Thirteen

Context

Caleb Femi is a British-Nigerian poet known for his exploration of race, identity, and the experience of growing up in modern society. His poetry often addresses the challenges faced by young Black people in urban environments, particularly issues related to racial profiling, systemic injustice, and the loss of innocence. In "Thirteen," Femi reflects on the harsh realities of growing up Black in a society that sees youth and potential through a lens of suspicion and prejudice. The poem uses vivid imagery and symbolism to explore themes of racial stereotyping, fear, and the painful transition from childhood to adulthood.

The Poem

You will be four minutes from home

when you are cornered by an officer

who will tell you of a robbery, forty

minutes ago in the area. You fit

the description of a man? – You'll laugh.

Thirteen, you'll tell him: you're thirteen.

You'll be patted on the shoulder, then, by another fed

whose face takes you back to Gloucester Primary School,

a Wednesday assembly about being little stars.

This same officer had an horizon in the east

of his smile when he told your class that

you were all supernovas,

the biggest and brightest stars.

You will show the warmth of your teeth

praying he remembers the heat of you supernova;

he will see you powerless – plump.

You will watch the two men cast lots for your organs.

Don't you remember me? you will ask.

You gave a talk at my primary school.

While fear condenses on your lips,

you will remember that Wednesday, after the assembly,

your teacher speaking more about supernovas:

how they are, in fact, dying stars

on the verge of becoming black holes.

5 Quotes + Analysis to Achieve a Grade 9

1. Racial Profiling: "You fit the description of a man? – You'll laugh. Thirteen, you'll tell him: you're thirteen."

• Analysis: This line highlights the absurdity of the situation, where a child is racially profiled and treated like an adult criminal simply due to their race. The fact that the speaker is only thirteen underscores the injustice of being seen as a threat based on racial stereotypes, emphasising the loss of innocence experienced by many Black youths.

2. Metaphor: "You were all supernovas, the biggest and brightest stars."

• Analysis: The metaphor of supernovas represents the boundless potential and greatness the boy once believed he had. It symbolises hope and aspiration, suggesting that the speaker and his peers were once seen as the future of something brilliant. However, this is later revealed to be false as the boy is confronted with the harsh realities of societal racism, which reduces his potential to nothing more than a dying star.

3. Imagery: "You will watch the two men cast lots for your organs."

• Analysis: This chilling image conveys the dehumanisation the boy feels at the hands of the officers. The phrase "casting lots for your organs" suggests that the officers view him as an object rather than a person, reducing his humanity to something to be controlled or disposed of. This disturbing image reinforces the theme of racial oppression and objectification.

4. Fear: "While fear condenses on your lips."

• Analysis: This image highlights the physical manifestation of the boy's fear. The condensation on his lips suggests how overwhelming his anxiety is, as he confronts the terrifying reality of being viewed as a threat. It also reflects the power imbalance between the boy and the officers, whose authority leaves him feeling helpless and vulnerable.

5. Loss of Innocence: "you will remember that Wednesday, after the assembly, your teacher speaking more about supernovas: how they are, in fact, dying stars on the verge of becoming black holes."

• Analysis: The line reveals the harsh reality of the boy's situation, transitioning from the optimistic image of supernovas to the grim reality of death and collapse. The comparison of supernovas to dying stars mirrors the loss of hope and the boy's disillusionment, symbolising how societal forces, like racial profiling, extinguish the potential he once believed he had.

Key Imagery and Symbols

• The Supernova Metaphor: The supernova symbolises both the potential and the eventual collapse of the speaker's dreams. Initially, it represents the hope and greatness he once believed was possible for him and his peers, but as the poem progresses, it is revealed that the supernova is a dying star—reflecting how racial profiling and societal expectations diminish that potential, turning it into a tragic fate.

• The Officer: The officer is a symbol of authority and the betrayal the speaker feels. In his past, the officer represented a source of encouragement, telling the speaker he was a supernova. In the present, he embodies the oppressive force that sees the boy as a criminal, showing the duality of societal figures who both nurture and oppress.

• Casting Lots for Your Organs: This biblical reference suggests the boy's dehumanisation. The officers' treatment of him as a thing to be "cast lots for" suggests that his life is not valued, and it is reduced to an object of potential disposal or exploitation.

• Fear Condensation: The condensation of fear on the boy's lips is a visceral representation of his fear. It captures how anxiety manifests physically in moments of extreme tension, symbolising his powerless response to the threat posed by authority.

Structure and Form

• Second-Person Narrative: The use of second-person narrative creates an immediate and personal connection between the speaker and the reader, allowing the reader to experience the trauma of racial profiling firsthand. This perspective immerses the reader in the boy's experience and emphasises the universality of the theme.

• Free Verse: The poem's lack of a fixed form mirrors the chaos and unpredictability of the boy's experiences with police officers and societal expectations. It reflects the emotional turmoil and lack of control the speaker feels in this oppressive encounter.

• Shifting Tone: The tone of the poem shifts from reflective nostalgia to fear and powerlessness, mirroring the emotional journey from innocence to disillusionment. The shift in tone emphasises the stark contrast between the speaker's childhood memories and the harsh reality he faces as a Black boy in a racialised society.

Tone

• Nostalgic and Reflective: The beginning of the poem has a nostalgic tone as the boy recalls the officer's earlier words about him being a "supernova." This tone reflects the hope and idealism of childhood before encountering the harshness of the real world.

• Fearful and Tense: As the poem progresses, the tone becomes more fearful and tense. The boy is confronted by authority and sees how little he is valued. This tone highlights the vulnerability and helplessness of Black youth when faced with systemic injustice.

• Disillusioned and Resigned: By the end of the poem, the boy's sense of hope is shattered. The realization that supernovas are dying stars symbolizes his loss of innocence and the harsh truth about the limitations imposed on him by society.

Example Practice Question

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "Thirteen," Caleb Femi explores the painful experience of racial profiling and the loss of innocence through the metaphor of a supernova. The boy's hopeful belief in his potential, symbolised by the supernova, is shattered when he is racially profiled by the police. This contrasts with poems like "Like an Heiress" by Grace Nichols, where nature is used as a symbol of inheritance and responsibility. In both poems…