Derek Walcott was born in 1930 in Saint Lucia. Belonging to both the Anglo-European and Afro-Caribbean heritage, the original duality gave rise to a sort of identity crisis in the poet. The main theme of the poem is the division of identity and anxiety faced by the poet, caused by his mixed heritage. therefore the poem highlights the conflict between his loyalty to Africa and Britain. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In other words, the poem gives an account of the Mau-Mau uprising, a long and bloody battle between European settlers and the native Kikuyu tribe (what is now the republic of Kenya), in the early 20th century the first white settlers arrived in Kanya forcing the Kikuyu people to abandon their tribal lands. The Europeans took control of their government. A faction of the Kikuyu people formed Mau-Mau, a terrorist organization with the intent of removing all European influence from the country, but the less strident Kikuyu attempted to remain neutral or help the British defeat Mau-Mau. Derek due to his mixed heritage could side with neither party, i.e. neither the Europeans nor the native tribe. “I who am poisoned by the blood of both Where will I turn, divided to the core?” (27-28) The above line shows the poet's inability to resolve his hybrid legacy. Derek says that since he has the blood of both Europe and Africa flowing through his veins, he cannot choose a side. This pessimistic image illustrates a feeling of displacement and isolation within Walcott. It seems that Walcott feels like a foreigner in both cultures due to his lack of "pure" blood. Derek is torn between his love for his homeland, Africa, and his love for the English language. Derek questions the reader about his decision to choose between the two: “…, how to choose between this Africa and the English language that I love? ”. The poem shows the displacement and isolation of the poet. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The intricate relationship between the colonized and the colonizer and the ways in which the Caribbean embraces and divided loyalties between different places are the central theme of Walcott's writings.