Soccer, Karoo Style: An Exploration of Clive Lawrance's Poetic Narrative

Clive Lawrance, a notable figure in South African literature, was born in 1935. At the age of 21, he embarked on a journey from South Africa to London to pursue his dreams of playing professional football. During this voyage, he encountered a writer who significantly influenced his trajectory towards poems and journalism. Over the years, Lawrance built a successful career in journalism, with stints in prominent cities such as London, New York, Boston, and Cape Town, eventually returning to his roots in Pietermaritzburg. He later found solace in the Great Karoo and Grahamstown, before establishing himself within a mini-forest in Pietermaritzburg. Lawrance's poetry often reflects his keen observations of life, imbued with humor and wit.

About the Poem

The poem "Soccer, Karoo Style" is crafted in free verse, lacking a defined rhythm or rhyme scheme, which permits the poet a level of artistic freedom. Its conversational tone and narrative style engage readers through storytelling. The poem is rich in South African colloquialisms, which imbue a sense of local color and authenticity. Furthermore, Lawrance's trademark humor is evident, creating a portrayal of leisurely rural life characterized by simplicity and community interaction.

Theme

The central theme of the poem revolves around the unhurried lifestyle prevalent in the rural Karoo region. The inhabitants, both human and animal, coexist harmoniously in a tightly-knit community. This setting underlines the idea that little can disrupt the tranquil pace of life, epitomizing a world where simplicity and local culture reign supreme.

Title: "Soccer, Karoo Style"

The title suggests a distinctive approach to the game of soccer, hinting at a playful twist that captures the essence of rural life in the Karoo, which is characterized by its semi-desert landscape in South Africa.

Stanza Analysis

Stanza 1

The opening stanza sets the scene with vivid imagery, describing the need to clear farm animals from the soccer pitch before the game could commence. The characters have to first "shoo a fat sow, three piglets, and a family of chickens" from the field, a humorous depiction of the rural setting where animals permeate daily life. The term "somnambulant great dane" introduces a whimsical element, referencing a dog that appears to be sleepwalking. The subsequent action, where the goalkeeper kicks the ball skyward with significant force, leads to a surprising outcome—"it burst into flower". This metaphor equates the split ball to a blooming flower; just as petals unfurl, the split ball’s fabric spreads outwards, illustrating the whimsical nature of rural soccer.

Stanza 2

The second stanza progresses with a touch of personification, as the "bulging rubber" is described as if it were a living entity. The team captains' futile attempts to restore the ball to its original form culminate in a comic moment of it exhaling a "sad pssst" before conceding defeat. Instead of ending the game, innovative improvisation emerges, as players creatively stuff old socks and underpants into the leather casing, thus allowing the game to continue, albeit humorously. The stanza concludes with the anticlimax of a goalless draw, reinforcing the playful essence permeating the poem.

Stanza 3

The final stanza captures the aftermath of the game as the teams leave the pitch, and the great dane, anthropomorphized with a "deep sigh," returns to the penalty spot. This imagery beautifully encapsulates the ending of the day's sport, summing up the day in a quaint fashion. The presence of animals returning to the scene emphasizes the cyclic nature of rural life, where both play and nature intertwine.

Exploring 'Soccer, Karoo Style' by Clive Lawrance

Exploring 'Soccer, Karoo Style' by Clive Lawrance