Reapers in a mieliefieldMbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali

Line 1

• Alliteration: “Faces furrowed”

• Assonance: “wet with sweat”

• The labourers are frowning and sweating due to exertion – the work is physically demanding.

Lines 2-5• Alliteration: “wasp waists” (line 2)

• The female labourers break the mielie cobs off the plants and throw them in bags.

• Onomatopoeia: “rustling” imitates the sound the dry leaves of the mielies make when handled by the labourers.

Line 6

• Repetition: “row upon row” – the work the labourers do seems to be endless.

Lines 7-9

• Simile: The tractor is compared to a desert tanker as it is huge, probably noisy and kicks up a lot of dust.

Lines 10-12

• Alliteration: “pipe puffing”

• Simile: The driver’s teeth are compared to mielies as it is stained yellow.

Lines 13-14

• Alliteration: “loaded by thick-limbed labourers”

• The labourers are muscular/strong from daily physical labour.

Lines 15-16

• Metaphor: Their vests are brown from the dust and reminds the speaker of baked bread.

Lines 17-19• Personification: The sun is like a slave driver who

carries a red hot rod to force the labourers to keep working.

• It is really hot outside.• The image evokes pain and suffering.

Lines 20-23• Assonance: “wipe a brine”

• Alliteration: “brine-bathed-brow”; “malty maheu”

• The labourers are drenched in sweat and take a quick break to drink maheu.

Line 24

• Alliteration: “slaked in seconds”

• “seconds” - it is only a short break.

Line 25

• Simile: Heavy bags are picked up as though they are light as bags containing feathers.

• Shows the renewed energy of the men.

Line 26

• Metaphor: The women are compared to energetic female horses.

• Demonstrates the renewed vigour with which they return to their work.

Lines 27-28

• Alliteration: “reapers will rest”

• “Kraals” – term often used to describe housing for animals.

• Labourers are possibly not treated humanely.