2 Poems on Appreciation with Critical Analyses

The two poems have been written for the researchers and readers to do critical analyses and for the lover of literature to enjoy. The poems are specifically to appreciate the importance of their parents. Read and enjoy them.

Poem 1

Small gods

Your father is a mirror

So also your mother is gold

If a mirror breaks

Part of life fades

If gold corrodes

The whole life buries

Your parents

Your small gods

Your parents

Your second creators

Your parents deserve your rewards

Hungry and thirsty, they go

In the rain and dry

They are

Just because of your living.

Your parents laugh

When you laugh

They cry when you cry

Your parents lose their breakfast

So that you can have your lunch

They wear rags

So that you can wear coats

Your parents lose their sleep

So that you can have your sleep

No praise is too much

No reward is too big

To offer your small gods

Poet: Deola Adelakun

Briefs of the poem

The poem is written to explain the appreciation of a mother and a father. As it is believed in the Yoruba worldview in Nigeria that parents are small creators (gods), so also the poet believes that his parents are small gods.

The poet sees them as mirrors and gold and they are entitled to his appreciation. For what they have done and their efforts on the poet, he chooses to appreciate and reward them with his song of praise.

Theme

There are thematic preoccupations in which this poem can be understood better. Some of them are discussed below.

The theme of appreciation

This theme expresses appreciation of the poet’s parents for laboring and experiencing hunger, thirst, rain, dryness, crying, weeping, pain sweat because of him. The poet sees their parents as delicate as a mirror; as beautiful as gold that deserves the rewards and praises from him.

The theme of the second god

The poet sees his parents as a second god. This is also believed in the Yoruba’s view that our parents are the second creators. The poet is considerate as he can sense that without them, he cannot come to this earth. Their parents are drivers to this planet earth. The poet also believes that if their parents are no more, his life is gone.

The theme of love and provision

The poem describes the theme of love. The poet senses the love their parents have for him and they deserve his best. The poet says that love covers hunger, thirst, pain, crying, and sweat because of him. They experience all these because of his comfort. His parents suffer so that he cannot suffer.

Language and Poetic Devices

The language and poetic devices used in the poem have been discussed for allowing the researchers to do critical analyses of the poem.

Type of the poem

The poem is an ode as the poet addresses his parents as the second creator and god.

Stanzas and lines

The poem has twenty-three (23) lines.

Mode/Tone

The poet feels happy and excited about his parents. His mind frame is admiration and love. The poet loves his parents as his parents love him.

Figures of Speech

The poet uses the following figures of speech to enrich the poem and to allow the researchers to do critical analyses of the poem.

Metaphor

The poet makes use of metaphor to compare the two objects without the comparative words. Such metaphors are “Your father is a mirror 1), “…my mother is gold”(line 2), “My small gods”(line 8), “My second creator”(line)

Hyperbole

The poet makes use of hyperbole to attract the attention of the readers. Such examples are “Part of life fades”(line 4), “The whole life buries” (line 6)

Repetition

The poet makes use of repetitions to attract the attention of the readers. The example is “mirror, gold”(lines 1,2,3,5,), “life, laugh, cry, parents” (lines 4,6,7,9,11,15,16,17)

Word List and Meanings

Fade: To grow weak or to lose strength or to decay

Coats: An outer garment fitting the upper part of the body; especially, such a garment worn by men

Corrode: To consume; to wear away; to prey upon; to impair

Practice questions

1. Who is a mirror? Who is gold?

2. Discuss the message of the poem.

3. Explain the predominant theme of the poem.

Poem 2

My Mother

I salute

My driver to the world

My angel so sweet like a honey

Like a hen that protects her chicks

So she is my Jewel

Money cannot buy you

No paper can represent you

Forget you I cannot

During a bundle of nine months

Time of purge, you endure

Just for me, you sleep not

Your lullaby seems a tonic while crying

Days and nights, you wrap me at your back

For every departure, I shed tears.

Poet: Deola Adelakun

Briefs of the poem

The poem salutes his mother for her job well done. The poet sees his mother as the driver who drives him to this world and it deserves appreciation and recognition from him. The poet expresses his feeling about how important and valuable his mother is.

The poem also describes the pain the poet’s mother goes through during pregnancy and childbearing. The poet recognizes her sleepless nights during his cry day and night and her endurance of breastfeeding. The poet concludes that any time his mother is not around, he cries.

Theme

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

The theme of appreciation

This theme is an appreciation of what the poet’s mother has done. The poet appreciates and salutes his mother for pain during pregnancy and childbearing, her sleepless nights, and her endurance of breastfeeding.

The theme of love and admiration

This theme shows the love of the poet for his mother. That is why he thinks of saluting her as his angel, driver and jewel. He also sees his mother as someone that money cannot buy and anything cannot represent.

The theme of loneliness

This theme expresses the loneliness of the poet when his mother is not around. For every departure of the poet’s mother, he begins to cry.

Language and Poetic Devices

The following languages and poetic devices have been discussed to allow researchers to make critical analyses of the poem.

Stanzas and lines

The poem has 15 lines and good rhymes which gives a rhythmic effect.

Type of the poem

The poem an ode as the poet addresses his mother.

Mood/Tone

The poet’s frame of mind is love and admiration. The poet feels happy and appreciative.

Symbolism

The poet uses certain words to represent concepts and actions. The examples are “My driver…” to represent his “mother”, “My agent…” to represent his “mother”, “My Jewel…” to represent his “mother”, “During a bundle of nine months” to represent “pregnancy”, labor “Time of purge, you endure” to represent “child labour”, Your milk in my mouth…”(line 14) to represent “breastfeeding”.

Figures of Speech

The poet makes use of figures of speech to allow the researchers to do critical analyses of the poem.

Simile

The poet makes use of simile to compare two objects with the comparative words “like”. The examples are “My angel so sweet like a honey” (line 3), and “Like a hen that protects her chicks.” (line 4).

Metaphor

The poet makes use of metaphor to compare two things without comparative words. The examples are “My driver to the world”(line 2), “…she is my Jewel”(line 5)

Hyperbole

The poet makes use of hyperbole to attract the attention of the readers. The examples are “For every departure, I shed tears”(line 15), and “Just for, you slept not”(line 11).