2 Poems on Time and Season with Critical Analyses

The poems below have been worked upon for researchers and readers to do critical analyses and learn more about the poems. Read them and enjoy.

Poem 1

Once Upon a Time

True it is that a day of rain

Covers severe droughts

I was once a beggar

But now a giver

I was once walking in footwagen

But now in a Volkswagen

I was once eating in calabashes

But now in dishes

I was once homeless

But now in a mansion

I was once wearing a calico sheet

But now in satin

I was once a sickly

But now in sound health

I was once childless

But now with children

I was once a tenant

But now a landlord

I was once a failure

But now a shower of success

I was once rejected by society

But now I was warmly accepted.

Poet: Deola Adelakun

Briefs of the poem

The poem distinguishes between the past and the present. When the poet compares both time and season, he concludes that the present time is better than the past.

The poet is hopeful even when his present situation is ugly and bleak. The bleak situation will become the past and you will experience a new situation that will be pleasant in all ways.

The poet calls us to see the reality that a new situation that t has not come to your will relegate this ugly situation you are going through when it comes. That is why an adage says that a day of rain covers severe droughts. No bleak situation is forever if you are hardworking.

Theme

There are various themes in this poem but some of them have been discussed below.

The theme of time of the past

This theme describes the time of the past of the poet as the one who is bleak and ugly. It is the time that the poet is going through some difficulties in his life. It is a tough time for him but he is hopeful that the time of abundance is coming. The poet strengthens those who experienced a tough situation that their present situation will be a thing of the past. Be hopeful.

The theme of life in the past

The theme describes the life of the poet in the past as one who that not been written about. The poet is seen in the past as a beggar, walking in a footwagen, eating in calabashes, homeless, wearing g calico sheet, sickly person, childless, tenant, failure, rejected in society. This means that the poet is physically and mentally poor. His life is controlled by abject poverty.

The theme of time the presence

The theme explains the time of the presence of the poet as the one who is glorious, rosy, and flourishing. The present-time of poet shuts up the mouth of the past time as his time and season changes a bleak situation to a promising situation. The hope of the poet is right now.

The theme of life in the presence

The theme describes the life of the poet in the present as the one who can be written about. The poet is seen in the present as a giver, Volkswagen, dishes, mansion, calico, sound health, children, lanlord, success, and acceptance. This means that the poet is physically and mentally poor. His life is controlled by abject poverty.

Language and Poetic Devices

The poet uses various languages and poetic devices to allow researchers to make critical analyses of the poem.

Type of poem

The poem is a historical poem as the poet narrates his past and present life-time history.

Stanzas and lines

The poem has twenty-two lines.

Mood/Tone

The poet is hopeful as he believes that his past will become a thing of the past.

Diction

The poet chooses the words and languages of “footwagen”, and “satin” to suit his purpose.

Figures of Speech

The poet uses figures of speech to enrich the poem. Some of them have been discussed below.

Oxymoron

The poet makes use of two opposing lines to distinguish between the present and the past.

Repetition

The poet makes use of repetitions to emphasize his messages. Such repetitions are “I was once” (lines 3,6,9,10,11,13,15,17,19,21), “But now”(lines 4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20)

Word List and meanings

Droughts:  Dryness; want of rain or water; thirst

Calico sheet: A sheet like a plain white cloth made from cotton

Sickly: He who is sick.

Satin:  A silk cloth, of a thick, close texture and overshot woof which has a glossy surface

Practice Questions

1. Discuss how the poet describes his story.

2. Explicate some changes in the life of the poet.

3. Explain the theme of the poem.

4. Enumerate how the poem is a historical one

Poem 2

Time

When as a baby and a toddler

I smile, time creeps

As an infant and a child

I weep, time crawls

Once a youth

I talk, time walks

A grown man as I become,

Time waits for nobody

As I see tage 30s, I mature

Time runs fast

When I celebrate years, I grow order

Time almost fades

Lift my eyes once

My head has rugged with grey hair

Time deems

When I begin to walk with three legs

Time is already gone.

Poet: Deola Adelakun

Briefs of the poem

The poem is a description of the stages of life. These stages have something to do with time. Even the Bible says there is time for everything, time to live and time to die. Time itself is a stage; time in the beginning, time in the middle, and time in the old in lives.

In the poem, it is experienced that one time stage leads to another. The poet pleads that we should care about  youthful and old stages. If we play with our youthful stage, we cannot meet up again in the old stage of life. And it will tell on us in the old stage of our life.

Theme

The various themes have been used to in the poem and some of them are discussed below.

The theme of the life stage

This theme describes the stages of a life-time. There are crucial three stages of human life: the time when we are born; the time when we are young and the time when we are old.

The theme of the beginning

This theme describes the first stage of time in human life. This is the time we are born. The poet describes this time as a critical one but the best because you just weep and smile. This time we are under the thorough care of parents, time here crawls and creeps. It means that time does not anything to us.

The theme of the middle

This theme describes the development of the time of humans from infants. Time here is delicate because time goes up and walks, even if you are grown man, time waits for nobody and begins to run. This stage is when success should come and you must not play with time here.

The theme of the end/old

The theme describes the last stage of human life. This is the time to rest and eat the labor of our fruit. According to the poet, it is the time heads will have been rugged with grey hair and begins to walk with three legs. At this stage, time is gone.

Languages and Poetic Devices

The poet uses the language and poetic devices to allow researchers to make critical analyses of the poem.

Stanzas and lines

The poem has eighteen (18) lines. It has stressed and unstressed syllables to give a rhythmic sound.

Rhymes and rhyming schemes

The poet has a good end correspondence and the rhyming schemes are abcdefghijakcclb.

Mood/Tone

The poet is supportive to take care of our time. The mind of the poet is to be careful about our time stages.

Symbolism

Symbolism is used to represent certain meaning. The word “…with three legs” means “walking stick”, “My head has rugged with grey hair” means “White hair”.

Figures of Speech

The poet uses the figures of the speech below to enrich the poem. Some of them have been discussed below.

Personification

The poet makes use of personification such as “…time seems crept” (line 2), “…time seems crawled”(line 4), “Time goes up and walk” (line 6), “Time waits for nobody”(line 8), “Time begin to run” (line 10) “Time is already gone” (line 18).

Hyperbole

The poet makes use of hyperbole to emphasize his message. The examples are “ lines 2,4,6,8,10,13,16,18)

Alliteration

The poet makes use of alliterations such as “I talk time…”(line 6) “t” alliterates, “My head has rugged…” (line 15) “h” alliterates, “When I begin to walk with…”(line 17) “w” alliterates.

Metaphor

The poet makes use of metaphors such as “At a wink of eyes” (line 14), and “Time waits for nobody” (line 8).

Simile

The poet makes use of simile such as “As a baby and toddler” (line and 1), “As an infant and a child”(line 3).

Word List and Meanings

Toddler: A child who has only recently leant to walk

Creeps: Moves slowly and quietly on your hands and knees.

Crawls: Moves forward on your hands and knees, with your body close to the ground

Practice Questions

1. Explain how the use of personification contributes to the development of the poem.

2. Discuss the dominating idea of the poem. leaned

3. What does the ‘tree legs’ represent in the poem?

4. What does the poet remind us of?