Poetry Notes - Mrs-claassen.co.za

SUNSTRIKE
By Douglas Livingstone
POEM: EXPLANATION:
A solitary prospector Solitary = single. Prospector = a person who searches for valuable
minerals, e.g. gold or diamonds.
staggered, locked in a vision Staggered = walked unsteadily. Locked in vision = completely focused on
of slate hills that capered Slate = a hard, grey fine-grained rock. Capered = leaped or skipped
playfully
on the molten horizon. Molten = turned to liquid by heating.
Waterless, he came to where There was a drought, so the rivers have dried out.
a river had run, now a band Band = a line
flowing only in ripples
of white unquenchable sand. Unquenchable = a thirst that cannot be satisfied
Cursing, he dug sporadically Sporadically = not happening regularly; happening in different places
here, here, as deep as his arm,
and sat quite still, eyes thirstily He digs in the ground hoping to find water. As he pulls his hand out, he
incredulous on his palm
looks hopefully for any moisture on his hand (“thirstily”). He can hardly
believe what he sees. Incredulous = not able to believe something.
A handful of alluvial
diamonds leered back and more: mixed Leered = looking at someone in an unpleasant way
in the scar, glinted globules Scar = damaged earth. Glinted = when your eyes shine with happiness.
Globules = a small, round mass or lump
of rubies, emeralds, onyx.
And then he was swimming in fire This man is dying of thirst. It’s ironic that in his search for water, he finds
and drinking, splashing hot halos
of glittering drops at the choir
of assembled carrion crows
diamonds. This stanza describes his thirst and the effect it has on his body.
Halo = a glow of light usually around a person’s head. Assembled =
gathered together. Carrion crows = birds (vultures) associated with death