Colonialism (Allegory)
This poem has been read as an allegory for colonialism, in which the sea itself serves as a representation of the destructive colonizing forces arriving from overseas. In the poem, the sea targets the identities and homes of the residents. In a similar way, colonialism destroys the livelihoods and cultures of indigenous people, leading to literal loss and displacement as well as feelings of alienation, loss, and cultural erosion. Aku's feeling of disengagement from her ancestors speaks to the intergenerational and communal divides created by war and colonialism, while the loss of Adena's dowry speaks to the colonial destruction of wealth as well as its capacity to damage traditional institutions. The repetition of the phrase "the sea eats the land at home" suggests that colonialism is insulting and damaging in part because it undermines people in the place where they are most established, authoritative, and comfortable: their homes.
Cook-pots (Symbol)
Cook-pots, mentioned several times in the poem, symbolize domesticity and comfort. They are sources of nourishment and therefore survival, as well as familiar and even timeless household objects. Their destruction hints at the flood's long-term physical effects, such as starvation. But it also suggests that the flood has permanently damaged the feeling of domestic and familial safety, undermining families from within by making it impossible for them to do things as routine as cooking and eating. The line "Aku stood outside where her cooking-pot stood" is ambiguous, leaving readers uncertain whether her cooking-pot remains, or whether she merely stands in the place where it once stood. This ambiguity becomes deeply significant and troubling when we consider the symbolism of the pot, leaving us uncertain as to whether Aku will be able to keep her children safe and fed.
