The poetry of Charles Mungoshi

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Periodical article

Title:	The poetry of Charles Mungoshi
Author:	Malaba, M.Z.
Year:	2003
Periodical:	Research in African Literatures
Volume:	34
Issue:	1
Pages:	85-95
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Zimbabwe
Subjects:	literature English language poetry
About person:	Charles Lovemore Mungoshi (1947-2019)
External link:	http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/research_in_african_literatures/v034/34.1malaba.pdf
Abstract:	Two major themes that run through the poems of Charles Mungoshi (Zimbabwe) are an exploration of the meaning or significance of life, as well as a deeply ironic fascination with time. Broadly speaking, three outlooks on life can be found in his poems: first, the nihilistic perspective; second, a positive celebration of the miracle of life; and third, a fascination with the element of regeneration, particularly within the context of natural rhythms or cycles. Time features prominently, with great emphasis laid on its passage. The different attitudes toward time adopted by youths and adults provide the basis for ironic commentary and contrasts are drawn between human perceptions of time and natural cycles. The process of aging clearly intrigues the poet. The author of the present paper analyses poems from Mungoshi's collection 'The milkman doesn't only deliver milk' (1981) and quotes extensively from most of the poems. Bibliogr. [ASC leiden abstract]