Limbo

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Limbo by Edward Kamau Braithwaite   And limbo
stick is the silence in front of melimbolimbo
like melimbolimbo like melong dark night is
the silence in front of melimbolimbo like
mestick hit soundand the ship like it
readystick hit soundand the dark still
steadylimbolimbo like melong dark deck and
the water surrounding melong dark deck and the
silence is over melimbolimbo like me
Lots of repetition is used in the poem and the
rhythm is very important to convey the idea of
the dance
The poem is set out as a song. The structure is
one of several verses with a refrain or chorus
Water images remind us of the Slave ships
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stick is the whipand the dark deck is
slaverystick is the whip and the dark deck is
slaverylimbo limbo like medrum stick
knockand the darkness is over meknees spread
wideand the water is hiding melimbolimbo like
me knees spread wideand the dark ground is
under medowndowndownand the drummer is
calling melimbolimbo like me
The dark ideas are both literal in the fact that
the slaves would travel in darkness but also
metaphorical when we consider the horror of
slavery.
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Religious ideas are presented but it is the music
that the people find comfort
sun coming upand the drummers are praising
meout of the darkand the dumb gods are raising
meupupupand the music is saving
mehotslowstepon the burning ground
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The slave ships

• The slaves used to be transported to America on
  large ships. They were all crammed into small
  spaces. It was terrible and inhumane.

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How they coped

• The slaves would try to maintain some hope in
  their hopeless situation by singing. That is
  what this poem represents. Imagine singing it it
  to a drum beat.