Desert Rivers Analysis: By Lade Wosornu
ANALYSIS OF THE POEM DESERT RIVERS
We are taking a look at the detailed analysis of the desert rivers by Lade Wosornu
Issues in the poem
This poem points out that there are a lot of life activities which go unnoticed as we go through the ups and downs of our daily lives.
This poem seeks to encourage the reader to find hope and courage even in the most hopeless situation.
We will go into some details in the poem but first let’s go through this amazing poem.
Table of Contents
- Issues in the poem
- Desert Rivers
- Some themes in the poem
- Literary devices in the poem
- Form and Structure
- Some questions and answers on the poem
See the Poem Below
Desert Rivers
by Lade Wosornu
Deserts too have their rivers
Entombed from birth in earth
Waters mightier than Voltas
Lie hid from glare of sun
And winds that dry
Roofed not by sky
But rocks that do not always hold
These run their unwitnessed course
To their unwitnessed end. Without a sound
They gush into bowels of seas
Far, far away from unaided human eyes.
If you cannot see our tears
It does not mean we do not cry.
End of poem
Some themes in the poem
1.There are values in people we sometimes count as valueless.
This means irrespective of one’s educational background, position or current situation, they cannot be counted as useless.
- People have hidden talents. The fact that these talents are not seen does not mean they do not exist.
Line 12 and 13 clearly explain a this fact. The line reads, ” if you do not see our tears, it does not mean we do not cry.”
- Poverty can hide/limit one’s potentials and abilities.
Eg line 1 and 2 quotes, ” Deserts too have their rivers Entombed from birth in earth.
“Entombed” here means covered/buried Therefore a person’s abilities can be covered right from birth and may even continue throughout the entire life of that individual.
- Lack of support and motivation may kill/ hide one’s talents.
Sometimes we all need motivation, support and cheers from our families and loved one’s to help us reach our goals.
The “rocks” in line 7 of the poem relates to the people mentioned.
- People may be hurting in the large society that we live in, but they may be suffering silently.
Literary devices in the poem: Desert Rivers Analysis
Oxymoron
”Desert Rivers” :These are two contradicting words that are closely held together.
Symbolism
Desert : Desert represents represents individuals assumed to have nothing good in them.
Rivers : Rivers symbolises one’s talents and potentials.
Rocks : Rocks represent people around us like our families, friends and the society.
Sun : The Sun symbolises witnesses, viewers or the society.
Sky : It symbolises nature
Rhymes
”Entombed from birth in earth” : Birth and earth have the same internal rhyme.
”Dry and Sky” : Lines 5 and 6 have two last words as dry and sky which have the same tail end sounds as /ai/
Metaphor
“Bowels of seas” (Line 10). The sea has no bowels or belly. Bowels have been used metaphorically as the middle of the sea.
Repetition
Far , far away from unaided human eyes: ”Far” has been repeated twice on the same line
Alliteration
- Far, far away from unaided human eyes: the two repeated words far and far have the same /f/ consonant sound in the beginning.
Simile
- Waters mightier than Voltas (line 3) : There is a direct comparison between waters and rivers with the connecting word “than”
Form and Structure
Desert rivers is a one stanza poem with 13 lines which does not rhyme. We can therefore conclude it’s a “free verse.”
Some Questions and Answers on the Poem
- What does the reference to the “Voltas” convey? Ans: It Convey’s the setting of the poem
- Complete this line : “if you do not see our tears” Ans: it does not mean we do not cry
- Identify any three literary devices used in the poem. Ans: Metaphor, Simile, Repetition
- What happens far, far away from unaided human eyes? Ans: The gushing of rivers into bowels of seas.
- What literary device is found in “waters mightier than Voltas”? Ans: Simile
- How many lines are in the poem? Ans: 13 lines
- What can you say about, “these run their unwitnessed course to their unwitnessed end” Ans: People exhibit unseen talents
- How does the poet describe the underground water? Ans: They move with urgency without a sound.
- Find two places you can find rhymes Ans: Line 2 and 3 (Dry and sky) Ans: Line 2 ( birth and earth)
- Name one issue raised by the poem. Ans: Sometimes people tend to focus on the outward appearances instead of inner qualities of people.
Read also, Makola Poem Analysis: By Theresa Ennin and Tell My Son To Hold On To His Gun Analysis
Related Resources: Term 2 Scheme of Learning from the links here
For KG and Primary levels, the scheme of learning are for the whole year – that is, a yearly scheme of learning.
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