How to Analyze a Poem Called Close Shave

Title: Close Shave Author: Charles Mungoshi Structure: The poem is written in free verse, without a specific rhyme scheme or meter. It consists of three stanzas with an unequal number of lines - the first stanza has three lines, the second has four, and the third has five. Meaning: "Close Shave" uses imagery and metaphor to create a narrative about a man experiencing a moment of reflection and vulnerability, as he gets his hair cut at the barber's, and thoughts about life and mortality cross his mind. Situation: The setting of this poem takes place in a barber shop, with the protagonist sitting in a chair getting a haircut. The noise of the plane passing overhead and the clicking sound of the barber's shears heighten the sense of vulnerability that can be felt throughout the poem. Themes: 1. Mortality: The poem focuses on the protagonist's awareness of his mortality, particularly when the barber's shears are near his jugular vein. 2. Vulnerability: The act of getting a haircut exposes the protagonist's vulnerability, both physically and emotionally. 3. Reflection: The protagonist reminisces about a distant memory, which serves as a reminder of his past and present self. 4. Change: The falling grey hair symbolizes the passage of time and the changes that come with aging. Language: Charles Mungoshi utilizes simple, yet vivid language to describe the setting and the protagonist's emotions. Words and phrases such as "roars," "rattling," "cold shears," "swallows, dryly," and "feathery, ever so lightly" create vivid sensory imagery for the reader. Figures of Speech: 1. Simile: "…as a big ball of new grey hair/softly – heavily falls in his lap." This simile compares the falling ball of grey hair to something soft and heavy, possibly hinting at the weight of the emotions the protagonist is experiencing. 2. Onomatopoeia: "click-click" and "roars" - These words help to convey the noises in the scene, creating auditory imagery for the reader. 3. Metaphor: The barber's shears are described as "cold," possibly representing the fear of mortality and the impermanence of life. In summary, "Close Shave" by Charles Mungoshi is a reflective and thought-provoking poem that uses vivid language, imagery, and figurative language to explore themes such as vulnerability, change, mortality, and introspection. The poem's structure, meaning, situation, themes, language, and figures of speech provide readers with a rich, multi-layered experience that will likely prompt reflection on their own life experiences and the passage of time.