The "Government Driver" is a powerful and moving poem written by Yvonne Vera. It tells the story of an unnamed driver who is employed by the government to transport officials from place to place. The driver is portrayed as a tragic figure, caught between the demands of his job and his own sense of morality.
The poem is structured in a series of stanzas, each one describing a different encounter between the driver and his passengers. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the driver navigating the treacherous roads of the country, dodging potholes and animals as he goes. He is described as a courageous figure, no doubt reflecting the real-life experiences of many African drivers who navigate difficult terrain every day.
However, as the poem progresses, we begin to see the toll that this work takes on the driver. He is forced to transport government officials who are callous and self-serving, unconcerned for the people they are meant to serve. The driver struggles to reconcile his duty as an employee with his own morals, and we are left with a sense of profound sadness at the end of the poem.
The use of literary devices, such as repetition and imagery, help to convey the tragedy of the driver's situation. For example, the repetition of the phrase "I am a government driver" throughout the poem underscores the driver's sense of duty and obligation, but also highlights his lack of agency. Similarly, the use of animal imagery - the driver swerving to avoid goats and cattle on the road - provides a stark contrast to the government officials he is transporting. They are portrayed as predators, indifferent to the harm they cause to others.
Overall, "Government Driver" is a powerful and poignant poem that speaks to the struggles faced by many African people who hold positions of authority and are forced to reconcile their own sense of right and wrong with the demands of their jobs and the systems they serve.