SIGN OF BLACK: A SHORT ANALYSIS OF MALAY AND MAORI POEMS

SIGN OF BLACK: A SHORT ANALYSIS OF MALAY AND MAORI POEMS

Abdul Halim Ali
Senior Lecturer
Malay Literature Department
and
Ahmad Zainuri Lop Ahmad
Senior Lecturer
English Department


Abstract

This analysis aims at examining the use of black colour as a sign in two poems by Malay poet Usman Awang (poem ‘Black snow’) and Maori poet, Karlo Mila (poem ‘Black butterflies’). For that purpose, Charles Sander Piecre semiotic idea who states that sign in language are closely related to psychology and other signs with its connection. Poetry also, according to Piecre is a text that contains thinking, knowledge and information which is interpreted by sign as a system of language that manifests human interaction and making new changes from time to time. Based on the analysis, black colour sign used by the poet shows the presence of the poet’s psychology interaction with sign manifestation. Nevertheless, that manifestation occurs arbitrarily because the meaning of black sign for the two poets are different. However, this analysis concludes that sign and signified used are still in human psychology enclosure and are related to each individual social convention.

Basis of Discussion

The use of sign in poetry is not something new. A poet consciously chose signs to convey certain meaning. Normally, the signs used are of various characteristics. For instance, a sign may refer to things, concept and also colours. The function of symbol occurs in human perception or psychology as a particular meaning, parallel to society convention around them. However, based on the explanation by Semiotic members, language possesses its own system of sign which will provide us with a fresh vision (Wong Soak Koon, 1990:16). Semiotic will provide opportunities for poets to think about making a difference by inviting human minds to function critically on meaning.

Riffaterre suggests three ways on how to make this happen which are displacing, distorting and creating. Semiotic obviously oppose mimesis and reality. As such, anything that is seen or thought which is not proper in realist point of view, is considered proper to the semiotist. Based on that capacity, semiotic poets believe that anything is possible with language semantic.



Method: Peicre Semiotic Idea

Semiotic idea began with Ferddinand de Saussure who believed that sign system exists in language. Sander Peirce on the other hand believed that sign are closely related with human psychology. Although other figures had different views nevertheless their thinking is not out of the framework that language is a system of sign. However, literature accepted, Yuri Lotman as a figure who discovered semiotic idea in the study of literary texts (Mana Sikana, 1988). However, for the purpose of this discussion, Peicre’s idea will be taken into account as the basis of sign analysis in selected poems. Peicre assumed poetry as texts that contain language system which is marked by signs which can interpret human interaction and to bring about change from time to time (Arbak Othman, 2003:9). In addition, it is Sander Perice who introduced the term Semiotic while Saussure initially introduced the term semiology.

In the opinion of Peicre, sign in language are not only related to signifier and signified, but also related to human psychology and able to explain interaction through its semantic symbols. He also believed that each sign are related to other signs with its connection.

Peicre Semiotic Idea in poetry analysis will require researchers to perceive signs and its relationship with society convention in order to get the meaning of text, whether symbols in the from of displacing, distorting or creating.

The sign of Black in Poem titled ‘Salji Hitam’ (Black Snow) by Usman Awang

The poem Black Snow by Usman Awang, a Malaysian poet and National Poet (see Appendix 1) is extracted from Collection of Selected Poetry of Usman Awang (1987) on page 69. The poem “Black Butterflies” by Karlo Mila, a Maori poet (see Appendix 2) is extracted from Collection of her poetry entitled “Dream fish floating” which was accessed from the internet: http://nzpoetonline.homestead.com/index17.html.

Both these poems are chosen because each uses black colour as the main sign of text. The only difference is the element of unity. Usman uses snow whereas Karlo uses butterflies. Nevertheless, black snow and black butterflies in the context of these two poems belong to signifier group (symbol). The symbol used in the poem “Black Snow” can be interpreted with various resources, that is convention characteristics, pre-assumption, society context, and binary opposition. The use of black sign in both the poems will be discussed by way of synchronic beginning with “Black Snow” by Usman Awang.

Western Society Convention Characteristics

Studying the overall poem “Black Snow” by Usman Awang, can be concluded that black snow sign (signifier) refers to human being as signified. Usman has taken several characteristics of the nature which are conventional with the situation in the West like pine leaf, snow, Macbeth, American farm and English words. By choosing a mini characteristic, reader’s psychology will easily interpret the meaning of the poem. The conventional relationship snow + pine tree refers to a vast area covered with ice.
Reader’ first perception

The vast area covered with ice in America brings the mind of the reader closer to knowledge of geography. As such, the snow covering the land of America is very extensive.

Binary opposition

The poet opposed black snow and white snow in convention and reader’s psychology. With that opposition, will quicken the reader’s mind to look for other signs (not ice which is white). Consequently, connecting other descriptions in phrases in the poem, like:

Filling in the congested city
Moving and moving (lines 4-5)

Fertilizing the arable farms
America prosper (lines 18-19)

The colour is so black
Echoing chasm
WE SHALL OVERCOME (lines 22-24)

From the above phrases the reader will be able to relate a new symbol for black snow (with the assumption that it is impossible for snow to move in cities and working in farms). Other symbols can be associated by perceiving the phrases below:

In the south in the north
Everywhere
Stroking ancestor historical cuts (lines 25-27)

From the above phrases, the reader should be able to detect American history that brought in many citizens of Africa to work as labourers in the farms. As mentioned by Peicre, in language, social interaction in its sign system can be recognized. Black snow in the poem ‘Black snow’ by Usman Awang is obvious a sign for the blacks which according to Usman Awang is prevailing everywhere in America.

In another aspect, the blacks symbolized by black snow indicate a positive meaning in terms of social aspect. Usman stated that the blacks in America today are successful citizens compared to their destiny in history. Usman states;

Now
very glorious
black snow. (lines 29-31).



Black sign in poem entitled ‘Black Butterflies’ by Karlo Mila

Karlo Mila has chosen the black colour to match with butterflies. Generally butterfly possesses many colours. The multi-colours on its body has made it appear attractive and producing aesthetic value. Nevertheless black butterflies may not be as beautiful as those butterflies with assortment of colours. In Fleur-de-lis Design website under the topic ‘the meaning behind the symbol, the black colour carries the meaning of constancy or grief (http://www.fleurdelis.com/meaning).

The meaning given may not be related to Karlo Mila’s idea in her poem. Nevertheless, it is not proper to leave the question unanswered because the language used by Karlo Mila in her poem has a tendency to the linguistic meaning. Black butterflies stated by Karlo Mila;

black butterflies
are not meant for flight (lines 1-2)

If that is the case, then black butterflies that prevail in human social system do not carry any functional meaning. The poet has other meaning which is camouflaged by a metaphor. In the following phrases, Karlo states that black butterflies;

they belong to the underworld
where all is treason and ghost (lines 3-4)

It is apparent that butterflies are underpinning object to convey the actual meaning which is hidden. Butterflies are insects with broad and beautiful wings (Kamus Dewan, 2005:1274). In http://www,yourdictionary.com, butterfly means ‘ a person, especially a woman, thought of as flitting about like a butterfly and being frivolous, fickle, etc.’ The focus of the poet in this poem is the black colour. When black is matched with butterflies, then it means an individual who does not have a stand, inconsistent and not a permanent inhabitant of certain place.

In the poem, Karlo Mila portrays a negative meaning to the black colour of the butterflies. She says;

the dark fluttering
of pirate sail wings (lines 5-6)

Black in the phrases above refers to an external disaster that appear in a beautiful and peaceful district that has finally resulted in the destruction of the beauty and peace. Karlo states;

the dark fluttering
of pirate sail wings
on green grass on a perfect
summer day by the sea (lines 5-8)
a bewitching pair of wings
stuttering like eyelashes
sweeping away a gaze
that must not linger any longer (lines 9-12)

Human with this kind of behaviour according to Karlo Mila will resort to cunning actions in the dark promising something which is not good. Karlo states;

at midnight
it has a brief refrain
escaping skeleton cage
to move from one sleeping mouth to another (lines 17-20)

Comparison

Similarities

a. Both the poets uses black colour as a sign to camouflage the different meaning from the black colour itself. Black snow means the blacks in America that are working as farmers and also the city dwellers. Black butterflies in Karlo’s poem symbolizes a person who cannot be trusted and bringing disaster.

b. black/dark skin or destruction/disaster/bad behaviour.

c. black colour with object symbolizes arbiterary characteristic. Black snow with the blacks; black butterflies with someone whose attitude will bring about harm.

Differences

a. human symbolizes opposite characteristics. Black snow – black community that is successful and brave. Black butterflies representing human being of bad behaviour and on who will bring about disaster. It is evident that the relationship between signifier and signified is arbiterary.

b. Different perspectives regarding black colour sign for two poets of different social background.

Conclusion

The brief analysis on the two poems by Usman Awang and Karlo Mila has proven the presence of signl with arbiterary meaning in literary works. This arbiterary sign can be associated with the different perspective and experience of the two different poets. Nevertheless, signifier and signified used are still moving in human psychology enclosure and is closely related with each individual social convention.


Appendix 1

Black snow
By Usman Awang


Pine leaf
in blushing red moon
procession
Filling in the congested city
Moving and moving
Like trees at Macbeth’s eyes
Here colour of snow is difference
Black
black
HITAM

straiking colour
that is a colour
which not drop from star
which not fall from the sky
flowing from historical wave
bones
BLACK
Fertilizing the arable farms
America prosper
Black snow
BLACK

The colour is so black
Echoing chasm
WE SHALL OVERCOME
In the south in the north
Everywhere
Stroking ancestor historical cuts
Now
very glorious
black snow.
1970







Appendix 2

The Black Butterfly
By Karlo Mila

black butterflies
are not meant for flight
they belong to the underworld
where all is treason and ghost

the dark fluttering
of pirate sail wings
on green grass on a perfect
summer day by the sea

a bewitching pair of wings
stuttering like eyelashes
sweeping away a gaze
that must not linger any longer

its chrysalis deep within
woman’s womb
pulsating shiny darkness
it hides and waits

at midnight
it has a brief refrain
escaping skeleton cage
to move from one sleeping mouth to another