The Tenant

Na Ncube
The Tenant – Na Ncube

There is no room for you

in my heart. The only tenant
who ever lived there left
some luggage behind.

I didn't even evict her. She

simply left without a word.
I keep hoping she will come
back and collect the luggage
or at least arrange for disposal
clean out the place, throw out
old memories.

I could possibly live with

the marks on the walls. Some
completely indelible
some I even like.
But you see I am afraid that
if it all goes, what will I do
with all that empty space.
Na Ncube
I am Zimbabwean born, now living in the United Kingdom. I am a
reformed accountant who no longer works in the field. Being of the
firm belief that love conquers all except poverty and toothache, I now
spend my time fighting the war for fair trade and a better deal for those
living in poverty. I am published in New Coin and It all begins (both
edited by Robert Berold). Also, several magazine editors have over the
years (in moments of weakness, I suspect) published some of my work.
I write poetry because, like Damien Hirst, I sometimes feel I have
nothing to say and I want to communicate this.
https://oulitnet.co.za/relax/ncube_in.asp
Notes:
• TITLE: The title suggests that the poem is about someone who resides
somewhere. By naming the poem “The Tenant” instead of ‘The Resident’, the
speaker implies that love is short-lived or that lovers come and go because
“tenant” implies short-term commitment.
• STRUCTURE: Free verse—no formal rhyme scheme/ rhythm. The free verse is
appropriate as the poem is a very personal reflection which is delivered from one
person to another. The uniqueness of the poet’s emotions is reflected by the
looser structure.
• South African Poetry: has its origins in spoken poetry; often passed from one
generation to the next orally. Usually has a prominent rhyme scheme and rhythm
so it can be chanted to music.
• Message: The poet conveys how memories can influence our future negativity by
teaching us to be afraid of consequences. This message is evident in that there is
“no room” for someone new, and yet the speaker is “afraid” of the “empty space”
(loneliness without love).
• TONE: tone is melancholic, reflective, pensive, etc. It is influenced by
the subject, where the speaker is explaining “there is no room” to
love another again. The diction (such as “left”, “hoping”, “old
memories”, “afraid” and “empty space”) convey this tone.
• The poet says that, although this poem could be a serious social
commentary, it is actually not and she rather wants the reader to
have fun with the poem.
The title suggests that the poem is about
someone who resides somewhere.

The “tenant” is used as an extended metaphor

The Tenant
throughout the poem to represent the person Na Ncube
who has left the speaker broken hearted.

Someone who occupies land/property (rents it

from a landlord).
LINES 1-2: Declaration that there is no room
for “you” in the speaker’s heart.
There is no room for you
IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION: “having room in LINE 2: Idea of treating the heart like a physical
your heart” means being able to love place (a “room” in a house) is extended.
others.
If there is no room, it IMPLIES (implication) in my heart. The only tenant EXTENDED METAPHOR: the comparison of the
heart to a physical place is extended
that we cannot love others. throughout the poem.

LINES 3-4: explains why there is no room— who ever lived there left The LINEBREAK after line 3 (created by
the previous “tenant” (the speaker’s enjambment) modifies the meaning. The
beloved) has “left”, leaving her “luggage” initial message seem like “who ever lived
behind (IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION: emotional there left”, then we read further that not
bag-gage—the memories that feel like
burdens).
some luggage behind. only did she leave, she “left some
luggage be-hind”.
Bags/suitcases filled with belongings.
The adverb conveys an air of disbelief and emphasises that the
speaker is not responsible for the end of the relationship.

Expel someone from a property.

LINES 5-6: provides some clarity as
to why the memories are painful— I didn't even evict her. She Enjambment: emphasizes the
the speaker did not “evict” her “she” placing blame. It also
(EXTENDED METAPHOR: end the draws our attention to
“simply” which has its own
relationship). simply left without a word. importance.
She “simply left” without providing
an explanation for the breaking off
of the relationship. “Simply” shows the tenant moved out with-out a
fuss/consideration for the speaker.
 STANZA 3: the speaker still has hope for the relationship to continue, or else that she will return to explain why she
ended the relationship (“collect the luggage” or organize for its “disposal”).

I keep hoping she will come

back and collect the luggage

or at least arrange for disposal Removal.

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION: “clean

out the place” means forgetting clean out the place, throw out
“old memories”.

old memories.
STANZA 4: the speaker considers
how to deal with this situation; it
seems as if there is someone new
waiting to be loved.
The speaker could “possibly live I could possibly live with
with the marks on the walls” (the
hurt/ memories that has changed
the state of his “room” (heart).
the marks on the walls. Some

LINES 13-15: Some of the

memories are unforgettable
completely indelible Cannot be removed/ unforgettable.

(“indelible”).
The speaker even “likes” some of
these memories. some I even like.
The word “even” suggests that most of the memories are
hurtful/ that he appreciates even the bad memories as he
would rather have bad memories than not have loved the
person at all.
 STANZA 5: the speaker is afraid to move on is due to FEAR (“if” the luggage “all goes”).
FEAR is used metaphorically in the extended metaphor: fear of “what [the speaker] will do with that
empty space” - the speaker is afraid of EITHER filling the empty space and getting hurt again OR
possibly fears being lonely and without a purpose.

EXTENDED METAPHOR: the

speaker conveys the experience But you see I am afraid that
of being abandoned by a lover
& the effect of the memories by
“doing something with all that empty
comparing the situation to one if it all goes, what will I do space” is usually used by
that might be more familiar to
homeowners to describe their plans
the reader, i.e. a tenant who
to decorate their interiors.
has moved out but left
possessions behind. with all that empty space. Linking to the extended metaphor,
the speaker implies that just as an
empty space in a home has to be
filled, an empty space in a heart has
To be grammatically correct, this sentence should end in a
to be exposed again to other people,
question mark. It is effective, however, to end it in a full stop as
which could involve more pain and
this provides a sense of finality to the poem.
hurt.