ENGLISH B

Poems
POEMS GUIDE (CSEC)
BY LAKERS
An African Thunderstorm by David
Rubadiri
 A poem focused on describing a violent storm impending on a village.
 The effects of the storm on the people of the village.
 It creates havoc on its way as trees are blown and cloths on the lines are swept away.
 The extreme and surreal conditions impulses excitement into the children.
 The atmosphere is far from serene
Main themes:
Nature and its days of reconning
Human’s anger compared to that of nature’s anger is mild.
Man vs Nature
Conolizaton
An African Thunderstorm by David
Rubadiri
 The first stanza gives the reader the imagery of the storm moving across the sky and the
direction in which it is coming from, the west, this may also be a reference to the
intrusion of colonizers in from the west. The “worldwide” of them entering Africa.
 The line in stanza one “ like a plague of locusts” (Smilie)- Locusts are insects that cause
havoc wherever they go, they are feared, hence, in this context, the storm is being
compared to a plague of locusts as it approaches the village wreaking havoc on its way.
In stanza two, the poet presents us with more imagery of the surrounding conditions
accompanying the storm. “ Pregnant clouds” is used to describe and gives us the idea that
the clouds are filled with rain and ready to burst. We are also told that the clouds ride stately
on its back preparing to perch on hills like dark sinister wings. These lines exemplify the
fact that the downpour that is about to start will be of huge mass.
In the end, the last two lines “ The Wind whistles by; And trees bend to let it pass, signifies
the superior Ness of the storm to the trees and the true mass and force.
An African Thunderstorm by David
Rubadiri
 In stanza three, we are placed in a viewing seat of what is happening in the
village. The line “ Screams of delighted children” personifies the innocence of the
children as they do not understand the true scale of danger that is impending and
perhaps will think of it as a movie scene from their favorite TV shows come to
life. In contrast, the mothers are dashing to find safety. The lines “ Women-
Babies clinging on their backs- dart about in and out madly”, indicates this.
Lastly, the lines “ Clothes wave like tattered flags flying off tioexpose dangling
breasts” signifies the mass and scale of the storm.
An African Thunderstorm by David
Rubadiri
 Poetic Devices Used :
Simile:
 Like a plague of locust – line 6 Comparing the storm to locusts
 Like dark sinister wings- line 13 – Showing the evilness of the storm and the
clouds.
Personification
 Pregnant cloud – line 10
 The wind wistles – line 14
Imagery
 From the west came clouds hurrying with the wind.
Once Upon a time by Gabriel Okara

 The title of this poems suggests that is based on a poet reflecting on an event.
 It is a father talking to his son as he remembers the days when people laughed with their hearts and
eyes.
 In the older days, persons used to shake hands with their hearts now they do so without hearts and their
left hands are usually in the pockets.
 The father apparently wants his young son to teach him how to actually smile again as society has
diminished this value.
Themes:
Childhood experiences
Childhood compared to adulthood is superior and never truly understand this.
Physical appearance/ emotion vs emotional emotion
Hypocrisy
NB: Hypocrisy describes someone who pretends to have good ideas, feelings or beliefs, but does not
actually act on them.
Once Upon a time by Gabriel Okara

 In the first stanza, the father remembers when persons laughed with their hearts,
he remembers when hypocrisy wasn't so prominent in society. He misses this, the
feeling of actual interactions. To laugh from the heart and eyes means to laugh
from the soul itself, no intentions, no pretending, and simply just genuine feelings
of joy. Simply apart of human nature. Now in society, people laugh with their
teeth only, no emotions, just the physical gesture.
 In the other stanza, the father remembers when people shook hands with their
hearts/ souls, now they do so without their hearts and hands in you’re left pocket.
Meaning, that persons in society are now only trying to see what they can get
from you and have no intentions of having any relationship.
Once Upon a time by Gabriel Okara

 The father has also developed these characteristics and has learned to bare many
faces in order to survive in this modern degenerate world. He has a face for
everything. As society has become so judgmental over the years that he is scared
to show his true self. The lines “ I have also learnt to say goodbye” when I mean
to say good -riddance prove this.
 In conclusion, the father is ashamed of his self, he cannot accept this. His adult
years have made him into a walking corpse whose soul has evaporated from its
body. He wants his son to teach him how to gain his soul back from society, he
wants to be human again, he wants to truly smile again and enjoy life. Thus, he
begs his son to teach him how to unlearn what he has learnt.
Once Upon a time by Gabriel Okara

 Poetic Devices Used:

Metaphor: Ice Blocked cold eyes – line 5
Smilie: Shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs
Repetition – I have learnt
Little Boy Crying by Mervyn Morris

 The poet is describing how the actions of a father and how he disciplines his child.
 The child does not quite understand the importance of being disciplined by his father and to
he/she, the father’s punishment is an act of cruelty.
 But, to the father, he understands life more than the child, and must maintain his composure
to ensure that lessons are learnt.
 The poem tries to tell us how innocent children are and how they view the world.
Themes:
 Childhood experiences
 Parenthood and its pros and cons
 Punishment is often misunderstood
 Father and son love and relationship
 Youth and innocence
Little boy crying by Mervyn Morris
 In stanza one, the poet uses the lines “ your frame so recently relaxed now tight” and “ your
laughter metamorphosed into howls” to indicate to us the child is being scolded by his father.
These lines tell the child’s posture has now become still and his cheerfulness has turned into
fear.
 In the second stanza, the poet uses the lines “ the ogre towers above you, that grim giant”.
Referring to how the child sees his father at the moment as a folklore or man eating giant.
( ogre).
 To the child, the father has no emotions, no motive, no drive, he simply just wants to punish
and make life a living hell.
 In the final stanzas, the poet brings out the message that as children we do understand the
actions of our parents, we have no idea of their motives and influence and why they punish
us, but, deep down inside of their hearts they love us dearly, they would die for us, they
would kill for us, without us, their souls would be empty waiting to exit this miserable world.
They do want nothing more than to comfort us and give us all that we desire. But in the
process of ensuring that we as children grow and become unique individuals of society, they
need to maintain their composure and remain strict in order to shape and carve us in the way
that is intended.
Little Boy crying by Mervyn Morris

 NB:
 The boy was slapped
 After the scolding, the boy hoped that the father would feel some sort of guilt for
him.
 The last line “ you must not make plaything of the rain’’ , conveys that the reason
for the father punishing his child was for playing in the rain.
 The mood of the poem is tense and the tone is anger and frustration
Little Boy crying by Mervyn Morris

Poetic Devices :
 The poet uses symbols to tell us the reaction of the child:
Mouth Countering – line 1
Laughter metaphorized into howls- line 2
 He also used imagery to give us a depiction of the child’s appearance:
Your bright eyes – line 4
Swimming tears, splashing your bare feet – line 5
West Indies, USA by Stewart Brown

 The poet is on a plane descending into San Juan. ( San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico
and it is considered the wealthiest in the Caribbean due to its ties with the Americas. .)
 He tells us that San Jaun glitters like a maverick’s ring all shiny and glittering.
 The poet tells us that the airports of the Caribbean are cultural museums.
 As they land, over the speaker, the poet is told all passengers whose final destination is not
San Juan do not depart. The poet takes offence of this and gets the idea that America does not
want Blacks in its country as they may re-enslave this island of the free.
 Themes:
 Racism and Discrimination
 Economic Dualism
 Culture
 Places
West Indies, USA By Stewart Brown
 In stanza one, the persona is one a place cruising at 3000 feet above ground on a stopover
flight over the West Indies. He describes the view as dice tossed on a casino’s baize, some
come up lucky, some don’t. This signifies the nature of caribbean islands, meaning that
some are wealthy and some are not so fortunate. The Caribbean is famous for many
dualisms. Thus, as he descends into Puerto Rico, he can’t help but notice how distinct the
island is. He used the lines “ San juan glitters like a maverick’s gold ring” referring to the
city lights.
 In stanza two, he tells us that the airports of the Caribbean are like cultural museums, they
are able to tell us if a country is poor or wealthy. He compares the hand written signs at
Port – au – Prince and Piarco’s sleazy tourist art to the Plush San Juan’s airport . Indicating
that Puerto Rico’s airport is second to none in the Caribbean.
 As they land, they are told that if there final destination is not San Juan, do not disembark
the plane. The persona takes this as an offence and assumes that “ Subtle Uncle Sam
(USA), does not want many blacks in the country as they can re-enslave this land of the
free. He claims that USA is afraid of accepting blacks into their country as they may
degrade their society and prevent economic growth. He goes on to describe the efficiency
of San Juan’s airport. He uses the words “ US patrol cars patrol the shimmering tarmac,
and container baggage trucks unload with effiiency. Symbolizing the wealth of San Juan.
West Indies Usa by Stewart Brown

 But even though Puerto Rico may seem like an island that is very well off, deep in
the nature, it is suffering. He uses the line “ as we climb, San Juan’s fools glitter
calls to mind”.
 In conclusion, the persona wants to bring out the message of economic dualism
which in turn acts as the root cause of racism in the region and the rest of the
world.
West Indies USA, by Stewart Brown

 Poetic Devices
 Smilie: “ like a dice tossed on a casino’s baize- line 2
 “ San Juan Glitters like a maverick’s gold ring – line 5-6

 Sarcasm- In line 20, the statement means the exact opposite of what is said, the
persona is disgusted at the regulation that they impose. The persona believes that
the American’s are being racist and are camouflaging it through regulations
C ONTRAST
 The contrast in this poem is found in stanza 5. The American cars etc, against the
pushcarts. The American culture versus the Puerto Rican culture.
West Indies USA, By Stewart Brown

 NB:
 Mood is sarcastic
 The tone is bitter

 The mood is sarcastic because the poet is not being literal with the descriptions of
San Juan, and the regulations. They mean the complete opposite.
Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge,
September 3, 1802 by William Wordsworth

 The poet is on Westminster bridge in London, England and is describing the sunrise.
 He tells us of the sight, so touching in its majesty and if any person were to not notice this sight,
then they are surely lacking a taste in nature and a soul.
 It is understood, that the poet is observing the early mornings where everyone and everything is
asleep. Hence, the defeating silence contributes to the serene atmosphere that is before him.
 He uses the lines “ Smokeless air, “towers, domes, theatres and temple lie’’ to give us a picture of
earthy the place truly is.
 Themes:
 Nature
 Place
 The chronicles of how man has been unappreciative of nature
 The beauty of nature waking up ( the sunrise)
 Man vs Nature
Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge,
September 3, 1802 by William Wordsworth

 The poem’s main theme is nature and how humans have become ungrateful for
the blessings of the earth’s processes. In the poem, the persona is on Westminster
bridge in the peak morning hours enjoying the blissful sunrise, he describes it as a
sight so touching in its majesty implying of its beauty and serenity.
 “ The beauty of the morning silent; silent, bare” helps us to picture the scene. The
poet claims that the entire city is still asleep, “ And all that mighty heart is lying
still”. Meaning that mankind is yet to wake and disrupt nature’s process, they are
yet to pollute the clear skies with smoke, pollute the ears with engines and
damage the land.
 In conclusion, the poet’s main message is to tell us that humans are damaging the
very core of what makes earth, earth. They are unappreciative of it and that we are
being ungrateful to nature.
Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge,
September 3, 1802 by William Wordsworth

 SIMILE
 The persona compares the manner in which the beauty of the morning settles over
the city, to that of a garment on a body. This emphasizes the perfection of the
beauty of the morning, just as a garment flows smoothly over a body.
 The persona personifies the houses as “ being asleep”

 Mood: Pensive or thoughtful

 Tone: Is one of awe or blown away or appreciative
Bird Shooting Season by Olive Senior

 Bird shooting season is the root to masculinity.

 It is when men make marriages with their guns symbolizing how tied the men are
to their guns throughout this season that the relationship is being compared to the
romantical relationship of a husband and wife.
 While this is happening, the wives are enacting the very core acts of traditional
femininity by being in the kitchen preparing dishes for tomorrow’s sport.
 In the early mornings, ( in darkness shouldering), the men pack their guns and
leave. The little boys eager to go stand shivering on the patios idolizing the men
while the little girls Wisper “ fly birds fly”.
 The main purposes of the poem is to compare the roles of males vs females and
how the season of killing brings together men.
Bird Shooting season by Olive Senior

 Themes:
 Masculinity vs Femineity
 Nature
 Cultural traditions
 Generational influence ( between the boys and the men)

 Poetic Devices :
 Metaphor – the men make marriages with their guns – line 2
 Imagery- examples: “in darkness shouldering their packs, the guns they leave” we can imagine the
scene of the men cloaked in darkness with guns in hand and their sacks on their backs leaving in the
night to go hunt. EG2 :,
 “We stand quietly on the doorstep shivering” again another image where we can picture the young
children standing feeling the cold air, shivering as they watch the men leave.
The Woman Speaks to the man who has employed her
son by Lorna Godinson
The poem is about a mother describing how she raised her son and how the world has
not been kind.
She claims she raised him twice, once as a mother, and twice as a father. This implies
that the child had no father to support him, thus his mother was forced to play both
roles of breadwinner and caregiver.
The gave him no limit on what his dreams were supposed to be. To her dismay, the
world has not been kind to her and her son.
Themes:
Poverty
Crime and gun violence
Consequences of a lack of a father figure
Betrayal
Religion
The Woman Speaks to the man who has employed her
son by Lorna Godinson
 In stanza one, we are told that the mother’s pregnancy was first made to her a
sense of unease, a sensitive mind and a metallic tide ( vomiting ) rising in her
mouth each morning. This gives us the idea that the mother had not planned the
pregnancy and it was an accident due to lack of responsibility. Knowing of this,
she carried him full term, tight under her heart. These lines tell us that she had no
intentions of aborting the baby and loved him dearly even before he was born.
 To her, this pregnancy was a gift from god, a blessing from the heavens and a
ticket out of poverty. She set no limit to what he could have become, she hoped
that one day he would achieved his dreams and secure a visa to work abroad and
eventually send for her. Hope is used three times here to gives us the idea that
even though there is a lack of money, there is a tremendous amount of hope. She
sees him
 The persona is not the mother
The Woman Speaks to the man who has employed her
son by Lorna Godinson

 We are told that was no father figure involved, hence, she played both roles of
breadwinner and caregiver. This did not bother as she knew and hoped that one
day all the hard work will pay off and she will rewarded by her son’s success.
 Now, her dreams were crushed, she was betrayed, due to the negative influence of
society. The vertex of the poem is when her son tells her that he has been
recruited by a gunman. All her hopes were crushed. Her son tells her that the
gunman values him so much that he gave him his own machine gun. As humans,
we all crave a purpose, to the boy, this was his new purpose. His self-esteem was
out of the roof. The son who lacked a father figure growing up now sees this
gunman as his father.
 The mother now bought three and one third yard of black cloth and a deep
crowned a veiled hat for the day he drew his bloody salary. In this case, death.
The reward of crime and violence.
 The Woman Speaks to the man who has employed her
son by Lorna Godinson
 She lacked physical strength against the gunman, thus, reverted to her prayers and kept her
faith in god to help guide her son out of this cruel and inhumane business. It was all she
could have done besides weeping.
 She is done, she is prepared for the eventually passing of her son, the final word “Absolom”
is spoken at the end to portray a sort of amen.
 Poetic Devices
 Smilie
"She carried him like the poor carry hope
Allusion:
“Absalom."
The final word, 'Absalom' is spoken sort of like an 'Amen' at the end of a poem. This is a
biblical allusion to David's son Absalom, who was killed after plotting to kill his father.
Oxymoron- line 16
It is the Constant Image of Your Face by
Dennis Brutus
 The persona reflects on the image of someone he cares for. This love interest
accused him, with their eyes, of breaking their heart. The persona admits that both
of them (he and the love interest) can make no excuses for his behavior because
the love interest does not take precedence over his land, or country. Despite this
fact, the persona begs for mercy, pleading guilty for being seduced by his love
interest’s beauty. This person protects him dearly and he admits that, as a result of
this, he has committed treason against his country. He hopes that his country, his
other dearest love, will pardon him because he loves both his country and his love
interest.
It is the constant of your face by Dennis
Brutus
 LITERARY DEVICES

 PERSONIFICATION
 Lines 4, 6-7: The love interest’s eyes constantly accuses and convicts the persona.
This device highlights the extent to which the persona has hurt this person.

 Themes:
 Love
 Patriotism
NB: For more information go to
https://www.quelpr.com/post/csec-english-b-it-is-the-constant-image-of-your-face-by-de
nnis-brutus-analysis#google_vignette
A Lesson for this Sunday by Derek
Walcott
The persona is describing the beauty of summer nature. He uses the lines “ the growing
idleness of summer grass with its frail kites of furious butterflies”. Providing imagery of the
setting which is supposably in a garden.
The poem takes place on a Sunday where the persona is relaxing and enjoying the sabbath. He
is then interrupted by two innocent children whose recreational activities require the torturing
of butterflies. The persona in the poem prompted by a disturbing demonstration of cruelty on
the part of young children, ponders upon the oddness of it all, when from birth, as it were,
children practice an instinctive brutality. Is everyone inhumane, he wonders. The persona’s
day begins typically as a peaceful, leisurely morning with only a hymn-singing maid softly
interrupting the silence. The sudden cries of the children come as an unwelcome intrusion
upon his serenity. First, he hears their screams of excitement, and then he sees them in action
as in their innocent, but ruthless curiosity, they interact with Nature. Unfeelingly they pierce
the eyes of the butterfly then try to “eviscerate the abdomen” until the maid stops their rough
game, the angelic little girl screaming in angry protest. The speaker finds it paradoxical that
such an innocent little child can be capable of such savagery.
A Lesson for this Sunday by Derek
Walcott
 These actions lead to question; is everyone cruel? , he wonders.
 The lesson learnt on that Sunday is profound: it would seem that Man’s entire life is subject
to an external design, and he is born with a sinful nature, lives a frail and precarious
(uncertain/dangerous) existence and may be cut down like summer grass at any time.
Meaning that we all have a cruel side to us, when the moment arrives, we will never realize.
 In conclusion, humans never appreciate nature and do this, we must become people of god.

Themes:
Nature
Man vs Nature
The cruelty of man
A Lesson for this Sunday by Derek
Walcott
 Poetic Devices
 Personification- Idleness of summer grass - line 1
 Alliteration – line 2 – the ‘F’ Sound brings out the meaning of flight in summer.
Test Match Sabina Park by Stewart Brown

 The persona is an English man who is attending a test cricket match in sabina park
between England and the West Indies.
 As he enters, he notices the sulking crowd, England sixty eight for none at lunch,
this is considered slow and unacceptable batting. Ashamed as he is, he tries to find
reasons for the poor performance, but he can’t even convince himself.
 This causes the West Indians in the crowd to bash him. “ Eh white bwoy”, how
you brudders dem does sen we sleep so?’’, these lines tells us that the west
Indians in the crowd are bringing the prospect of cricket into real life which is not
meant to happen. Cricket is meant to be competition between two teams, not
between races, genders, or nationality. We should never discriminate someone on
behalf of a game. Cricket is meant to bring people together in a healthy
competitive way. In this case, this is not being showed.
Test Match Sabina Park by Stewart Brown

 Themes: Discrimination
 Sport
 Man vs Man


Poetic Devices
- ALLUSION–The allusion to Lawrence Rowe, a very colourful and successful West
Indian cricketer, emphasizes the fact that the match is slow and boring.
Dreaming Black Boy by James Berry

 The poem is about a boy who wants to live without the burden of being judged by
his skin colour. He wants to be normal. He wants his actions and his skills define
and not just his ethnicity.
 In the first stanza, the lines “ I wish my teachers eyes wouldn't go past me” serves
as proof that he wants to be noticed. He wants to be celebrated for scoring a goal
and does not want his ancestral background define him.
 He wants to have an education, the ability to earn riches and live a live of luxury.
He wishes that life wouldn't go in opposing him .
 He makes special reference to the Klu Klux Klan ( The KKK), in the lines ( I wish
torch throwers of the night would burn lights for the decent times”.
 Themes: Racism and Descrimination
Dreaming Black boy by James Berry

 In conclusion, the persona wants to be human, he wants to be accepted, he wants

to be a person with a purpose and achieve self actualization. Unfortunately, the
people around him has made this difficult.

Poetic Devices:
Repetition- I wish
Smilie: I’m no woodchopper now like all ancestors

Mood : Sadness and longing

Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

 “ Dulce et Decorum Est” – This phrase means “it is sweet and fitting to die for ones
country”.
 As true as this may sound, it is also a false belief that humans have idolized as war is
not what it sounds like. Beneath its strong sense of masculinity and broadness, it is a
insult to humanity and god.
 In the poem, this message is being brought out, in stanza one the lines “ bent double,
like old Beggers under sacks, knocked knees coughing like hags” gives us a picture of
what the battle field is like. “ Men marched asleep” suggests like even though the
solders were physically their marching, mentally, they were longing to go back home.
 At one point in the poem, one of solider was not able to fit on his helmet in time and
suffered fatality. According to the persona, the man plunged at him, guttering, choking,
drowning. All of this helps to bring about the message that war is inhumane and an act
that should be banished in hell forever.
Dulce et decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

 Important lines that depict the violence of war:

 “ His hanging face, like a devil sick of sin, if you could hear at every jolt, the
blood come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, obscene as cancer, bitter as
the cud”. The persona is comparing war to that of cancer. But unlike cancer, war
does have a cure, and it is god.
 In conclusion, the poem leaves us with the message that war is seen as all
patriotic, and masculine, but deep down it is an attack on our very well being and
humanity. In war, dying of honor is used to disguise legal killing and mass
murder. In the end, every war is a civil war because all men are brothers. Dulce et
decorum Est, the false lie we all have come to believe.
Dulce et decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

 Themes:
 War
 Patriarchy
 How the world has misinterpreted what masculinity is.

Poetic Devices: Smilie

- Stanza 1, line 1: This simile introduces the exhaustion of the soldiers.
Stanza 1, line 2: This emphasizes not only the tiredness of the soldiers but the fact that they might be sick as
we
ALLITERATION
Stanza 1, line 7: This device points to the level of fatigue that the soldiers were undergoing.
Mood : Reflective
Tone: Sarcastic and ironic
Poem analusis on delce

 English B assignment.pdf
This is a dark time my love by Martin
Carter
 The poet is describing what the situation of war is like. He describes war as the
season of oppression, the festival of guns and the carnival of misery.
 The main theme of the poem is that in war, death is always lurking, it is always a
dark time.
 Themes:
 War
 Love
 Death
 Poetic Devices:
 Repetition “ this is a dark time”
Ole Higue by Mark Mcwatt

 Refer to English a sba

 . Mark WcWatt’s poem “Ole Higue “, is based on the Guyanese folklore
known as the Ole Higue and it places us the readers in the perspective of the
blood sucking entity that is disguised as an old lady which in turns plays out
to be very interesting due to Mark WcWwatt’s amazing take on the demonic
entity. At some point in the poem, we even feel sympathy for the Ole Higue.
Ole Higue by Mark Mcwatt

 Refer to the website

https://www.quelpr.com/post/csec-english-b-ol-higue-by-mark-mcwatt-poem-anal
ysis
for more info
Mirror by Silvia Plath
 In stanza one, the lines “ I am silver and exact, I have no preconceptions” refers to the realness of a
mirror. A mirror is unprejudiced , unbiased and always shows the truth.
 https://csecenglishmadeeasy.com/2020/02/analysis-of-mirror-by-sylvia-plath/
South by Kamau Brathwaite

 The poem is basically about a person returning to Caribbeans from North

America.
 https://csecenglishmadeeasy.com/2017/01/2017-01-south-kamau-brathwaite-html/
Death be not proud by john donne

 https://literarydevices.net/death-be-not-proud/
A Stone’s throw by Elma Mitchel

 https://csecenglishmadeeasy.com/2015/01/2015-01-a-stones-throw-poem-html/
My Parents by Stephen Spencer

 https://csecenglishmadeeasy.com/2020/02/my-parents-by-stephen-spender-analysi
s/
OK

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