Don't Inhale the end of you.
Don't Inhale the sweet toxin.
Don't Inhale the worst of evil.
Don't invite hell into your sleeves.
Youth say no to drugs.
Youth say no to danger.
Don't face wrath of law yet.
Don't be it addict till death.
Don't be folly of it fantasies.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
Youth say no to drugs.
Youth say no to damage.
Liberate your stars to be free.
Plead your blemish to be clean.
Take the hand of this council,
And uphold saying “no more drugs”.
Analysis/ Review of the poem written by Okoro Amarachi Anastasia. Pen name: I.C Amar.
A narrative poem of fourteen lines, with five stanzas (two couplet and three quatrain). The theme of this poem simply surrounds the issue of youth taking hard drug and drug abuse. It is a common factor that is the problem of the youth today. This is a poem that sensitize youth from taking drugs or engaging in what we popularly know as drug abuse, which is known as excessive use of psychoactive drugs, such as alcohol, pain medications or illegal drugs. It can lead to physical, social or emotional harm. The poet through her poem, created an awareness to the youth, about the danger/side effect of drug abuse.
The poem general address both those who are drugs user and those who are not. The first stanza of the poem, advise all youths (especially those who are not into it), “Don't Inhale…”. This is cry to the youths not to indulge in drug abuse. Don't start it at all. It is psychologically and scientifically proven that most youth go into drug abuse because of societal negligence, peer pressure, ignorance, depression, lack parental upbringing, etc. Here, whatever the reason might be, the poet simply clear that it is not the way forward or solution to it. On the other hand, To youths, that are already into drugs, the poem advised/instructed them to stop and quit, see line 10, “Don't say I didn't warn you”. Warning them about the danger of drug abuse. The poet bring it to light the need to stop drug abuse. See line 13 (Take the hand of this council; meaning listen/ take heed to her advise) and line 14 (And uphold saying “no more drugs”).
The poet also point out that drug abuse is against the constitutional law and there sanction attached to it, see “Don't face wrath of law yet”. A lot of youth have been sentenced to jail because of drug abuse/hoarding/ trafficing. Instead of youth to became productive and relevant to building a better society/ community for their generation and future, they become nuisance and problems to their society, committing a lot of crimes, offences, breaking of civil law under the influence of drugs. Some youth who are drug addict died on their own due to excessive in take of drugs. While some spent half of their lifetime in jail, living their dreams behind close doors. In addition to that, most youths who are drug addict suffer medical implications such as increased strain on the liver, which puts the person at risk of significant liver damage or liver failure. Seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage. Lung disease. Problems with memory, attention and decision-making, which make daily living more difficult. That's why the poet ttitled the poem “Youth, say no to drugs”.
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