YOUTH’S DICTUM
Now, I am Youth
I gat to make own decisions
Cos I am a youth
I gat to choose my own dream
For I am a youth
I gat to booze my own liquor
Cos I am a youth
I gat to make my meals
For I am a youth
I gat decide I how i'll dress
Cos I am a youth
I gat tie my own shoe lace
For I am a youth
I gat run my own race
Cos I am a youth
I gat to live tomorrow never exist
No, my dear
Welcome not these of word of guile
For in the end-to-end
It'll hold your heart tight and cross your fingers tight
Knee to the council of the old
It will save your dying breath at last.
I gat to make own decisions
Cos I am a youth
I gat to choose my own dream
For I am a youth
I gat to booze my own liquor
Cos I am a youth
I gat to make my meals
For I am a youth
I gat decide I how i'll dress
Cos I am a youth
I gat tie my own shoe lace
For I am a youth
I gat run my own race
Cos I am a youth
I gat to live tomorrow never exist
No, my dear
Welcome not these of word of guile
For in the end-to-end
It'll hold your heart tight and cross your fingers tight
Knee to the council of the old
It will save your dying breath at last.
Analysis/ Review of the poem.
This is a simple poem of twenty- two lines written by Okoro Amarachi Anastasia that centered on the youth. This is a poem of one stanza with rhyme scheme and rythme caused by repetition of lines. The poet adopted a first person pronoun at the beginning of the poem and a third person pronoun at the end of the poem. The poet tone is calm yet rigid and definitive, however, the diction is simple and narrative.
This poem opens up the thoughts of every youth that feels they are old enough to do whatever they like. The poem discloses intent of the youth which seen to arise from their consciousness live their lives the way the want, not minding the consequences of their action. The poet relate the thought of the youths with the notion to correct the harmful aspect of it. Though they have the freedom and right to do whatever they want and live their lives to the fullest, they also need the guidance and wisdom of the old, those we have walked the journey of life before them.
Their freedom to make decisions and make choice in life does not negate the fact that they still need an elder to council them. Today, youth tend to neglect the advise of the elder which most times will save them from the challenges of life that face them. Sometimes, living their lives based on their own terms most that do more harm than good, putting them in a difficult situation which come with the feeling of guilt and frustration. The moral lesson from this poem to the youths is to heed to advise of the old as you follow your heart.
One prominent figure of speech or poetic devices used in this poem is Repetition. There is constant repetition of the affirmation “Cos I am a youth” “For I am a youth” “I gat”. Also the use of personification in line twenty “It'll hold your heart tight and cross your fingers tight” personifying the mindset or the idea of the youth with human attributes.