POETRY TITLE: THE DAY WELCOMES THE YEAR BY AKANBI OMOTAYO.
GENRE: POETRY TITLE: THE DAY WELCOMES THE YEAR WRITER: AKANBI OMOTAYO, NIGERIA REVIEWER: PRUDENCE GAKEDIRELWE, BOTSWANA
This poem is a sentimental and intriguing poem that draws one in especially by its rhythmic structure. It is built of five tercets and a quatrain and carries a significantly aesthetic value as it has the rhyme scheme of 'a'b'a' and the last stanza 'a'b'a'a'.
The repetition of the lines from the first stanza serves to emphasize and shows sensuality brought in play by the poet towards revolution in the lives of people.
The poem is filled with an extending anticipation from the first stanza all through to the end. It drives the reader to thinking more of the title and relate it to the theme 'revolution'. With every historical change, it takes the first day to make an annual turn. A sense of unity and belief is seen from the first stanza that shows that revolution is at a cost of both the young and the old being involved in that quest. Onomatopoeia essence implored emphasizes patience and steadiness, through this cooperative effort, a change surely comes.
Hope brought by the poem to the readers who envision one in need of change, gives an assurance of a turnaround despite the sluggishness of events. No matter how small it may seem to have begun change always stands out, this can be seen in S2 L2 'like a mighty tree born from a tiny seed'.
The poet continues to show us us a change in speech as well as when revolution has been achieved, showing that sorrows pass and now life sprouts from a state of victimisation to victory. We come to see this victory from silence to ability to speak clearly putting across the confidence gained with the victory.
The poet closes off with strong repetitive lines that make part and are puzzles of the former that shows faith and believes that things change and the people are willing to say out and pragmatise for what they want. This ensures that they do not watch at corners as their kinds are murdered, he implores a personification of the land no longer bleeding to symbolise the pain and the blood flows on the land.