he was poor and most days he was hungry.