Thirteen by Caleb Femi/ Themes by

“Little stars” vs “dying stars” 👨🏽‍🦰

130648487 — 2024-03-05 14:21:29 UTC

2024-03-05 14:22:17 UTC

Repetition of “You will” throughout the poem paints a universal experience for Black people in the UK. However the future tense gives us a sense that our future is written for us and is inescapable in the same way that structural racism and poverty traps communities.

“He will see you powerless-plump”

130648487 — 2024-03-05 14:22:46 UTC

The officers refuse to listen to the boys desperation and dehumanise him

“Cornered by an officer”

2024-03-05 14:22:56 UTC

Shows the power dynamic, two powerful police officers against an innocent 13 year old boy

This same officer had an horrizon in the east of his smile

2024-03-05 14:23:32 UTC

This quote shows the officers smile was disingenuous as it came to a dark end just as the suns horizon comes to a dark end on the horizon

“Fed”

130648487 — 2024-03-05 14:23:38 UTC

Using an American slang term is significant due to America’s well-known history for police brutality, particularly against African-Americans

“Fed”

2024-03-05 14:24:15 UTC

Emphasises a growing indifference between people of the black community and police officers. They lack respect which is shown through their referencing to the officers with slang terms. This lack of respect could then be reciprocated by the officers and make them more likely to treat black people differently

“You will watch the two men cast lots for your organs”

130674534 — 2024-03-05 14:24:15 UTC

The biblical allusion references the Roman’s casting lots for Jesus’ organs and therefore dehumanises the teenage boy, showing how much power the policemen have over his life and future.

“You’re thirteen”

2024-03-05 14:24:17 UTC

This shows that the boy can’t believe he is being told he fits the description of a fully grown man when he is only 13 years old. He is just becoming a teenager which represents the innocence of childhood disappearing.

“Thirteen, you’ll tell him: you’re thirteen.”

2024-03-05 14:24:45 UTC

This shows the young boy trying the defend himself by telling the police officers how young he actually is and that he can’t possibly match the description of a man because he’s so young

“You’ll be patted on the shoulder”

2024-03-05 14:24:48 UTC

This shows that the police officer has a higher status. Due to the power dynamics, the officer didn’t feel the need to express his point with words.

You’ll laugh. Thirteen, you’ll tell him : you’re thirteen

130620124_ — 2024-03-05 14:25:07 UTC

the repetition of thirteen shows us that he is so young to be questioned by the police and Caleb is in disbelief he’s in this situation. Also thirteen is seen as a unlucky number which could link to losing innocence since once you become the age of unlucky thirteen all innocence is lost

“While fear condenses on your lips”

130648487 — 2024-03-05 14:25:45 UTC

The child tries to make a plea for recognition but the officers coldness and cruelty reduces him to a state of intense fear

‘Powerless- plump’

130628400 — 2024-03-05 14:25:45 UTC

The use of alliteration ‘powerless- plump’, suggests the sound of a gunshot ‘p-p’ this is a threatening sounds as though the policemen are excepting their power over the young boy. The word choice of ‘powerless’ has connotations of weak suggesting the policemen know he has no control of the situation and use this to blame him for the robbery.

“Black holes”

2024-03-05 14:26:53 UTC

“Black” being a reference to race, here Femi is implying a bleak, empty future for all young black people

“Supernovas” “dying stars” “black holes”

2024-03-05 14:26:57 UTC

The celestial imagery suggests a theme of fate.

“Cast lots for your organs”

2024-03-05 14:27:18 UTC

This shows the biblical illusion that the police officer has the power over the young boy deciding the fate of him. Just as organs are vital so too is this decision for this young boys life.

“You will watch them cast lots for your organs”

2024-03-05 14:28:28 UTC

This is a biblical reference to the romans casting lots for Jesus’ clothes and shows how the police officers have complete control over your future and how it is entirely up to them with the readers future in the hands of the officers

“You fit the description of a man?”

2024-03-05 14:30:52 UTC

This Shows the age of the boy is no help to him as he is already seen as an adult that can cause harm and can be related to the same actions an adult would take.

Damilola Taylor

2024-03-05 14:31:05 UTC

Damilola Taylor was murdered 4 minutes from his home in 2000. Caleb Femi grew up in that same estate in Peckham.

Extended metaphor of stars and supernovas

130674534 — 2024-03-05 14:31:41 UTC

The children are referred to as “little stars” by the policemen, implying they’re full of intelligence and potential. This shows the young children are treated with optimism. However, at the end of the assembly the teacher explains fully what supernova’s actually are, big, bright stars on the verge of dying and becoming nothing. This shows the pessimism the teenage boy is treated with as he has grown up.