Ol' Higue by Mark McWatt

Ol’ Higue by Mark McWatt

Ol’ Higue is a poem in the form of a dramatic monologue, which is the type of poem that contains features of both lyric & dramatic poetry.

Lyric: single speaker/persona- who comments on personal feeling and experiences in first person

Dramatic poem: persona in dramatic situation interacting with someone who does NOT speak.

The speaker is a mythical creature who is addressing the readers including mothers. There are 3 sections.

1.       Written in free verse- pleading for sympathy because all of the indignity and suffering the Ol’ Higue goes through.

Example: lines 1-5

“You think I like this stupidness –

gallivanting all night without my skin,

burning myself out like a cane-fire

to frighten the foolish?

And for what a few drops of baby blood?”

2.       She complains that she is  victim of her own impulses and fears

Example: lines 12-17

“If only babies didn’t smell so nice!

And if I could only stop

hearing the soft, soft call

of that pure blood running in new veins,

singing the sweet song of life

tempting an old, dry-up woman…”

3.       She argues that she serves as a scapegoat taking blame for infant tragedies

Example: lines 20-25

“Then again, if I didn’t fly and come

to that fresh pulse in the middle of the night,

how would you, mother,

name your ancient dread?

And who to blame

for the murder inside your head . .?”

Title: A superstition in Guyana/ Caribbean that an old woman called Ol’ Higue (or Soucoyant in Trinidad) strips off her skin late at night, turns herself into a terrifying ball of fire and flies into houses with babies and sucks their blood. The only way to kill her is by rubbing salt into her skin which pains or kills her, scattering rice grains at windows or doors forces her to remain their counting the grains until sun rise catches her without her skin.

Interpretation: The poem takes the reader into the world of supernatural, presenting Ol’ Higue as a realistic complaining old woman. It is not until the final section that the poet has her arguing the case that mythical creatures such as Ol’ Higue are necessary to help people deal with terrible misfortunes.

Lines 24-25: who to hold responsible

A)     In the mother’s mind, for the death of a baby; and also perhaps,

B)      For the deadly grief suffered by a stricken baby’s mother

Line 26: this particularly short line introduces the crucial last 2 lines (has 10 syllables, with iambic rhythm, and contrasting end words). It suggests that even if we don’t believe all mythical information in the last two sections, the last section is credible

Line 27: there are (one of just a few dialect expressions used in the poem) this particular example is found chiefly in Guyana and the Southern Caribbean

Line 28: The Ol’ Higue feels that she deserves pity, given that what she’s supposedly enduring “the temptation” she cannot supposedly resist, but mainly, in reality, because people will always need someone to blame for the misfortune of babies.

All information below is from http://paynterliterature.weebly.com/ol-higue.html

 LITERARY DEVICES

SIMILE
Cane-fire has a very distinct quality. It burns very quickly and its presence is felt through it's pungent smell. Therefore, when the Ol' Higue compares herself to cane fire in her fireball state, it implies that she uses a lot of energy quickly, and is very visible.  

RHETORICAL QUESTION

• Stanza 1,line 4: This rhetorical question highlights the scant regard that the Higue has for the average person. She is thoroughly annoyed that she has to literally waste her energy on them.
• Stanza 1, line 5: This highlights the fact that, again, she is annoyed that she has to expend so much energy to obtain a few drops of baby blood.
• Stanza 1, lines 6-8: The Ol' Higue is emphasizing the fact that regular people ingest blood too, just in a more palatable manner. She would not mind if she could ingest it in the same manner as well.
• Stanza 3, lines 22-23: At this point the Ol' Higue is making excuses for her presence, claiming that she serves an actual purpose in the scheme of life. If a child dies of unknown causes, she can be scapegoated for it.
• Stanza 3, lines 24-25: 'The murder inside your head' refers to the moments, when out of pure frustration and tiredness, a mother might wish ill on her child. The Ol' Higue is implying that, again, she can be used as a scapegoat if something unfortunate happens to the child. The mother is relieved of bearing the burden of guilt.

REPETITION
The repetition of the word 'soft' emphasizes the fact that the call of the child's blood has captured and beguiled the Ol' Higue'. She implies that she cannot resist that call.

ALLITERATION
This device emphasizes the Ol' Higue's dependence, even addiction, to the sweet blood of the baby.

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
5. 'stupidness!'
This is a distinctly Caribbean phrase that highlights frustration or scorn. Therefore, it highlights the Ol' Higue's frustration with her lack of self control.
6. 'gallivanting'
This term refers to some one 'playing around', having fun. The Ol' Higue is being sarcastic at this point. She is expressing displeasure at having to fly around to seek prey. 
7. 'pure blood running in new veins'
Babies are often associated with purity, this is what is emphasized here. The Ol' Higue simply cannot resist the lure of new and pure blood.
8. 'holding her final note for years and years, afraid of the dying hum ...'
This tells us that the Ol'Higue has been living this desperate existence for a long time. It also implies that she will keep hanging on, despite her frustration. The final line confirms this point: 'As long as it have women giving birth a poor Ol' Higue like me can never dead'

MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective.

TONE
The tone of the poem is slightly bitter and resigned. She accepts that the cycle of her life cannot change.