It is the constant image of your face

framed in my hands as you knelt before my chair

the grave attention of your eyes

surveying me amid my world of knives

that stays with me, perennially accuses

and convicts me of heart’s-treachery;

and neither you nor I can plead excuses

for you, you know, can claim no loyalty –

my land takes precedence of all my loves.

Yet I beg mitigation, pleading guilty

for you, my dear, accomplice of my heart

made, without words, such blackmail with your beauty

and proffered me such dear protectiveness

that I confess without remorse or shame,

my still-fresh treason to my country

and I hope that she, my other, dearest love

will pardon freely, not attaching blame

being your mistress (or your match) in tenderness.

Summary

The persona seems to be a statesman or some sort of representative of his country who appears to be torn between his country and the woman he loves. The poem reflects the poet’s past and his involvement in apartheid in his home country. The persona is torn between the love he has for his country and his beloved. He believes that loyalty to his country supersedes all else and therefore, he cannot be loyal to another. He is caught between these loyalties. However, he pleads for forgiveness of some sort. His lover, the ‘accomplice of his heart’ in denying his country, has treated him with such tender love that he cannot simply ignore it. But he hopes that his country will be able to forgive him. He appears to be confused as he compares the love he holds for his lover and his land. He loves his land and this woman. But he believes that one should take precedence over the other and the other, has conspired with his heart to siphon some of his affection for the other. He cannot determine which one is dearer to his heart, or which one is more tender.

Tone

Remorseful and wistful.

Mood

Solemn and sad,

Guilt.

Themes
Patriotism,

Divided loyalties and

Romantic love vs love of one’s country.

Analysis

“It is the constant image of your face, framed in my hands as you knelt before my chair the grave attention of your eyes surveying me amid my world of knives.”

The image of his lover’s face stays in his mind. He holds her face in his hands as she kneels before him. Her eyes inspect him critically which hints at the anguish and deep emotion that the woman feels. The phrase ‘world of knives’ conveys the idea that the persona is surrounded by a world of brutality, or even an internal conflict.

“that stays with me, perennially accuses and convicts me of heart’s-treachery;”

This image seems to haunt him, permanently embedded into his mind. It accuses and convicts him of ‘heart’s-treachery.” The raw emotions in the attentive eyes of his lover stays with him and causes a great deal of emotional pain. The word ‘convicts’ gives the impression of that the persona is directly burdened by guilt. The “heart’s treachery” shows the heartbreak. This is an oxymoron where the heart becomes a symbol of love and compassion and contrasts with the concept of treachery and betrayal.

“and neither you nor I can plead excuses for you, you know, can claim no loyalty – my land takes precedence of all my loves.”

Neither the persona nor his lover can ‘plead excuses’ for his infidelity. They cannot claim loyalty to each other, as the persona believes that loyalty to his country should be above all other perceived loves. He feels unbound to her due to how he prioritizes patriotism.

“Yet I beg mitigation, pleading guilty for you, my dear, accomplice of my heart made, without words, such blackmail with your beauty and proffered me such dear protectiveness, that I confess without remorse or shame, my still-fresh treason to my country”

The persona wants to be exonerated for his betrayal. He admits he is wrong. His lover is the ‘accomplice of his heart,’ a person who has conspired with him to take some of his affection for his country. He introduces the idea that they both share blame for betraying his greater love. She blackmails him with her beauty, forcing him to become a backsliding lover when it comes to his country. Her protective and tender love has caused him to confess freely the way he now seems to have given his love to another, apart from his love for his country. He considers this treason.

“and I hope that she, my other, dearest love will pardon freely, not attaching blame being your mistress (or your match) in tenderness.”

The persona hopes that his country will be able to pardon him for this betrayal. The final line reveals more of his confusion, as he cannot determine which one is close rto his heart.

Literary Devices

Personification

a) Lines 4, 6-7: The eyes of the persona’s love constantly accuse and convict him and show the impact of this hurt on the persona.

b) Lines 18-20: The persona hopes for forgiveness from his country and his love because he commits treason when he loves another. This highlights the patriotism that defines the persona’s relationship to his country.

Oxymoron

The term heart’s-treachery implies that the heart, something so vital and indicative of love, has committed a terrible crime. It highlights the heartbreak that the persona has caused his love interest.

Mood/ Atmosphere

Reflective

TONE:

Sadness and guilt

THEMES

Love,

Guilt,

Patriotism,

Places,

Desires/ dreams