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"POETRY WITH A MISSION" FROM THE ANTHOLOGY "BEFORE THE NEXT SONG AND OTHER POEMS" BY CLEMENT CHIHOTA

The poem Poetry with a Mission is a sequel to the poem Youthful Vignettes both from a thematic and stylistic point of view. The progressive nature of composing poetry is brought out through a series of extended metaphors which create vivid images.

Composing poems is an arduous exercise requiring hard work and perseverance. The elementary skills expressed in a crude manner are captured by the metaphor of a "crayon." Naiveté and childlikeness associated with lack of experience come out clearly through the associations connected with the object, crayon. Crayons are associated with infancy as young children, when being introduced to writing use crayons. The stage of using crayons has no permanence hence the expression written in crayon "melts quite fast". Once started, the process of writing poems becomes developmental. The poet employs a reassuring tone as he communicates with the budding poets encouraging them not to be discouraged by the immature expressions occurring during  the early phase of writing.

As they grow older, children begin to use pens. They outgrow the stage of using crayons and start to write more meaningfully. This progression is demonstrated through the metaphor of using a "fibre-tip" pen. Despite the fact that words written with a pen last longer than those written with a crayon, they too, do not last forever since they fade away "like a fever". The simile emphasises both the fact that the meaning expressed at this phase is still rudimentary and progressive and the fact that this stage is not permanent. Again, the poet gives hope to the immature poets that the stage of being imperfect is but a temporary period.

The distilled stage of poetic expression is the last stage in the progressive route to being a seasoned poet. After having gone through the gruelling endeavours, the poet eventually becomes perfect in expression. The hot tactile image associated with liquifying metal to bring out "molten poetry" suggests a purifying process. This indicates that to be perfect, the poet has to practise his linguistic and reasoning skills. The poet's diction connotes that coming up with works of poetry is laborious. Words such as "sweat" and "mined", imply intense mental activity. Mining is a labour intensive activity hence mining has been employed as a symbol of a taxing activity characterised by diligence.

The third stanza is the climax of the poem. It summarises the function of the poet in the society at the same time justifying the aesthetic value of poetry. The poet argues that poets are visionary and illuminative. They critique the events in the society so that people can have a better understanding of the issues. This role is vividly brought out through the metaphor of colouring "the vision". The ability to differentiate shades of different colours indicates the ability to comprehend different issues clearly. Poets, especially African poets, write out of concern. Their works of art is purposeful and didactic hence being mined from "the heart".

The progressive pattern of the process of writing poetry is graphically portrayed through the arrangement of the stanzas. The rhyming couplets "...heart"/"...sweat" and "...vision"/"mission" gives the stanza a sense of unity and maturity. Being twice longer than the first two stanzas, it highlights the mature phase of poetic composition when the poet is able to control thoughts and to express them in a well formed manner that displays linguistic and literary competence.


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