to the Diaspora

you did not know you were Afrika

When you set out for Afrika
you did not know you were going.
Because
you did not know you were Afrika.
You did not know the Black continent
that had to be reached
was you.

I could not have told you then that some sun
would come,
somewhere over the road,
would come evoking the diamonds
of you, the Black continent--
somewhere over the road.
You would not have believed my mouth.

When I told you, meeting you somewhere close
to the heat and youth of the road,
liking my loyalty, liking belief,
you smiled and you thanked me but very little believed me.

Here is some sun. Some.
Now off into the places rough to reach.
Though dry, though drowsy, all unwillingly a-wobble,
into the dissonant and dangerous crescendo.
Your work, that was done, to be done to be done to be done.

There seems to be many different interpretations of this poem. Diaspora means the “scattering or migration of people away from the homeland” or the place migrated to. For this reason, it makes sense to think that “you” in this poem are the group of Africans migrating somewhere. However, there have been a number of migrations in African history, or African American history (the writing of Africa as “Afrika” may provide a clue), so this Diaspora seems to have been left ambiguous.

       No matter which Diaspora, each group carries a piece of Africa with them, hence the line “you were Afrika.” All along, this group carried the future glory of Africa. “You” would not believe, even when told, that “some sun” and “diamonds” would result from this migration and settlement. The road, here, is not only the real journey of such migrations, but is the long journey for Africans to fight for their glory and rights. “Black” is emphasized because of the long “road” for African Americans fighting for civil rights. Yet, this fight in continued, in the last stanza- the illumination of the sun or the recognition of blacks must shine even in “places rough to reach.” To Brook, this is the “work…to be done.” 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diaspora

Metonymy: “You would not have believed my mouth.” Mouth is substituted for words and the idea “sun” will come.

Repetition: “to be done” is repeated three times in the last line, represents the continuing journey of African Americans. Also, “somewhere over the road” to emphasize the journey of Africans.

Metaphor: “evoking the diamonds of you, the black continent”- the diamonds represent the riches of Africa, in terms of the famous African American people who Africa offers on its journey to recognized. Also could stand for the resources that Africa has to offer.

Caesura: “somewhere over the road, would come evoking the diamonds of you, the Black continent-- somewhere over the road.” Long pause between “the Black continent” and “somewhere over the road.”