g of the dream sequence in “Snowflakes Sail Gently Down.”
The poem “Snowflakes Sail Gently Down” (1959) contains a dream sequence that holds deep symbolic meaning. The dream comes to the poet after a calm, quiet snowfall and shows his reflections on life, death, and renewal. Through this dream, Gabriel Okara (1921 - 2019) expresses his belief that life never ends.
Symbol of Imagination: The dream begins with the poet seeing
“birds, black birds flying in my inside.”
These birds are not real. They live inside his mind and heart. They stand for his imagination and creative power. The black color of the birds does not mean evil, but energy and mystery. These birds represent the creative spirit that lives within every human being. Through this image, Okara shows that creativity and life begin within the human soul.
Symbol of Life and Renewal: The poet’s dream continues with an image of nature’s fertility and energy. He says the black birds are
“nesting and hatching on oil palms bearing suns for fruits.”
The oil palms, which produce fruits that shine like suns, stand for growth, warmth, and rebirth. The word “suns” shows light, creation, and the power of life. The nesting birds mean the birth of new life, and the oil palms mean strength and continuity. Okara uses this image to show that life is not destroyed by death, rather it changes its form.
Symbol of Nature’s Strength: The poet then dreams of the “uprooters,” people who try to destroy nature by cutting down the trees. But he says,
“roots denting the uprooter’s spades.”
This line shows that nature resists destruction. The roots of the oil palms are strong enough to stop the spades. Here, the roots symbolize the deep power of nature, and the uprooters represent human greed and carelessness. The dream teaches that nature can defend itself. Even if man tries to destroy it, nature will survive and grow again. Okara uses this image to remind us that human life depends on nature and that respect for it is essential for balance and survival.
Symbol of Human Greed: In the dream, the poet also sees the uprooters “tired and limp, leaning on my roots – their abandoned roots.” They have lost their connection with nature. When the oil palms give them “each a sun,” they hold it in their hands but are not happy. This shows that even though they have received the light of life, they still look for material wealth and shine like gold. The uprooters’ unhappiness represents the emptiness of human greed. Okara uses this image to criticize modern man’s selfishness.
Symbol of Spiritual Awakening: The dream ends with the poet waking up to see the snow still falling. The real world joins with the dream world. He writes,
“I awoke to the silently falling snow and ………… Moslems salaaming at evening prayer.”
This image turns the natural scene into an act of worship. The poet feels the presence of God in nature’s peace. The dream becomes a lesson in faith. Okara finds spiritual peace in this natural harmony. He realizes that true religion lives in the quiet rhythm of the earth.
Contrast Between Dream and Reality: The dream is not separate from the real world. When the poet wakes, he feels that both are connected. The dream gives him knowledge about life and death. The snow outside and the birds inside his dream reflect the same truth that the flow of life never ends. Okara blurs the line between dream and reality to show a spiritual journey.
In “Snowflakes Sail Gently Down,” Gabriel Okara’s dream sequence becomes a rich symbol of life, death, and renewal. The dream reveals that nature and the human spirit are deeply connected, and life always continues in nature’s eternal circle.
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