In his poem “Elegy for Martin Luther King,” Senghor uses synesthesia to make the reader feel as if they are in Memphis with King during the time of his assassination. Through vivid imagery, he creates a sense of sadness and grief without explicitly mentioning them. He paints a picture by stimulating all five senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste.

The first stanza opens with an absence of color; “black night” (Senghor) is used to symbolize death and mourning. This lack of vibrancy gives an immediate sense of unease and despair which continues into the next lines as he describes how Memphis has become silent due to fear—“all mouths fallen mute in dread/before this murder most sublime” (Senghor). The use of language such as ‘dread’ suggests that even though news broadcasts may have been limited in West Africa at the time, Senghor was still well aware that something terrible had happened.

The poet then moves on to describe smell; “the scent of roses wafts from far away” (Senghor). This could be interpreted as a reference to funerals where it is traditional for mourners to bring flowers or wreaths made out of roses. By using these sensory details alongside words such as fear and awe throughout the poem he conveys a feeling loss but also hope—that despite what has just happened there is still some glimmer light left in this world.

As readers we are transported back in time so that when we reach the end of the elegy, we can fully appreciate darkness not just from its absence but also from its presence; through combining sight and sound: “The thunder rumbles like drums/On black wings soar our dreams…We walk alone toward eternity /In sorrowful silence through nightfall thickly hued” (Senghor).

Through this technique, Senghor brings us closer to that momentous occasion whilst simultaneously expressing his admiration for Martin Luther King Jr., ultimately creating an emotional connection between reader and writer alike.