2 Poems on Morals with Critical Analyses

The poems “Please, Easy” and “The Medicine” teach us to shun pride, power misuse, money intoxication, disrespect and so on. They are poems that encourage moral standards in our society and condemn moral turpitude. The researchers and critics can learn more and do constructive criticism and analysis.

Poem 1

Please, Easy

All power drunk

Walk and look back

Many waters have been swallowed

If you say I can and undo

Nobody can ask me

There is someone above everybody

Hello, all money intoxicators

Walk and look back

Many rich gang-ups have re-visited their humble rooms

If you say nothing is done unless I am invited

There is someone better than you.

Do not say I am the Ose tree in the forest

Do not say I am the Araba tree in the forest

Do not say I am the Iroko tree in the forest

Do not say I am the Obese tree in the forest

When there are better trees in the jungle

Poet: Deola Adelakun

Briefs of the poem

The poem is a portrayal of the attitude of the people who are power-drunk and money intoxicated to take it easy. The poet warns them that life is not forever; power is not forever and money is just a paper.

The poet calls the attention of those who are proud of worldly power that they should learn from those who are of power yesterday; they have gone to heaven of no return. The poet continues to say that there is someone that has more power than everybody if you are always boasting of your power.

The poem still points to the pride to take things easy because there are better people than you. Better people are available if you think nothing can be done until you are invited.

Theme

The poem has various themes that explain the poem better. Some of them have been discussed below.

The theme of power

The poem portrays the misuse of power in our society. The poet understands that the powerful person today may be powerless tomorrow. So, no power is forever. If you boast of having power over others and you can use that power to do and undo, death may claim that in a wink of eyes.

The theme of money

The poem exposes the deeds of the people who misuse money in our society. The money that you have today may finish tomorrow. The poet warns every money intoxicators to be very careful of how they use their money to oppress people. The poet says that nobody is born with money; we just have it. Why boast of it?

The theme of pride

The theme of pride in the poem is an exposition of the deeds of the proud. The poet says that there is nothing anybody can boast of when better people are available. In the place, you are saying if you are not there, nothing will be done and that you will see the better people that will do more than you can.

Language and Poetic Devices

The poet uses language and poetic devices to enrich the poem, some of which have been discussed below.

Stanzas and lines

The poem has three stanzas and seventeen lines. The first stanza is a sextet, having six lines; the second stanza is a septet, having seven lines while the third stanza is also a sextet, having seven lines.

Diction

The poet deliberately selects some words to enrich his poem. Some of those words are “Gang-up” (line 9) to mean “the proud”, and “humble room” (line 9) to mean “poor background”.

Neologism and Imagery

The poet makes use of some local imagery to give a mental picture of the trees they qualify for. Some of the words are “Ose, Araba, Iroko, Obese”.

Type of poem

The poem is an ode as it addresses the issue of misuse of power, position and pride. The poem is didactic as the poet calls for changes in moral corruption.

Mood/Tone

The poet warns the power drunks, position intoxicators and the proud. The poet’s frame of mind is cis changed those bad attitudes.

Figures of Speech

The poet uses figures of speech to enrich the poem, some of which have been discussed below.

Metaphor

The poet makes use of metaphor to compare two objects without comparative words. Some of the words are “All power drunk” (line 1), “All money intoxicators” (line 7), and “…all position fuddled minds”.

Personification

The poet makes use of personification; such as “Many waters have been swallowed” (line 3)

Repetitions

The poet makes use of repetitions to emphasize his message. Such words are “All” (lines 1, 7, 12), “If you say I am” (lines 13, 14, 15, 16)

Word List and Meanings

Apa, Araba, Iroko, Obese, Odan, Ose: These are names of trees; some are found in only Africa or part of Africa while some are in the world.

Practice Questions

1. What category of people the poet addresses?

2. Comment on the poon etic devices in the last stanza.

3. Explain the message in the first and second stanzas of the poem.

Poem Two

The Medicine

I know the drug that lengthens life

Come here and tap a little.

I got some life tablets to heal the body

Wait and take one.

Here are syrups to relieve short life span

Get some.

Some injections are here for you

Don’t think twice to get yours

I bring concoctions to cure your chronic ailments

They are for you

If humility is your song

And honour is your watchword

You don’t trespass the face of the aged

You must live long

‘Tis not a lie

What they say you sow

You reap

You harvest what you sow

If the little child feeds Agbas

The food of respect

You don’t trample their grey hair

You must live long

A little one that dashes the age

The wine of honour surely

Invests in his old age

Poet: Deola Adelakun

Brief of the poem

There is an adage: “Give honour to whom honour is due”. The poet advises the young people in our society today to honour our elders and old age. By doing so, they will too leave long. Not only this, the elders need our full respect and humility so that our age will be long.

The poet recalls us that our honour and humility to elders and old ages are like a seed that we plant and germinate until harvest begins. If young people respect and honour elders, they will harvest honour and respect and vice versa.

Theme

The poem has various themes that explain the poem better. Some of them have been discussed below.

The theme of humility

The theme of humility is portrayed in the poem as the poet warns the g people. The poet says that giving elders humility is the only drug that can make youths lifelong. If young people are humble to old age, they harvest it.

The theme of respect and honour

An adage says, “Respect begets respect”. The poet also warns us not to trespass the boundary of the aged if the young want to live long. The food that can use to feed the elder is respect and honour. If the young people respect the elders, they will be respected and if they disrespect the aged, they will also be disrespected.

Language and Poetic Devices

The poet uses language and poetic devices to enrich the poem, some of which have been discussed below.

Type of poem

The poem is a lyric that calls for moral standards. It is didactic as the poet warns against moral turpitude and calls the attention of young people to instil in morainstil

Stanzas and lines

The poem has twenty-five lines in which two stanzas campaign for humility and respect while the third stanza says about the consequences of doing so.

Mood/Tone

The poet campaigns for respect and humility from the young people to elude the rs.

Neologism/Diction

The poet selects some local vocabulary to enrich the poem. Some of the words are “Agba” (line 19), “Drug, tablets, syrups, injections, concoctions,” (lines 1, 3, 5, 7, 9). These words mean “song lines”.

Figures of Speech

The poet uses figures of speech to enrich the poem, some of which have been discussed below.

Metaphor

The predominant figure of speech is metaphor. The poet talks metaphorically to communicate to the young one of nowadays. The topic “Medicine” is even a metaphor.

Alliterations

The poet makes use of alliterations such as “…lengthens life”(line 1) “l” alliterates, “…twice to get yours” (line 8), “t” alliterates, “You must live long” (lines 14, 22) “l” alliterates.