Talk to the Peach Tree by Sipho Sepamla (Grade 12 NSC Matric English HL): Revision Notes
Talk to the Peach Tree by Sipho Sepamla
About the poet
Sipho Sepamla was a significant South African poet who lived from 1932 to 2007. Born near Krugersdorp, he came from a family of educators and initially worked as a teacher himself. However, after witnessing the harsh realities of apartheid education in Sharpeville in 1960, he left the teaching profession to pursue writing and activism.
Sepamla founded FUBA (Federated Union of Black Artists), an organisation that provided a platform for Black artists across all creative disciplines. This organisation operated successfully until 1997, giving voice to many artists who were silenced during apartheid.
His poetry focused on themes of irony, satire, and humour - qualities that distinguished him from other politically vocal poets of his era who often used more direct, emotionally charged approaches.
The poem
This powerful piece was written during South Africa's apartheid years and serves as Sepamla's commentary on the political negotiations happening between various parties before apartheid's official end. The poem uses the metaphor of conversation as a tool for peaceful resistance and social change.
Full text:
Let's talk to the swallows visiting us in summer
ask how it is in other countries
Let's talk to the afternoon shadow
ask how the day has been so far
Let's raise our pets to our level
ask them what they don't know of us
words have lost meaning
like all notations they've been misused
most people will admit
a whining woman can overstate her case
Talk to the paralysing heat in the air
inquire how long the mercilessness will last
Let's pick out items from the rubbish heap
ask how the stench is like down there
Let's talk to the peach tree
find out how it feels to be in the ground
Let's talk to the moon going down
ask if it isn't enough eyeing what's been going on
come on
let's talk to the devil himself
it's about time
Key vocabulary
Understanding these terms will help you grasp the poem's deeper meanings:
- Swallows: Migratory birds that travel between countries, symbolising freedom of movement
- Countries: Refers to different nations, highlighting restricted travel under apartheid
- Notations: Symbols, words, or phrases used for representation or communication
- Misused: Used incorrectly or for wrong purposes, not as originally intended
- Whining woman: Someone who complains continuously without valid reason
- Paralysing heat: Extreme heat that prevents movement or action, symbolising oppression
- Mercilessness: Cruelty without compassion or empathy
- Rubbish heap: A place where unwanted things are thrown, representing how Black people were treated
- Eyeing: Observing or watching carefully
Summary
The speaker makes a series of increasingly absurd suggestions about who to have political discussions with - starting with birds, shadows, and pets, then moving to more serious elements like heat, rubbish, and finally confronting "the devil himself" (the apartheid government). The poem progresses from humourous observations to serious political commentary, emphasising how normal channels of communication had broken down during apartheid.
Form and structure
This poem is written in free verse, meaning it follows no traditional poetic pattern or rhyme scheme. However, Sepamla creates structure through repetition and content organisation.
The most striking structural element is the repetition of "Let's talk" which appears six times throughout the poem. This repetition emphasises the central theme of needing dialogue between oppressor and oppressed.
Notice how stanzas 4 and 5 (lines 7-10) are indented differently from the rest. This visual technique alerts readers that these lines serve as commentary on the overall situation, breaking from the "Let's talk" pattern to reflect on how communication itself has become meaningless.
Analysis by section
The title
The peach tree appears in several of Sepamla's poems, representing something precious and permanent in his garden. In his poem "The Will," it's described as one of his possessions that he wants to pass down to his children. Here, the tree symbolises stability, rootedness, and belonging - things that Black South Africans were denied during apartheid.
Lines 1-6: Absurd conversations
The opening suggestions seem deliberately humourous - talking to swallows about other countries, asking shadows about their day, and questioning pets about human nature. However, beneath this absurdity lies serious meaning.
Analysis Example: Hidden Meaning in Absurd Suggestions
When the speaker suggests asking swallows "how it is in other countries," this seemingly silly question reveals a deeper truth about apartheid restrictions. Black South Africans were prevented from travelling freely and learning about life beyond their oppressed conditions.
During apartheid, Black South Africans had little opportunity to understand or communicate with people from other backgrounds. The speaker's question "what don't they know of us?" highlights how one group was always considered superior while others remained silenced and misunderstood.
Lines 7-10: Communication breakdown
These indented lines shift the tone completely. The speaker explains that "words have lost meaning" because language has been corrupted through misuse. During apartheid, the government twisted language to justify oppression, making genuine communication nearly impossible.
The comparison to "misused notations" suggests that communication tools have been so distorted that their original purposes are lost. The reference to a "whining woman" implies that when people do speak up about injustice, they're dismissed as complainers rather than being heard.
Lines 11-12: Oppressive conditions
The "paralysing heat" represents the oppressive political climate that prevented people from taking action. The word "paralysing" suggests that conditions were so harsh they left people unable to move or resist effectively.
"Mercilessness" emphasises the complete lack of compassion shown by the apartheid system towards Black South Africans, who were treated as prisoners in their own country.
Lines 13-14: Dehumanisation
The "rubbish heap" and "stench" imagery reflects how Black people were regarded by authorities - as unwanted waste to be disposed of. This powerful metaphor captures the reality of forced removals, poor living conditions, and general disregard for Black lives and dignity.
Lines 15-16: Belonging and rootedness
Unlike the other subjects for conversation, the peach tree is "rooted in a permanent place in the garden". This rootedness represents stability, belonging, and having a place you can call your own.
The tree can share what it feels like to be established and fruitful in its own space - something Black South Africans were denied through land dispossession and forced removals. The image contrasts sharply with the earlier metaphor of being treated like rubbish.
Lines 17-18: Witnessing injustice
The "moon going down" symbolises the end of a dark period, with daylight representing hope for change. The moon is personified as a witness that has been observing ("eyeing") the injustices occurring.
However, the speaker questions whether simple observation is enough - isn't it time for action rather than just watching? This reflects frustration with the international community's passive response to apartheid.
Lines 19-21: Direct confrontation
The final three lines mark a dramatic shift in tone. The indentation again signals that this is commentary, but now the speaker abandons absurd suggestions and calls for direct action.
"Come on" shows encouragement and urgency. "Devil himself" clearly refers to the apartheid government and its leaders - the true source of evil that needs to be confronted directly.
"It's about time" suggests that this conversation is long overdue and must happen to create change. This may reference the period when Nelson Mandela's release was announced, marking the beginning of serious negotiations to end apartheid.
Tone and mood
The poem's tone evolves throughout:
- Absurd and cynical in the opening sections
- Despairing and frustrated when discussing communication breakdown
- Serious and urgent in the final confrontation
The overall mood is:
- Apprehensive about the situation
- Anxious for change to occur
Themes
Overall theme
Open channels of communication represents the primary theme. The speaker encourages oppressed people to exhaust all peaceful forms of dialogue before resorting to other methods of resistance. During apartheid, freedom of expression and assembly for Black people were severely restricted, making "talking to the peach tree" safer than addressing the government directly.
Sub-themes
- Emancipation of the oppressed: The need for liberation from unjust systems
- Patriotism: Love for South Africa despite its problems
- Freedom of speech: The right to express opinions without fear
- Rebellion: The necessity of resistance against oppression
Literary techniques
Personification appears throughout the poem, giving human qualities to animals, objects, and natural elements. This technique allows the speaker to have "conversations" with non-threatening subjects while making political points.
Symbolism operates on multiple levels - the swallows represent freedom of movement, the heat symbolises oppression, and the peach tree embodies belonging and stability.
Repetition of "Let's talk" creates rhythm and emphasises the poem's central message about the need for dialogue.
Literary Technique Example: Symbolism in Action
The progression from talking to "swallows" (representing freedom) to confronting "the devil himself" (the apartheid government) shows how the poem's symbols build towards its climactic message about direct political action.
Exam tips
Exam Preparation Guidelines:
When writing about this poem, remember to:
- Discuss the progression from humourous to serious tone
- Explain how the apartheid context shapes the poem's meaning
- Identify specific literary techniques and their effects
- Consider the poem's structure and how it supports the message
- Connect the various symbols to their deeper meanings
Key Points to Remember:
- The poem uses absurd conversation suggestions to highlight the breakdown of normal communication during apartheid
- Sepamla's style combines humour with serious political commentary to make his message accessible
- The repetition of "Let's talk" emphasises that dialogue, not violence, should be the primary tool for change
- The progression from light-hearted to serious reflects the urgency of addressing apartheid directly
- The poem ends with a call for direct confrontation with the "devil" - the apartheid government itself