• Themes 
• Type and form
• Analysis
• Tone and mood
• Activity 6

A prayer for all my countrymen by Guy Butler

This poem was written by Guy Butler (1918-2001). He was born and grew up in the Karoo. Butler was a professor of English at Rhodes University from 1952 to 1987.
He helped South African English literature achieve recognition and argued for integrating European and African elements in writing. When he wrote poetry in English he gave his writing an African feel.
Much of his poetry reflects his concerns about the problems and difficulties of life in South Africa during the time of apartheid. This poem was written in 1987 during the darkest days of apartheid and meditates on racial conflict. It is a prayer for unity.

1. Themes

As the title suggests, the theme is that South Africans need God’s help to escape the tragedy of apartheid.
The poet says most people cannot see an end or solution to South Africa’s problems (under apartheid) or imagine life after apartheid has ended. He asks God to make sure that once the horrors of apartheid have ended, people will behave and speak in such a way that they will keep (and live up to) their faith in Him.
The poet then says that, in spite of all their suffering, some people have been able to remain kind and good, to smile bravely through their troubles and to think clearly. This gives him hope that there will be a better future.

Words to know: 

2. Type and form

There are two stanzas in this poem:

• The first stanza has 11 lines and in it the poet asks for God’s
• The second stanza is shorter (8 lines) and tells us that some people have stayed good in spite of injustice and

The lines in the poem are short. Most have 4 syllables, although one has 3 and another has 5 syllables. The short lines add to the effect of a prayer and also simplify and make each phrase stand out, since the poet believes that God knows his thoughts and that there is no need to explain them.
In the first stanza, there is one full rhyme (“said”/”dead”), but many half rhymes. Half rhymes are words that almost rhyme but do not quite rhyme, which often give a poem a rather sad feeling as they are less musical. (Look at “ordain” / “done” or “yet’ / “dead”.)
In the second stanza there is one full rhyme: “pure” / “endure” which is more pleasant to listen to and links the more positive ideas contained in these words.

Note

• Syllable - The sound of a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) when pronouncing a word.

3. Analysis

This stanza contains the poet’s prayer to God to save the people of our country. It is written as one long sentence.
In the four opening lines, the first half of the sentence tells us of the situation about which the poet is writing. The problems (“complexities” in line 4) of South Africa are so great that only a few of the people who suffer can imagine a time when apartheid will be over. Notice that the word “complexities” is in a line of its own (line 4), emphasising the size of the problems facing the country. Using what you have learnt about apartheid, you can decide why the poet calls it a “tragic time” (line 3).
Notice how the alliteration of the “t” sound in “tragic time’s” emphasises the sadness. The image here is depressing, but look at the first word of the poem. It begins with the word “Though” (line 1), meaning that even though few people can see past the time of apartheid a time will come when it ends. This suggests that, even with all the suffering, hope is possible.
In the remaining seven lines of stanza 1, the poet tells us what he is praying for. He addresses God in a prayerful and loving tone, even desperately, when he says “dear God”. The word “ordain” (line 5) is interesting here - the poet asks God to command or order what needs to happen, but “ordain” also has a religious meaning. (A priest is “ordained” when he is allowed to work as a priest.) This suggests that that what God “ordains”, or makes happen, is good and holy. It also conveys a sense of future promise.
The use of repetition in “such deeds / such words” (lines 6 and 7) shows us how important the things are that the poet prays for. He prays that men will retain enough kindness to remain capable of speaking and acting with humanity (ubuntu), and not in ways that would cause them to lose all faith in God.
Once the struggle to end apartheid is over, he hopes that people will have retained enough human kindness and faith in God (“praise Your image yet” in lines 8 and 9) to enable them to make a better society possible for all. The use of the word “yet” (line 9) refers again to his hope that people will, in the future, go back to following in God’s image. Perhaps he is suggesting that human beings are not capable of understanding God, so they create an image of Him for themselves. He might also be referring to the verse in Genesis which says that people are created in the image of God.
The “hates” and “terrors” (lines 10 and 11) refer to the negative effects of the evil system of apartheid. The last line of this stanza (line 11) contains the poem’s only use of personification. The words “are dead” suggest that the poet does believe that apartheid will end, that he has hope.
The poet uses very few punctuation marks, so the lines flow in a simple way, suggesting that the words arise spontaneously in the poet’s consciousness or mind. The colon (:) at the end of the first stanza makes us pause; we expect the second stanza to complete his thoughts.
The poem is very simply written, with very few figures of speech such as similes or metaphors. The simple diction (choice of words) makes it suitable for a prayer and emphasises the poet’s sincerity – the prayer comes from his heart.

Note:

• 'Tragic time' makes us think of the suffering most SouthyAfricans had to go through during the apartheid.

In this stanza, also written as one long sentence, the poet says that in spite of the harsh, cruel times, some people have still stayed good, brave and kind.
Note that for the first time in the poem there are pauses, indicated by the punctuation (the use of commas and semi-colons at the end of the lines). The poet lists examples of what people have experienced.
The first line in stanza 2 contains the poem’s only metaphor. Apartheid is compared to something that is rotten; it is a morally corrupt and evil system. “Rotting” (line 12) also has connotations of being forced to live in a poor, miserable area with no resources or services, and even of the decaying bodies of the people killed because of apartheid. It also suggests that the apartheid system is no longer fresh, but is old and rotting and it is time to throw it away.
The people were “beaten, broken” (line 13) as a result of the physical violence done to them. But people were also “beaten, broken” in spirit as a result of the injustice and cruelty of apartheid. Notice the use of the sound device in line 13 – the alliteration of “b” in “beaten, broken”, a harsh sound that echoes the heavy sound of blows falling on a body.
But in spite of their suffering, some people “stayed pure” (line 14): they remained good and were not made angry or bitter by the system. “Pure” also has a religious connotation, suggesting that these people were innocent of any corruption and trusted in God.
Other people learnt to bear their suffering bravely and with a smile (“grin and endure” in line 16) and did not feel sorry for themselves. Some remained kind and warm-hearted, while still others learnt to think about the situation clearly and wisely: their heads “grew clear” (line 19). People with clear minds, the ability to think clearly and rationally, were necessary if a solution to the problems was to be found and a better future built.
As some people have been able to rise above their problems and suffering, the poet feels hopeful that a better future will be possible.

Note: 

• Connotations of a word are the meanings that that word suggests. 'Pure' has connotations of (or suggests) goodness, innocence and honesty.

4. Tone and mood

The general tone of the poem is reverent, sincere and hopeful, as it is a prayer.
The mood of a poem is how it makes the reader feel. How does this poem make you feel? For example, happy, sad, angry, or indifferent.

Summary
A prayer for all my countrymen by Guy Butler

1. Theme
   South Africans need God’s help to escape the tragedy of apartheid.
2. Type and form
3. Tone and mood

   Tone: Reverent, sincere and hopeful.
   Mood: How does this poem make you feel? Happy, sad, angry or indifferent? Always give reasons for your answer.

Activity 6

Refer to the poem on page 51 and answer the questions below.

1. What is the “tragic time” referred to in line 3? (1)
2. Complete the following sentences by using the words provided in the list below. Write down only the words next to the question number (2.1-2.3).

   America; people; South Africa; pardon; prayer; men

   This poem is written as a (2.1) ... for all the (2.2) ... of (2.3) ... (3)
3. Refer to line 1 (“Though now few eyes”).
   To whom do the “few eyes” belong?                                       (1)
4. Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence: In line 4, the word “complexities” means ...
   1. hardships and shortages.
   2. hardships and answers.
   3. answers and solutions.
   4. problems and difficulties.                                                   (1)
5. Refer to lines 5-9 (“dear God ordain, ... Your image yet”).
   Explain why the poet wants his countrymen to behave as described in these lines.                                       (2)
6. Refer to lines 10 and 11 (“when all these terrors/and hates are dead”).
   Use ONE word to describe how the speaker feels about the future.                                                                               (1)
7. Refer to the poem as a whole and give TWO examples of alliteration used.                                                                    (2)
8. Refer to the second
   Using your own words, describe THREE different ways in which people reacted at that time.                                                   (3)
9. Refer to the second
   Is the following statement TRUE or FALSE?
   Quote a line to support your answer.
   The speaker was one of the few people who enjoyed the period of time described in this poem.                                   (2)
10. At the present time in our history do you think the poet’s prayer has been answered? Discuss your view.                      (2) [18]

Answers to Activity 6

1. Apartheid ✓ (1)
2. 2.1 Prayer ✓
   2.2 People ✓
   2.3 South Africa ✓  (3)
3. The people or comrades who can see beyond the suffering. ✓ (1)
4. D / problems and difficulties ✓ (1)
5. He wants them to act and speak responsibly in a way that will  be acceptable to God and will set an example to others. ✓✓ (2)
6. Hopeful/ positive/ optimistic ✓ (1)
7. “tragic time’s” ✓
   “deed be done” ✓
   “beaten, broken” ✓
   “some stayed pure” ✓ (2)
8. Some did not change/ some remained loyal. ✓
   Some pretended to cope/ be happy/ grinned and endured. ✓
   Some were balanced in their outlook/ remained hopeful/clear- headed and warm-hearted. ✓
   Some became clear-headed/ rational. ✓ (3)
9. False. “Through rotting days” ✓✓
10. Yes, some people have remained warm-hearted and clear- headed according to stanza two. These people help people in need. ✓✓
    OR
    No, reconciliation and forgiveness are not truly evident even after 1994. There is still a lot of racial prejudice. ✓✓ (2) [18]