Dry Your Tears Africa

Dry Your Tears Africa

Bernard Dadie

(Photo from: google.com)

Dry your tears, Africa!

Your Children come back to you

Out of the storm and squalls of fruitless journeys

Through the crest of the waves and the bubbling of the breeze,

Over the gold of the East

and the Purple of the setting Sun,

the peaks of the proud mountains

and the grasslands drenched with light

They return to you

out of the storm and squalls of fruitless journeys

Dry your tears, Africa!

We have drunk

From all the springs of ill fortune and of glory

And our senses are now opened

To the splendour of your beauty 

To the smell of your forests

To the charm of your waters

To the clearness of your skies

To the cares of your sun

And to the charm of your foliage pearled by the dew

Dry your tears, Africa!

Your children come back to you

Their hand full of playthings

And their heart full of love

They return to clothe you

In their dreams in their hopes

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:

1) Who is the author of the poem?

2) What do tears symbolize? Explain.

3) Why do you think the title of the poem is ‘Dry Your Tears Africa’?

4) Read aloud the last two lines of the poem. What is meant by that part?

5) What important message can we get from the poem?

6) In what ways can we relate the poem to our country? Explain.

7) Change the title of the poem and explain your reason.