This poem, “To the Senegalese Riflemen Who Died for France” by Léopold Sédar Senghor, is a tribute to the African soldiers who fought and died for France, particularly during World War I. Senghor, a prominent Senegalese poet and later the first president of Senegal, uses powerful imagery and emotion to honor these soldiers while also highlighting the neglect and ingratitude they faced.

To the Senegalese Riflemen Who Died for France Summary

The poem starts by describing the sun, a symbol of life and warmth, which affects everyone from young women to old men, and even seems capable of awakening the dead. The speaker then hears the sound of cannon fire, possibly from a distant battle. Flowers are placed on graves, but the Senegalese soldiers, who fought and died, are not remembered or honored properly.

Senghor addresses these soldiers, calling them his “dark brothers,” acknowledging their sacrifice and bravery. He laments that despite the promises of glory made to these soldiers and their children, they remain unrecognized and forgotten. The poem references the term “Die Schwarze Schande” (The Black Shame), which was a racist term used by the Germans to refer to African soldiers in the French army.

The speaker asks the dead soldiers to listen, despite their isolation in death, and reflects on how their wives and families have moved on, their grief quickly fading. Instead of traditional mourning, the poem offers the soldiers the friendship and camaraderie of their fellow soldiers, a bond as strong and essential as life itself.

In the end, Senghor calls on these fallen soldiers to receive the red soil of France, symbolizing their blood and sacrifice, and to accept the salute of their fellow soldiers. The poem concludes with a powerful declaration: “DEATH FOR THE REPUBLIC!” emphasizing that these soldiers died for a cause, even if they have been forgotten.

Overall, the poem is a poignant reflection on sacrifice, memory, and the injustices faced by African soldiers who fought for a country that did not fully recognize their contribution.

To the Senegalese Riflemen Who Died for France Analysis

Léopold Sédar Senghor’s poem “To the Senegalese Riflemen Who Died for France” is a deeply moving tribute to the African soldiers, specifically the Senegalese riflemen, who fought and died for France during World War I. Through vivid imagery, powerful emotions, and a blend of admiration and lamentation, Senghor explores themes of sacrifice, memory, neglect, and the harsh realities of colonialism. In this analysis, we will examine these themes and the various literary devices Senghor uses to convey his message, all in simple language.

The Poem’s Background

Before diving into the poem, it’s essential to understand the historical context. Senegalese riflemen, or “Tirailleurs Sénégalais,” were West African soldiers recruited by the French army. They fought in various conflicts, including both World Wars. Despite their significant contributions, these soldiers were often treated poorly, subjected to racism, and largely forgotten by the very nation they served.

Opening Imagery: The Sun and Life

The poem begins with an image of the sun, described as something that brings life and joy to people, making young women’s hearts swell and causing old men to smile. The sun, in this context, symbolizes life, warmth, and continuity. It’s a force that can even “awaken the dead under a maternal earth,” suggesting that its power is almost universal, touching every aspect of life and death. This powerful opening sets the tone for the poem, contrasting the life-giving force of the sun with the tragic fate of the Senegalese soldiers.

The Sound of War and Forgotten Heroes

Senghor then shifts to a more somber tone, as he hears the sound of cannon fire, possibly from Irun, a reference to a battle or conflict. The mention of the Unknown Soldier, a figure honored in many countries to represent all unidentified or missing soldiers, contrasts with the neglect of the Senegalese riflemen. While flowers are placed on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Senghor points out that “no one appoints” or remembers his “dark brothers,” the African soldiers who died.

This part of the poem highlights a significant theme: the forgotten and unacknowledged sacrifices of African soldiers. Senghor emphasizes that although 500,000 of their children were promised glory for future sacrifices, they remain unrecognized, their contributions overlooked.

The Use of “Die Schwarze Schande”

The phrase “Die Schwarze Schande,” which translates to “The Black Shame,” was a racist term used by Germans during World War I to describe the African soldiers in the French army. Senghor uses this term to reflect the prejudice and disdain these soldiers faced, not only from the enemy but also from the very people they fought for. This adds a layer of bitterness and irony to the poem, as these brave men were labeled with such contempt even as they fought for a cause not their own.

Addressing the Dead Soldiers

Senghor then directly addresses the dead Senegalese riflemen, referring to them as his “dark brothers.” He speaks to them in their solitude, emphasizing their isolation in death. The phrase “without eyes without ears” suggests that these soldiers are cut off from the world, forgotten and ignored. Senghor’s own sense of connection to them is profound, as he compares their isolation to his own experience as a black man in a French province.

The imagery of the soldiers lying in their graves, without even the warmth of their comrades nearby, evokes the loneliness and abandonment they must feel. Senghor contrasts this with the camaraderie and close bonds they shared in life, whether in the trenches of war or in village discussions back home. This deep sense of loss and the severing of those bonds is a central theme in the poem.

Mourning and Memory

The poem then takes a critical look at the process of mourning. Senghor points out that there were no borrowed mourners or tears from the soldiers’ wives. These women, who once loved these men, now only remember their fury and prefer the company of the living. The “warmest tears” of mourning, he suggests, dried up too quickly, as if the dead were too easily forgotten.

This section of the poem speaks to the fleeting nature of memory and the harsh reality that, despite their sacrifice, these soldiers are not properly mourned or remembered. Their names are “epilated” (erased) in the months following their deaths, a powerful metaphor for how their identities and contributions are stripped away from history.

The Comradeship of Soldiers

Despite the neglect and forgetfulness, Senghor brings a message of solidarity and remembrance. He speaks of the “friendship of your comrades,” a bond that he describes as glowing like embers, fervent, and strong. This comradeship, forged in the heat of battle and the trenches, is depicted as something sacred, almost akin to a physical and spiritual connection that transcends death.

Senghor’s use of visceral imagery—comparing this bond to bowels, entrails, and tendons—emphasizes its strength and depth. It’s a friendship that persists even in death, a bond that the living soldiers feel they must honor by remembering their fallen comrades.

The Final Salute: Acknowledgment of Sacrifice

In the poem’s concluding lines, Senghor calls upon the dead soldiers to receive the red soil of France, symbolic of both the land they fought for and the blood they shed. The sun, which was earlier a symbol of life, now reddens this soil, blending life and death, sacrifice and the earth.

The final salute to the Senegalese riflemen, ending with “DEATH FOR THE REPUBLIC!”, is a powerful acknowledgment of their ultimate sacrifice. Senghor underscores that these men died for a cause—the French Republic—yet they remain largely uncelebrated and forgotten. The use of capital letters in this final line gives it an emphatic, almost defiant tone, as if demanding that their sacrifice be recognized and remembered.

Léopold Sédar Senghor’s poem is a poignant and powerful tribute to the Senegalese riflemen who died for France. Through vivid imagery, emotional depth, and a strong sense of solidarity, Senghor not only honors these soldiers but also critiques the neglect and ingratitude they faced. The poem serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by African soldiers during World War I and calls for their contributions to be properly acknowledged and remembered.

To the Senegalese Riflemen Who Died for France Line by Line Explanation

Lines 1-4:

“Here is the Sun Which tightens the breasts of the virgins Who makes the old men smile on the green benches Who would awaken the dead under a maternal earth.”

• Explanation: The poem opens with an image of the sun, which symbolizes life and vitality. The sun has the power to influence both the young and the old. It tightens the breasts of virgins, symbolizing youthful vitality and growth, and makes old men smile on green benches, suggesting it brings warmth and joy to the elderly. The sun’s energy is so powerful that it could even awaken the dead, who rest under the earth, described as “maternal,” highlighting the nurturing aspect of the earth.

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Line 5:

“I hear the sound of cannon—is it from Irun?”

• Explanation: The peaceful image of the sun is abruptly interrupted by the sound of cannon fire, indicating the presence of war. Irun is a town on the border between Spain and France, suggesting the proximity of conflict. This shift introduces the theme of war and its impact.

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Lines 6-7:

“They put flowers on tombs and warm the Unknown Soldier. You my dark brothers, no one appoints you.”

• Explanation: The speaker observes that people honor the Unknown Soldier, a symbolic figure representing all soldiers who died in war without recognition. Flowers are placed on their tombs as a sign of respect. However, Senghor points out the stark contrast: his “dark brothers,” the Senegalese soldiers, do not receive such recognition. They are ignored and forgotten, despite their sacrifices.

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Lines 8-9:

“Five hundred thousand of your children are promised glory of the future deaths, they thank them in advance, future dark dead.”

• Explanation: The poem reflects on the bitter reality that the children of these Senegalese soldiers are also destined to fight and die in future wars. They are promised glory in exchange for their lives, but this promise feels hollow. Senghor emphasizes the tragic inevitability of their fate, referring to them as “future dark dead,” suggesting they are already doomed to die without being truly appreciated.

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Line 10:

“Die Schwarze Schande!”

• Explanation: This German phrase translates to “The Black Shame.” It was a racist term used by the Germans to describe African soldiers in the French army, suggesting that their presence was a disgrace. Senghor uses this term to highlight the prejudice and humiliation faced by these soldiers, even as they fought bravely in the war.

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Lines 11-13:

“Listen to me, Senegalese Riflemen, in the solitude of black earth and death In your solitude without eyes without ears, more than I in my dark skin at the depths of the Province,”

• Explanation: Senghor directly addresses the Senegalese riflemen, who are now buried in the “black earth,” symbolizing their death and isolation. They are in a state of complete solitude, “without eyes without ears,” meaning they are cut off from the world, forgotten in death. The speaker contrasts their isolation with his own experience of being a black man living in France, where he too feels a sense of isolation and marginalization.

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Lines 14-16:

“Without even the warmth of your comrades lying close to you, as in the trenches in the village palavers long ago,”

• Explanation: The speaker laments that, in death, the Senegalese soldiers do not even have the comfort of lying close to their comrades, as they did in the trenches during the war or during “village palavers” (community discussions) back home. This line evokes a deep sense of loneliness and loss, as the bonds of camaraderie that sustained them in life are no longer present in death.

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Lines 17-19:

“Listen to me, black skin Riflemen, well without ears and eyes in your threefold chamber at night.”

• Explanation: Senghor repeats his call to the dead soldiers, urging them to listen even though they are without “ears and eyes,” further emphasizing their complete disconnection from the living world. The “threefold chamber at night” could refer to the grave or the depths of death, a place of final, eternal rest.

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Lines 20-23:

“We have not borrowed mourners, nor tears from your former wives —They only remember your fury and prefer the stench of the living. The mourners’ laments come too clear, Too quickly drying up the cheeks of your wives, as in the Fouta streams in the dry season,”

• Explanation: The speaker acknowledges that there are no borrowed mourners or tears from the soldiers’ former wives. These women only remember the anger and fury of their husbands and prefer the company of the living over mourning the dead. The laments of mourners dry up too quickly, just like the streams in the Fouta region of Senegal during the dry season. This imagery suggests that the grief for these soldiers was fleeting, and their memory quickly faded.

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Lines 24-27:

“The warmest tears too clear and too quickly drunk from the corners of the forgetful lips.”

• Explanation: The speaker continues to reflect on how quickly the grief for the dead soldiers dissipates. Even the warmest tears, which should represent deep sorrow, are quickly “drunk” or absorbed, indicating that the mourning is brief and the soldiers are soon forgotten. The phrase “forgetful lips” highlights how easily the memory of their sacrifice fades from the minds of those they left behind.

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Lines 28-30:

“We bring you, listen to us, we who epilate your names in the months of your death, We, in these days of fear without memory, we bring you the friendship of your comrades”

• Explanation: Senghor addresses the dead soldiers again, saying that they bring them something more lasting than the brief mourning they received. The speaker and others “epilate” (pluck or remove) the names of the soldiers in the months following their deaths, perhaps suggesting an attempt to keep their memory alive even as it fades from public consciousness. They offer the dead soldiers the enduring friendship of their comrades, which transcends death and time.

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Lines 31-34:

“Ah! May I, one day, in a voice glowing like embers, may I sing The friendship of the comrades fervent as bowels and delicate as entrails, strong as tendons.”

• Explanation: Senghor expresses a desire to one day sing about the deep and enduring friendship shared among the soldiers. He compares this bond to the most intimate and essential parts of the body—”bowels,” “entrails,” and “tendons”—emphasizing its strength, fervency, and delicacy. This friendship is depicted as something vital and profound, something that should be remembered and celebrated.

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Lines 35-37:

“Listen to us, Dead in the deep water plains of the northern and the eastern fields. Receive this red soil, under a summer sun this redden soil blood of the white hosts”

• Explanation: The speaker calls on the dead soldiers who lie in the “deep water plains” of the northern and eastern battlefields to listen. He offers them the “red soil,” symbolizing both the land they fought for and the blood they shed. The reference to the “white hosts” likely represents the French soldiers or the people they fought for, whose blood also stained the land. The image of the sun reddening the soil ties back to the opening imagery of the sun, now connected to the bloodshed of war.

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Lines 38-40:

“Receive the salute of your black comrades, Senegalese Riflemen DEATH FOR THE REPUBLIC!”

• Explanation: In the final lines, Senghor offers a salute to the fallen Senegalese riflemen from their black comrades, acknowledging their shared struggle and sacrifice. The poem ends with a powerful declaration: “DEATH FOR THE REPUBLIC!” This statement underscores that the soldiers died for the French Republic, yet despite their ultimate sacrifice, they have not been properly honored or remembered. The use of capital letters gives this line a strong, emphatic tone, serving as both a tribute and a call for recognition.