Raider of the Treasure Trove By Lade Worsonu

 

 “Raider of the Treasure Trove”

 -        Lade Worsonu

 

But what can be worthy of your life?

What dearest than the gems of your dreams,

The reason you are here? Always strive

To fly flags of joy, and sail up streams

Powered by the breeze of love, your course

Chartered in the ink of compassion

And, fling roses wherever you pause

Heaven-on-earth your destination

 

Of things which blot out that brief

Or breach your sails with arrows unseen;

No! Rob you of your life, rage is Chief

Rage drags rags after you.  Of charity

Laughter, sweetness and light, rage is thief

Enemy of equanimity,

Rage spreads toxic fumes on every scene

In essence, rage spells calamity.

 

It’s sole cause? Your perception of storms

Breaking around not upon, your head.

There are neither snakes deviants, nor norms:

As you think, so you feel.  Watch your mind.

Rage sets sail.  Can ruin lag far behind?

 

I’ll fling roses wherever I berth

My destination is heaven-on-earth

 

12^th August

 

Brief background of the poem

 

          Lade Worsornu’s “Raider of the Treasure Trove” is a contemporary African Poem which addresses the general problem facing humanity in general.  It is a didactic poem which is directly instructional or informational.  It teaches or explains the truth, principle, morals or philosophy about life.  It teaches universal truth about human nature and its existence.  This poem therefore explicates the essence of life, reward of virtue, and condemns the spirit of anger which the persona calls ‘rage’ that is capable of destroying man.

 

Content Analysis (meaning)

 

          This is a metaphorical and didactic poem that explores the good virtues that are inherent in us that makes life worth living and how one evil virtue known as rage can render others useless. The word “raider” in the title means a person who makes a criminal attack on a place, while “Treasure trove” refers to valuable things that are found hidden and whose owner is unknown.  It therefore means that whoever that possess this devil’s vice, called anger or rage that can destroy humanity is a raider and it’s capable of destroying other virtues such as love compassion, kindness and joy which are century-old world known treasure trove.

          The first stanza opens with a rhetorical question, “But what can be worthy of your life“. Thus, the poet tries to explain the things that can make our life worthwhile, and meaningful.  These things in question are more important than the most precious things we have in mind or set out to achieve in life.  Hence“What dearer than the gems of your dreams” The poet explains that it is the reason why we are on earth, that wherever we are, we should endeavor to fly the flag of joy, spread love to the people around us – try as much as possible to show feelings, empathy and sympathy for those in one problem or the other with the intention to alleviate or solve their problems completely.  “To fly flags joy and sail up streams” means to do impossible by carrying your neighbor or brother’s problems as if they are yours; feel the pains they feel also, and refuse to go to sleep until a solution is in sight.  This is only possible when you are: Powered by the breeze of love, you course/chartered in the ink of compassion”, that is, deep awareness of the suffering of others with the wish to show pity. “And fling roses wherever you pause” implies that we should also strive to extend the hands of friendship and unconditionally give to people around us wherever we find ourselves.  The poet concludes the first stanza and opines if we are able to achieve and exercise this virtue, we shall be as peaceful, living on earth, as if we are in heaven.  Hence “heaven-on-earth your destination”

           Stanza two contradicts the first as the poet identifies one major impediment or problems to achieving these above-mentioned virtues that can make earth as pleasant as heaven, “of things which would blot that brief” – meaning that those things in question can cut your life short “or breach your sails with arrows unseen”.  Here, the person sees anger as an invisible arrow that can puncture your journey of life – “Rob you of your life”.  Rage is chief” implies that the persona identifies this evil virtue called rage or anger as the most important vice we must learn to avoid.  He explains further that “Rage” or uncontrollable anger takes away the good virtues from one and put one into shame, hence “Rage drags rags after you”.  This means that it can ruin or contaminate other good virtues in you, such as charity, laughter, sweetness and light.  The persona calls it a thief because of what rage does to humans.  It is the “enemy of equanimity because it steals away your attitude of kindness, calmness and liveliness. It makes one unstable and would not be able to compose oneself especially while under stress.  Rage also “spreads toxic fumes on every scene / in essence, rage spells calamity”.  It spreads ill-luck one everywhere, breeds or gives birth to more evil such as violence, murder, insecurity, regret and it can be calamitous. Rage therefore is referred to as the raider of the treasure trove in the poem.

           The third stanza spells out the main cause of “rage”, that is, what can easily push someone to exhibit an uncontrolled violent anger, its sole cause?  The persona demands to know.  And he says there are no definite rules of avoiding ‘rage’, than the way we react to challenges, issues or any violent agitation, the way you take and accept it.  The poet calls it “your perceptions of storms breaking around, not upon, your head”.  This means we normally get ourselves entangled with little things that may not warrant anger or annoyance. “There are neither snakes, deviants nor norms”.  This implies that there are no special means to deal with anger, not even resorting to violence or being as cunning as a snake, becoming an outlaw (miscreant) or obey the required rules in society will solve the problem of rage.  The only prescribed solution is that, “As you think so you say”, and we should be mindful of what we feed our minds with, because if you fill your heart with hatred, vengeance, violence and other evils you will give birth to anger.

Hence, “Watch your mind”. The persona asks a rhetorical question in the last line when he says if anger crops on our mind, whether we cannot carry out destruction – “Rage sets sails.  Can ruin lag far behind?”

          The last stanza is conciliatory as persona gives a note of assurance on the topic.  He says “I’ll fling roses wherever I berth / my destination is heaven-on-earth”.  This means that the persona vows to show love, doing, kindness, generosity and extend a hand of friendship wherever he is.  By so doing, his destination is heaven-on-earth.  Peace and harmony will be our best trophy if we demonstrate these virtues.

 

Themes

 

Destructive effect of anger

                                                                                                                                                                                               

           According to I.O. Onuma, “Anger is a small madness.  So do nothing when you are angry, for what you will spoil will be more than what caused your anger”.  In the poem, the poet attributes rage or uncontrolled anger to be the chief destroyer of human virtue and a thief that steals away our good morals such as happiness, joy and good life.  Anger does not yield any good fruit, but rather it will “breach your sails with arrows unseen” – meaning, it exposes you to danger, “Which would blot out that brief”: reduces your lifespan.  “No! Rob you of your life, rage is chief”.  Here the persona sees anger as the most important vice that can ruin your life totally.  “Rage drags rags after you” – anger breeds shame and spoils all other good virtues such as kindness, laughter, sweetness and light.  

 

The poet therefore calls rage thief because it spoils so many good things in you.  It is the enemy of equanimity, because it steals away your gentleness, kindness, calmness and loveliness.  Anger also makes one unstable in character and does not allow one compose oneself especially under stress.  “Rage spells calamity” – meaning, it engineers other evils like hard luck, violence, murder, insecurity and regret.  The Bible also warns us against anger.  Ephesians 4:26 says “If you becomes angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day” People with hot temper do foolish things; wise people remain calm (Proverbs 14:17).  The poet persona therefore sees anger as the raider of treasure trove.

 

The need for rational thoughts

 

           The poem, being a didactic one, teaches the values, virtues and the need to harbor moral thoughts in our mind which can purge one spirit of hatred, self-pity and anger.  This implies that whatever you conceive in your heart normally give birth to our actions and inaction.  So one must be careful with what one feeds one’s mind with.

           In the poem, the persona identifies the main cause of rage or angers in human being, which is thought-the way we think and respond to challenges or problems confronting us; the way we react to those challenges matter most, because we feel the way we think.  Hence “As you think, so you feel”.

The Bible also explains this philosophical gesture in the book of Proverbs 23:7” As a man thinketh in his heart so is he”.  The poet admonishes us to be mindful of our thoughts because rational thoughts breed good conduct while irrational ones breed evils like rage, hatred, sadness and other calamities; for anger paves way for the above-mentioned vices to strive. Thus, Rage sets sail can ruin rag for behind? The persona inquires.

 

Rewards for virtue and good moral

 

           The person eulogies good morals to the sky because they make life more meaningful and worthwhile;  The reason why we are on earth is to always strive to fly flags of joy and sail up streams, “that is, we must endeavor to promote peace and harmony and show kindness and compassion to other. This way, heaven-on-earth will be our destination and reward.  This is the way we will live the best life that is as sweet as heaven.  This can be alluded to the biblical meek in the book of Mathew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit earth”.

           The critical study of this poem shows that it is didactic in nature.  This is evident in the first stanza which says that one should always be joyfully spread love and be compassionate.  “Powered by the breeze of love, your course/chartered in the ink of compassion and, fling roses wherefore you pause’.  Here the poet implores us to be kind and promote love and that is the only way peace can be sustained.  Contrarily, the persona also frowns at immoral behavior such as rage in the second stanza which can hinder someone from being morally upright or achieving “Heaven-on-earth…“as our final destination.  He regards it as one ultimate vice that spreads calamity.  “Rob you of your life… rage spreads toxic fumes on every scene” The persona therefore, sees rage or anger as the ballistic missile that can ruin your other good virtues.

 

Essence of life

 

           In this poem, the poet raises the question bothering on the essence of our existence in the first stanza of the poem. “But what can be worthy of your life? What dearest than the gems of your dreams. The reason you are here?.

Here the poem opens in a note of firmness of purpose, where the persona agitates for a life lived for a purpose.  He demands to know the purpose of life, if not to live a life of purpose, to quote certain preacher, to promote joy, love and show compassion towards others.  He says.

 

To fly flags of joy and sail up streams

Powered by the breeze of love, your course

Chartered in the ink of compassion

And, fling raises wherever you praise

Heaven-on-earth your destination”

 

On the contrary, the persona is sharp enough to pinpoint, one thing that can hinder you from achieving the best from your existence in what he regards as “Rage”.  The poet calls it a chief and a thief, because it is only one evil that can impede you from attaining a glorious life, and ruin your life in just a twinkling of an eye.  Rage or anger, “Robs you of your life”

 

Poetic device

 

1. Rhetorical question: The persona poses some question that  do not require answers.  Instances of such questions include”.

“But what can be worthy of your life” (1.1)

What dearer than the gems of your dreams;

The reason you are here? (1.2.3)

Rage sets sail, Can ruin lag, for behind?  (Line 21)

The essence of rhetorical question is for emphasis.

 

2. Alliteration:  In lines 4, 9 and 21, we have the sounds /f/ /w/ and /s/ alliterate Line 4 reads:  To fly the flag of joy”.  Line 9 “Of things which would blot out…”  And line 21, “Rage sets sail.  The prominence of pitch that results from a repeat of /f/ in line 4 underscores the need to promote joy among ourselves and idea of fullness.  The sound (s) in the third example emphasizes the destructive nature of rage or anger if allowed to live with humans.

 

3.  Repetition:  A couple of expressions are repeated in the poem.  For instance, rage is repeated six times as noun to emphasize the fact that it is a virtue that can destroy man completely.  Emphasis is placed on the word, because it spreads and ruins all the good virtues inherent in humans.  Rage is chief, for it occupies the very top rank of all the vices in the world. It is also a thief because it robs you of your sleep, liveliness, happiness or joy.  Other instances of repetitions in the poem is found in line 8 and 23 “Heaven-on-earth” and destination” are repeated to show that if only one can tame one’s rage, life on earth will be sweet as heaven.

 

4.  Inversion:  There is abnormal syntactic arrangement in line 8: Heaven-on-earth your destination “instead of your destination is heaven on earth’ which is well-structured in line 23.  The persona purposely deviates from the norm to achieve rhyming scheme “compassion” for destination.

 

5.  Hyperbole:  The use of exaggeration can be found in lines 4, 8 and 23. In line 4, “To fly flag of joy and sail up streams” implies to embark on an impossible mission.  When you try to promote peace, empathy and joy among your fellow man, it is attributed to doing the impossible.  This other example “Heaven-on-earth your destination” is equally hyperbolic I nature because it is not humanly possible for heaven to come down on earth.

 

6.  Personification:  There are also instances of personification in the poem. In line 12, the poetic persona mentions, “Rage drags rags after you” Rage is said to possess the human ability to pull something with force.  In line 16, rage also assumes the quality of human, equipped with the ability to cause calamity.  We also have this in line 21 when rage assumes the ability to sail or travel on the sea.

 

7.  Assonance: There is the repetition of vowel /e/ in line 14, “enemy of equanimity”.

 

8.  Rhyme Scheme:  The poet employs alternate rhyme in the first stanza of the poem which is AB AB AB AB.  The last stanza is a couplet: “berth” and “earth”.  The rhyme scheme goes thus: life-strive, dreams-streams, course-pause, compassion-destination, brief-chief-unseen – charity – equanimity, storms-norms, mind-behind, and berth-earth.  This sound device enhances the Iyrical quality of the poem.

 

9.   Metaphor:  Metaphors are amply observable in the poem, beginning with the title.

a. “Raider” is the metaphor for anger which attacks or ruins other vital human attributes.

 

b. “The treasure trove” is a metaphor for man’s hidden virtues which anger can render useless. It implies that anger spreads like virus and it contaminates other qualities such as joy, love or sound mind and shouldn’t be welcome. 

c. “To fly flags of joy” refers to the need to preach peace in other to put smile on people’s faces.

d. “Sail up streams” means to do that which is impossible.

e.   Fling roses wherever you pause” is a metaphor for motivation to be generous.

d. “Rage is chief” – metaphor for anger as the number one enemy of destruction.

i. “Rage is thief” is a metaphor for deceit and denial.

h. “Rage drags rags after you” is a metaphor for shame; for anger brings shame and anxiety.

i. “Heaven-on-earth your destination” is a metaphor for a glorious and peaceful life that is free from anger.

 

10. Euphemism:  Euphemism is the use of soft word or expression for a harsh condition.  For instance, the expression “Raider of the treasure trove” takes our minds to a particular criminal who raids a place where hidden treasures are kept whereas the poem is not about robbery or physical attack.

a. “Raider” is a term for rage or anger

b. “Treasure trove” refers to the useful human virtues such as love kindness charity, Compassion, etc:

c. “Sail up streams – an invitation to do impossibility

 

11. Symbolism:  Closely linked to metaphor is the use of symbolism. Some of the instances of metaphorical representations in the poem are also symbolically relevant.  It is observation that the poem makes use of some words that are associated with sea travel and they are symbolic such words include: “Sail” in line 4, 11 and 21, “storms”, “berth” – these words are euphonious (sound pleasant) and they help to depict human virtues that enhance our existence.  There are also criminally related terms such as “thief” raider, calamity, ‘rage’, arrow, deviants, breaking, are symbolic of the effect of anger.

 

Likely 2021-2025 WAEC and NECO questions

 

1.   Discuss the poet’s attitude towards rage or anger in “Raider of the Treasure

      Trove”

2.   Examine the theme of anger and its consequence in the poem.

3.   Attempt a metaphorical and symbolical interpretation of the poem.

4.   Discuss any three (3) major poetic devices used in the poem.

5.   Comments on the language of the poem.

6.   “Rage is thief … enemy of equanimity/rage spreads toxic fumes on every scene”, critically examine these lines above against the backdrop of the depiction of anger in the poem.

7.   Give a detailed account of the poem and comment on the appropriateness of its title

8.   Do you consider the poem a didactic one? Give reasons for your answer.

9.   “Raider of the Treasure trove” is a poem about the evil associated with anger”.  Discuss

10. Identify and discuss the two major themes of the poem.