Poetry Project
Perri Eason - Period 4
Lyric Poems
Example:
To Celia by Ben Johnson
Drink to me, only, with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I'll not look for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise,
Doth ask a drink divine:
But might I of Jove's nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.
I sent thee, late, a rosy wreath,
Not so much honouring thee,
As giving it a hope, that there
It could not withered be.
But thou thereon didst only breathe,
And sent'st back to me:
Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,
Not of itself, but thee.
Narrative Poems
Example:
Mariaka, Love and Betrayal by Lewis Nyaga
The story is retold with great relish
Its the great chief who precipitated
The great war by his love endeavors
Its the great chief who led us to war
The great chief loved the royal princess
Sister to Mariaka making her pregnant
Shamed for conceiving out of wedlock
She committed the abominable suicide
Mariaka was now to ascend the throne
After her beloved sister had departed
She asked for gifts from the great chief
Which great chief you delayed in bringing
Mariaka was angry at you great chief
Saddened by the loss of her elder sister
She took the advice of the malicious elders
In the war she aided the imperialist enemy
Troops of warriors from Mariaka's tribe
Aided the colonizers in fighting our people
Our own in-laws fighting us to great losses
Loss of life and the sanity of our people
Great chief you were unable make peace
And the war raged fierce in the slopes
Be my force once again.. never shall be
For great chief this time round you did it
Epic Poems
Example:
Running through a wheat dream Clear skies, worms and flies, my face cries Surrounded by silver streams I stumbled into a valley where sleepness never dies A manger on fire, burning embryo of lies no time for final good-bye's Waking up alone in the middle of a field Rain falls from the sky, to bless my soul Above the silver lining of mirrored clouds I lay a bouquet of flowers on your grave Angered by the thought of my birth Where has my salvation gone? Rescued by the hand, of the one I can not see Tormented in life's final step Silent mistreated never understand Arid of hate dooming everyday Something evil ruins the last hold of my hand My mouth hit by the door, when I pray A ricochet shot when my life was revealed Fallen in and out, after unwanted betrayal tounges Alone with my reflection is where I stand Broken Mirrors, the only thing I see! 7 years of current bad luck.