2 Poems on Death with Critical Analyses

The two poems are written purposely for the lover of literature and researchers to do critical analyses of the poems. They are still for any reader and learner of literature in all schools and learning institutions.

Poem 1

Last Story

The last story of humans calls for a deep thought

The story reminds people of a graveyard

Alone in the depth of grave needs mussing

Pounds of sand after the last breath requires perception

The last story of humans calls for a notion

The story reminds people of a horrible darkness

Alone with darkness in the grave warrants reasoning

Loneliness after closing eyes necessitates conviction

In the last story, humans call for a conception

The story reminds people of a serious heat

Alone with heat in the grave demands rumination

Bye-bye after soil repression requests thinking

The last story of humans calls for a study

The story that drowned people in drenched rains

Alone with drown water in the grave comes for deliberation

Body decay in the tomb fetches pondering

The last story of humans calls for a concept

The story reminds people of lowliness

Being alone without a confidant deserves consideration

Separation after everything asks for contemplations

I learnt not to harm my brother

I am careful not to hurt my sister

I am sensitive not to make my neighbor suffer

I fear not making mistakes in my action.

Poet: Deola Adelakun

Briefs of the poem

The poem reminds us of our permanent home which calls for thoughts. The poet opens our eyes to conclude that this world is not our house. We came as a tenant and we will return one day. It is something we have to think about always.

The poem hints that this world is not forever and that death will end everybody. The last story of a person is death and things of a man will become a thing of the past.

The poet calls for relationships because of where we are going. We should check how we deal with our brothers, our sisters, neighbors, and other people. The poet is afraid of living with people so that should not make mistakes of hurting anybody.

Theme

The poem has various themes which can be understood better. Some of the themes are discussed below.

The theme of deep thoughts

The theme calls us that our return one day needs deep thoughts. The poet exposes the reasons why we should think of this, the way we should be alone in the graveyard needs perception; loneliness in the darkness of the grave warrants reasoning; alone with serious heat repressed by soil in the grave demands thinking;  alone with drown water and rain requires pondering; alone in the grave without a confidant deserves consideration.

The theme of death

The theme of death is portrayed in the poem as the poet talks about the story that will end everyone. The story while end everyone is dead. That is why the poet uses “last breath…”, “closing eyes…”, “…weaving bye-bye…”, “…in the tomb” and communion separation after everything asks for contemplation to mean death is the end of everything.

The theme of the relationship

The poet calls us to close relationships because of our permanent home (heaven). According to the poem, we should learn how not to harm our brothers; we should be careful not to harm our sisters; we should be sensitive not to make our neighbors suffer neigh Neighbors should fear not to make mistakes in our actions.

Language and Poetic Devices

The poet uses various languages and poetic devices to enrich his poem and tallow researchers to critically analyze his work. Some of the languages and poetic devices have discussed below.

Stanzas and lines

The poem has six (6) stanzas and twenty-four (24) lines. Each stanza of the poem has four lines. That is, each line is a quatrain.

Type of poem

The poem an ode as the poet addresses death as the end of everything in life.

Mood/Tone

The poet shows sorry for the last story of a man at the end of everything in life. Upon every effort and sweat but you say goodbye

Figures of Speech

The poet uses various figures of speech to enrich his poem and to allow researchers to make a critical analysis of his work. Some of the figures of speech have discussed below.

Repetition

The poet makes use of repetitions to emphasize his messages. Such repetitions are “Last story” (lines 1, 5, 9, 14, 18,), “Story” (lines 2,6,10,15,19), “Call for” (lines 1,5,9,14,18)

Assonance

The poet makes use of assonance such as “…calls for a conception”,(line 9), “callc for” (lines 1,5,9,14,18)

Symbolism

The poet makes use of “last breath…”, “closing eyes…”, “…weaving bye-bye…”, “…in the tomb” and communion separation after everything asks for contemplation to represent death.

Word List and Meanings

Missing: Thought

Warrant: Call for

Repressed: Covered

Drenched: Completely

Confidant: A person you trust and share your private or secret opinions with

Practice Questions

1. The poem is an example of ________________ (a) sextet (b) septet (c) quatrain (d) octave

2. Comment on the use of repetition in the poem.

3. Explicate the themes of the poem.

4. Discuss the message of the poem.

Poem 2

Death

The warrior in the battle

As I hear of your horror

Dewy I am like a mourning rain

Many faces wet and burst into tears

The universe in mournful seats

Shower of tears on the faces of the world

The children bark like rabid dogs

The women in sackcloths

Men drop heads like bats on the tree

Death! What a tyrant you are!

You throw Rome into mourning

Nigeria is sorrowing

Poland is lamenting

For you throw Aluja into bereavement

Death! You have done the worst

Why Adeniyi and not someone else?

The man of good reputation!

What a tyrant you are, death!

You deprive Aluja of the pride

Adieu, AdeniyiOkinmaye, the king of Aluja

The world counts on your impacts

They mourn for your fretful absence

Eat neither millipedes nor earthworms

Rest in peace!

Poet: Deola Adelakun

 Briefs of the poem

The poem, death, is a depiction of death and lamentation of the work of death. The poet sees death as something which can strike at any time and send people to the permanent home. The permanent home is heaven.

The poet mourns his friend who was struck by death and sent to heaven recently. The poet describes his friends as someone is well-behaved and well-mannered. It is someone who has good reputation in society.

The poet describes how people mourn this wonderful person and how they will miss his absence: children, men, women and, everyone in Aluja.

Theme

The poem has certain themes in which the poem can be understood better. The theme is known as the central idea of the message of the poem. Some of the themes have been discussed below.

The theme of mourning

The Aluja people are in mourning seats because of Adeniyi who dies. The people are in bereavement and they console with the good person; they also remember how they will miss him and his good work in their society.

The theme of death

The theme of death as portrayed in the title abounds the poem. The poet specifically describes the  death of Adeniyi as a great loss for their family and society at large. The poet is sad about how death is merciless and pitiless and is about fused the reason why death leaves the wicked to live and snatches good people. The poet says death has done the worst because it deprives them of assets.

The theme of good record

The poem shows that Adeniyi has a good record in his society. That is why Aluja can feel his absence. They all mourn his good reputation. The people can count on the good records of Okinmaye because of his good record in Aluja and beyond. Adeniyi Okinmaye is truly missed!

Language and Poetic Devices

The poet uses various language and poetic devices to enrich his poem and allow researchers to critically analyze his work. Some of the languages and poetic devices have discussed below.

Type of poem

The poem is an elegy and dirge because it is a lamentation and mourning of Adeniyi Okinmaye. People of Aluja mourn his sudden death which causes shock for them.

Stanzas and lines

The poem has 24 lines.

Mood/Tone

The poet feels salad out the strike of the sudden death of Okinmaye. The poet’s mind is confused about how the good people that are supposed to live die unexpectedly.

Figures of Speech

The poet uses various figures of speech to enrich his poem and allow researchers to critically analyze his work. Some of the figures of speech have discussed below.

Simile

The poet makes use of simile to compare two objects with the comparative words “as or like”. Such words are “Dewy I am like a mourning rain”, (like 3), “The children bark like rabid dogs” (line 7), “Men drop heads like bats on the tree” (line 9)

Apostrophes

The poet makes use of apostrophes such as “Death! What a tyrant you are!” (line 10), “Death! You have done the worst” (line 15), “What a tyrant you are, death!” (line 18), “You Deprive Aluja of the pride” (line 19)

Personification

The poet makes use of personification such as “Nigeria is sorrowing” (line 12), “Poland is lamenting” (line 13), “For you throw Aluja into bereavement” (line 14)

Synecdoche

The poet makes use of synecdoche such as “The universe…” (lines 5, 21), “world” (line 6), “…Rome…” (line 11), “Nigeria and Poland” (lines 12, 13), “Aluja” (lines 14)

Metaphor

The poet makes use of metaphor to compare two objects without the comparative words. Such words are “The universe in mournful seats” (line 5), and “Shower of tears on the faces of the world” (line 6).

Hyperbole

The poet makes use of hyperbole to emphasize his messages. Such words are “The universe in mournful seats” (line 5), “a Shower of tears on the faces of the world” (line 6), “The world counts on your impacts” (line 21)

Word List and meanings

 Universe: The people living in the world

Bereavement: The loss of relative by loss

Reputation: The character imputed to a person in the community in which he lives

Fretful: Restless, itchy, fidgety, antsy, etc.

 Practice Questions

1. The type of this poem is _____________________ (a) elegy (b) panegyrics (c) eulogy (d) epic

2. The major theme of this poem is ________________ (a) death (b) love (c) rivalry (d) anger

3. ‘…like bats on the tree’ is an example of __________ (a) synopsis (b) simile (c) synecdoche (d) paradox

4. What figure of speech is contained in line 15? (a) Oxymoron (b) apostrophe (c) Irony (d) Antithesis

5. The ‘universe’ in line five (5) represents _____________ (a) globe (b) surface (c) people (d) planet

6. Who is being mourned? (a) Okinmole (b) Okunmayo (c) Okinmaye (d) Okunmaye

7. Poland is lamenting’ is an example of ____________________ (a) allusion (b) climax (c) situational irony (d) personification.