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
Contents
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).
Word List and Meanings
Jewel: A precious thing used for mother
Lullaby: A song used to lure a baby to sleep
Practice Questions
1. Explain how the poet describes his mother.
2. Why does the poet salute his mother?
3. What is the figure of speech of the expression ‘so she is a jewel’?
4. The poem is an example of sonnet. Discuss.
5. Discuss how lullaby contributes to the development of the poem.
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