Poetic Devices In Raider Of Treasure Trove By Lade Wosornu ~ Naija Poets

POETIC DEVICES:

There are some glaring poetic devices embedded in the poem (a) rhetorical question (b) metaphor (c) repetition (d) imagery (e) enjambment (f) alliteration (g) assonance (h) personification

Rhetorical Question; a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer. "But what can be worthy of your life?" in line 1.

Metaphor; is an indirect comparison in a work of art. The poem The Leader and the Led was built on a metaphorical ground. Examples are "Rage is Chief" in line 11. "Rage is thief" in line 13. "Enemy of equanimity" in line 14.

Repetition; is a poetic device where certain words, phrases, lines, or verses are repeated twice or more to create a sing-song rhythm or emphasis in a poem. Examples are "Heavens-on-earth" in line 8 and 24. "fling roses" in line 7 and 23. "Sails" in line 4 and 10. "Rage" in line 11, 12 and 13.

Imagery; using words or expressions to created mental picture in a poem so the readers can see, smell, feel the event clearer. Few in the poem are "flags of joy" in line 4. "Heavens-on-earth your destination" in line 8. "…toxic fumes on every scene" in line 15.

Enjambment; flow of idea from more than a line in poetry (run-on-line). " The reason you are here? Always strive/ To fly flags of joy, and, sail up streams" in line 3 - 4. "…breeze of love, your course/ Chattered in the ink of compassion" in line 5-6.

Alliteration; successive use of consonant sounds within a line or two in a poem. "dearer than the gems or your dreams" in line 2. "To fly flags of joy, and, sail up streams" in line 4 "Rage drags rags" in line 12

Assonance; repeating vowel sounds within lines. "drags rags" in line 12. "Enemy of equanimity" in line 14. "Heavens-on-earth" in line 8.

Personification; the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form. Examples are "Rage is Chief" in line 11. "Rage drags rags after you" in line 12. "Rage is thief" in line 13. "Rage spells calamity" in line 16.

Raider Of The Treasure Trove By Lade Wosornu

The Poem

But what can be worthy of your life?

What dearer than the gems or your dreams;

The reason you are here? Always strive

To fly flags of joy, and, sail up streams

Chattered in the ink of compassion

And, fling roses wherever you pause

Heavens-on-earth your destination.

Of things which would blot out that brief

Or, breach your sails with arrows unseen

No, Rob you of your life, Rage is Chief

Rage drags rags after you, of Charity

Laughter, sweetness and light, Rage is thief

Enemy of equanimity

Rage spreads toxic fumes on every scene.

In essence, Rage spells calamity

It's sole cause? Your perception of storms

Breaking around, not upon, your head

There are either snakes, deviants nor norms;

As you think, so you feel. Watch your mind

Rage sets sail. Can ruin lag far behind?

I'll fling roses wherever I berth

My destination is Heaven-on-earth.

Similar Poem

There are definitely many poems sharing similarity with Raider of the Treasure Trove but picking one is enough. The Soul's Errand is a poem written by Sir Walter Raleigh (1554 - 1618), a renowned English poet.

The poem, The Soul's Errand is written to advocate positive change in activities of humans. The poem is similar to Raider of the Treasure Trove because both poems address the issue concerning human behavior.

Naija Poets

Wednesday 27 October 2021