revision of poetry by eguriase s. m. okaka

Revision of Poetry

By Eguriase S. M. Okaka Poetry is one of the genres of literature. It is an expression of one’s ideas and feelings through imaginative language. Poetry is rich with imagery and is unique for its use of distinctive style and rhythm. Types of Poetry • Lyric: This refers to poetry that expresses personal emotions such as love, joy, hate, disappointment. Examples of lyrical poems are: a) ‘Nigeria’ b) ‘The young, old virgin’ c) ‘The sea eats our land’ by Kwesi Brew • Dirge/Elegy: This refers to mournful poem that laments the dead. Examples: a) ‘The Forgotten Hero’ by Goodive Sidney Ntiri b) ‘Songs of Sorrow 1 and 2 by Kofi Awoonor-Williams Songs of Sorrow II ‘Something has happened to me The thing so great that I cannot weep; I have no sons to fire the gun when I die And daughter to wail when I close my mouth…. West African verse.p.74 • Epic: This is a long traditional narrative poem that tells about the adventures and achievements of a traditional hero or a legend. It may even be about a rare action of an animal or some exciting events. The writers are not usually known. Examples: a) ‘Idanre’ by Wole Soyinka b) ‘Paradise Lost’ by John Milton Features of Poetry • Language: The language of poetry is rich in imagery. Poets make much use of poetic devices or figures of speech such as simile and metaphor. These devices make poetry beautiful and memorable. • Rhyme and rhyme scheme: Poets most often make use of rhymes. Words or lines of poems rhyme when they end with the same sound. Most children’s poem has a rhyme scheme. This makes the poems interesting and easy to learn. Example: Africa ‘I once saw a maiden dark and homely Sitting by the wayside, sad and lonely Oh! Pretty maiden, so dark and comely Why sit by the wayside sad and lonely ‘I am neither sad nor lonely,’ she said ‘But living, sir, among deaf and dumb Relentlessly watching these shameless dead Make my warm heart grow very cold and rumb’ (Excerpt from ‘Africa’ by R. E. G. Aruyattoe in West African verse, p. 11) Generally, poetry is written in condensed language; it does not give as much as detail as prose and drama. It is written in lines and may be written in stanzas. The language is concise. The language is also unique and high in the sense that it is special and different from the language of other genres of literature. POEM Let us now consider the under listed poems below: Nigeria Nigeria, My country, A land flowing with milk and honey, My home There is no place like you! Richly blessed! With petroleum, limestone, precious stone Thick vegetation and beautiful landscape A paradise on earth A tourist’s favorite You only need to fight bribery and corruption, That shameless malignant disease, To completely be a heaven on earth! By Julia Eto The Young, Old Virgin Look at her, Beautiful as a damsel! Even at fifty-one You are still a virgin Waiting for the farmers’ hand Rise up! Rise up! My fellow countrymen With your farm implements And explore this virgin forest That God has blessed us with Rise up! Rise up! For our people The good people of this nation Are hungry and waiting. By Julia Eto Lucky Old Sun Up in the morning, Out on the job, Work like the devil for my pay, While that lucky old sun Has nothing to do But roll around heaven all day! Work for my woman, Toil for my kids, Sweat till I’m wrinkled and grey, While that lucky old sun Has nothing to do But roll around heaven all day! Dear lord above, can’t you see I’m pining? Tears roll in my eyes. Bring down that cloud with silver lining Take me to paradise! Show me that river, Take me across, Wash all my troubles away. Like that lucky old sun, Give me nothing to do, But roll around heaven all day! (Excerpt from African Poetry by Noel Machin)