On the Gallows Once Kofi Awoonor I crossed quite a few of…
““On the Gallows Once Kofi Awoonor I crossed quite a few of your rivers, my gods, into this plain where thirst reigns I heard the cry of mourners the long cooing of the African wren at dusk the laughter of the children at dawn had long ceased night comes fast in our land where indeed are the promised vistas the open fields, blue skies, the singing birds and abiding love? History records acts of heroism, barbarism of some who had power and abused it massively of some whose progenitors planned for them the secure state of madness from which no storm can shake them; of some who took the last ships disembarked on some far-off shores and forgot of some who simply laid down the load and went home to the ancestors””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem reflects on war, displacement, and the loss of peace, juxtaposing past heroism with present suffering and yearning for a promised, tranquil future.
In simple terms: War and exile erase peace, yet hope for a calm future remains.
Key Takeaway
Remember history, seek reconciliation.
Themes
war
displacement
memory
hope
loss
Mood
somber
reflective
hopeful
Type
poetic
political
lamentation
When to use this quote
- refugee camps
- post‑conflict societies
- family reunions
- cultural preservation
- peacebuilding
Key Concepts
colonialism
identity
trauma
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies rebuild trust after mass trauma?
- What role does cultural memory play in healing?
A Different Perspective
The poem ideal idealizes a “promised vista” without addressing the structural causes of conflict.