Reapers in a
mieliefield
Mbuyiseni 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.