The Dying Child
This poem by Freeman Peter Lwanda reflects the harsh reality faced by poor communities even after independence. It shows how hope has faded for many, especially those who continue to struggle with hunger and poverty. Through the image of a suffering child and a hopeless mother, the poem reveals deep disappointment in the promises that were never fulfilled.
The child is frail, with a weak, reddish body. He is extremely thin, with little hair, and lies on the ground groaning in pain. His stomach is swollen from hunger and illness, while his arms and legs are painfully skinny. He can barely move, only twitching as he struggles weakly, even competing with flies over an empty plate—symbolizing the absence of food.
Although he is only ten years old, he appears much older because of suffering, yet at the same time, he seems too small and fragile for his age. His body is out of balance, almost like a prison trapping him in weakness and pain.
Despite his condition, the boy dreams of growing up. He calls out to his mother, saying that one day he wants to carry a gun instead of a pen—suggesting a desire for power or perhaps survival in a harsh world.
But the mother, filled with sorrow and despair, responds with painful honesty. She cries out that her son will never live long enough to achieve that dream. Their situation is too severe—there is not even enough food to sustain them.
The poem captures the deep hopelessness of poverty, showing how broken promises have left ordinary people struggling just to survive.
PARAPHRASE
The poem describes a ten-year-old boy suffering from kwashiorkor, a disease caused by severe malnutrition. We see him weak and helpless, struggling even to survive. He fights with flies over an empty plate, showing just how desperate his hunger is. His body is extremely thin, with reddish skin, little or no hair, and very skinny arms and legs.
At the same time, his stomach is swollen due to the illness, making his body look unbalanced. This condition causes him great pain, leaving him groaning on the ground, unable to move properly.
Although the boy is only ten years old, he looks much older because of the suffering he has gone through. His thoughts also seem unclear and unrealistic. He tells his mother that when he grows up, he wants to carry a gun instead of a pen, possibly expressing a desire for power or a different life.
However, his mother responds with deep sadness and hopelessness. She tells him that he will never live long enough to achieve that dream because they do not even have enough food to keep him alive. This reaction shows her sense of disillusionment and loss of hope, as she no longer believes in a better future for her child.
1. Poverty
The poem clearly shows how the boy and his mother are living in extreme poverty. They cannot even afford basic food, let alone a balanced diet. This is seen when the mother tells her son that he will never live long enough to carry a gun because there is no meat for them. The image of the boy struggling with flies over an empty plate also highlights the seriousness of their hunger and suffering.
The message here is that poverty can destroy lives, and people should strive to work hard and improve their living conditions so they can provide proper nutrition for their families.
2. Social Classes
The poem also brings out the idea of class differences in society. While some people can afford to eat well, others—like the boy and his mother—cannot even get basic food like meat. This shows the gap between the rich and the poor.
The lesson from this is that inequality in society can create division, and everyone deserves access to proper food and a healthy life.
3. Disappointment
There is a strong sense of disappointment, especially from the mother. When her son talks about his future, she responds with hopelessness, saying he will not live long enough to achieve his dreams. This shows that she has lost faith in the future due to their difficult situation.
The message is that although life can be challenging, people should try not to give up hope completely.
4. Awareness
The boy shows a kind of awareness, even in his weak state. He believes that change in society might come through force (carrying a gun) rather than through education (using a pen). At the same time, the mother is also aware of their reality—she knows her son is too weak to survive.
This highlights how both characters understand their situation, even if their responses to it are different.
5. Irresponsibility
The poem suggests irresponsibility, especially from leadership or the government, which has failed to take care of people living in poverty. This neglect leaves citizens suffering without support. There is also a hint of helplessness from the mother, who cannot protect her child from hunger and disease, as seen when he struggles over an empty plate.
The message here is that leaders have a responsibility to care for their people, and society should not ignore those who are suffering.
1. Sense Devices
Imagery
The poet uses strong imagery to create a clear mental picture of the suffering child. We can easily imagine his weak condition—thin arms and legs, a swollen stomach, and an unbalanced body. The image of the boy lying on the ground, groaning in pain and struggling with flies over an empty plate, clearly shows his hunger and the poverty he lives in.
Diction
The poet carefully chooses words to express the harsh reality of the boy’s life. Words like “skinny,” “bald,” “thin,” and “swollen stomach” highlight malnutrition and suffering. The word “flies” suggests dirt, decay, and lack of hygiene, while “pen” represents education and a better future. The word “prisoner” shows how the boy is trapped in his weak and painful body. These words carry deeper meanings beyond their literal sense, helping the reader understand the seriousness of the situation.
2. Sound Devices
Alliteration
The poet uses alliteration to create rhythm and emphasis. For example, in the phrase “the boy groans on the ground,” the repetition of the /g/ sound draws attention to the boy’s pain. Similarly, in “swollen stomach,” the repetition of the /s/ sound emphasizes the condition of malnutrition and suffering. These sound patterns make the poem more expressive and memorable.
3. Structural Devices
Stanza
The poem is made up of two stanzas. The first stanza has 11 lines, while the second stanza has 15 lines. This structure helps to organize the ideas, starting with the description of the child and then moving to the interaction between the child and the mother.
Parallelism
Parallelism is seen when similar sentence structures are repeated. For example:
“My son,” shouts the mother,
“My son,” cries the mother.
This repetition of structure emphasizes the mother’s deep sorrow and emotional pain.
Repetition
The word “thin” is repeated several times to stress the boy’s weak and unhealthy condition. This repetition helps to create sympathy in the reader and highlights the seriousness of his suffering.
Dialogue
The poet uses dialogue between the boy and his mother to bring out the reality of their situation. The boy speaks about his dreams, while the mother responds with sadness and hopelessness. This exchange makes the poem more vivid and emotionally powerful, allowing the reader to connect deeply with their struggles.
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