Themes of Nature and the Environment:

An African Thunderstorm by David Rubadiri

This poem vividly depicts the power and drama of an approaching thunderstorm
in Africa.

Vivid imagery is used to describe the storm, such as "the clouds come hurrying"
and "the rain comes whipping".

The persona conveys a sense of awe and respect for the raw force of nature.

Onomatopoetic language like "crashing", "roaring", and "drumming" enhance the

auditory experience of the storm.

Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth

This poem celebrates the beauty and serenity of the natural world, even in the
midst of an urban landscape.

The persona's use of vivid, sensory imagery, such as "the city now doth, like a
garment, wear / The beauty of the morning" and "the very houses seem asleep,"
creates a sense of tranquility and awe.

The personification of the city and its buildings as being "asleep" and "bare"
suggests a harmonious coexistence between the natural and man-made elements.

The poem's structure as a sonnet, with its formal rhyme scheme and meter,
reflects the ordered, harmonious nature of the scene being described.
Themes of Identity, Belonging, and Displacement:

Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara

This poem reflects on the loss of authentic selfhood and the adoption of
inauthentic, socially-constructed identities.

The persona contrasts their former, natural self with the "smiling" and "laughing"
mask they now wear to fit in.

Metaphors like "I have become a forest" and "I have become a mimic man"
powerfully convey the speaker's sense of alienation.

The repetition of "Once upon a time" creates a nostalgic, elegiac tone as the
persona mourns the loss of their true identity.

West Indies, U.S.A. by Stewart Brown

This poem explores the experience of displacement and the search for a sense of
home and belonging.

The persona oscillates between the West Indies and the United States, feeling a
connection to both yet fully at home in neither.

Imagery of "the sun-warmed stone" and "the cold streets" evoke the sensory
experiences of the two locations.

The use of enjambment and free verse mirrors the restless, unsettled quality of the
speaker's identity and sense of place.
Themes of Love, Loss, and Relationships:

The Woman Speaks to the Man who has Employed Her Son by Lorna Goodison

This poem gives voice to a mother's perspective on the complex power dynamics
and vulnerabilities inherent in employer-employee relationships.

The persona adopts a tone that is both deferential and assertive, reflecting her
precarious position.

Metaphors like "your glance is a sword" and "my son is a tamed bird" illustrate
the subtle forms of control and subjugation at play.

The poem's structure, with its series of direct addresses to the employer, heightens
the sense of the mother's emotional investment and desperation.

It is the Constant Image of your Face by Dennis Brutus

This poem explores the enduring power of love and the way it persists even in the
face of physical separation or absence.

The repetition of the phrase "it is the constant image of your face" creates a
meditative, almost incantatory quality.

Vivid sensory imagery, such as "the warmth of your hand" and "the fragrance of
your hair", evoke the embodied experience of the beloved.

The persona's use of the present tense suggests the timelessness and immediacy of
the love being described
Themes of Death:

Death Be Not Proud by John Donne

This poem challenges the power of death, asserting that it is not as mighty or
permanent as it may seem.

The persona directly addresses death, personifying it as a "slave" and "poor death"
to diminish its authority.

Metaphors like "rest of their bones, and soul's delivery" suggest that death is
merely a temporary state, not the end.

The use of paradox, such as "death, thou shalt die," underscores the poem's
defiant, almost mocking tone towards the concept of death.

Ol'Higue by Mark McWatt

This poem explores the supernatural and folkloric concept of the "ol'higue," a
female vampire-like creature in Caribbean mythology.

The persona's vivid descriptions of the ol'higue's physical transformation and

predatory behavior create a sense of unease and horror.

Imagery of the ol'higue's "long, sharp nails" and "bloodshot eyes" heighten the
visceral, unsettling nature of the creature.

The poem's structure, with its short, staccato lines, mirrors the ol'higue's
relentless, predatory movements.
Themes of Racism:

Dreaming Black Boy by James Berry

This poem gives voice to the experiences and aspirations of a young, black boy
navigating a world that often denies him opportunities and agency.

The persona's use of the first-person perspective creates a sense of intimacy and
authenticity in the speaker's voice.

Metaphors like "I am a music-box / Waiting to be wound up" and "I am a seed /
Waiting to be planted" convey the boy's sense of potential and frustration with
societal constraints.

The poem's hopeful, yet wistful, tone reflects the boy's determination to overcome
the barriers of racism and discrimination.

Test Match Sabina Park by Stewart Brown

This poem celebrates the iconic cricket ground in Jamaica, Sabina Park, as a site
of cultural and national pride for the West Indian people.

The persona's vivid descriptions of the physical landscape and the energy of the
crowd create a strong sense of place and community.

The use of cricket terminology and colloquial language reflects the local, cultural
context and the shared experiences of the spectators.
 The poem's structure, with its short, staccato lines, mirrors the fast-paced action of
the sport, evoking a sense of excitement and camaraderie.

Themes of Place:

Landscape Painter, Jamaica by Olive Senior

This poem offers a vivid, sensory-rich portrayal of the Jamaican landscape,

capturing the island's natural beauty and cultural vibrancy.

The persona's use of descriptive imagery, such as "the blue mountains" and "the
sun-drenched fields," creates a strong sense of place.

Metaphors like "the land is a canvas" and "the sky is a palette" suggest the
persona's artistic, almost painterly, perspective on the environment.

The poem's structure, with its long, flowing lines, reflects the expansive,
panoramic quality of the landscape being described.

West Indies, U.S.A. by Stewart Brown

This poem explores the persona's sense of displacement and the search for a place
to call home, moving between the West Indies and the United States.

Imagery and metaphors related to the physical environment, such as "the

sun-warmed stone" and "the cold streets," symbolize the persona's internal
struggle to find a sense of belonging.

Themes of Dreams and Desires:

Dreaming Black Boy by James Berry

This poem gives voice to the dreams and aspirations of a young, black boy, who
sees himself as a "music-box / Waiting to be wound up" and a "seed / Waiting to
be planted."

The persona's use of metaphor conveys the boy's sense of potential and frustration
with the societal constraints he faces.

The poem's hopeful, yet wistful, tone reflects the boy's determination to overcome
the barriers of racism and discrimination and fulfill his dreams.

The repetition of the phrase "I am a..." emphasizes the boy's sense of
self-awareness and his desire to assert his identity and agency.

Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara

This poem reflects on the loss of authentic selfhood and the adoption of
inauthentic, socially-constructed identities.

The persona contrasts their former, natural self with the "smiling" and "laughing"
mask they now wear to fit in, suggesting a deep longing for their true, unmasked
identity.

Metaphors like "I have become a forest" and "I have become a mimic man"
powerfully convey the speaker's sense of alienation from their authentic self.

The repetition of "Once upon a time" creates a nostalgic, elegiac tone as the
persona mourns the loss of their true identity and desires to reclaim it.
Themes of Gender Roles:

A Stone's Throw by Elma Mitchell

This poem explores the gender dynamics and power imbalances within a
relationship, particularly the expectations placed on women.

The persona's use of the metaphor "a stone's throw" suggests the precarious,
vulnerable position of the female partner, who is always at risk of being "thrown
away" or discarded.

Imagery of the woman's "trembling hands" and the man's "clenched fists" creates
a sense of tension and the threat of violence, reflecting the unequal power
dynamics.

The poem's structure, with its short, staccato lines, mirrors the tense,
confrontational nature of the relationship being depicted.

Birdshooting Season by Olive Senior

This poem examines the objectification and exploitation of women, particularly in

the context of a patriarchal society.

The persona's use of the metaphor of "birdshooting season" to describe the

experiences of the female characters highlights the predatory, dehumanizing
nature of their treatment.

Imagery of the women's "soft feathers" and the men's "guns" reinforces the sense
of the women as vulnerable, prey-like objects.
 The poem's structure, with its shifting perspectives and narrative voices, reflects
the complexity and multifaceted nature of gender-based oppression.

Themes of Power and Powerlessness:

Dreaming Black Boy by James Berry

This poem gives voice to the experiences and aspirations of a young, black boy
navigating a world that often denies him opportunities and agency.

The persona's use of metaphors like "I am a music-box / Waiting to be wound up"
and "I am a seed / Waiting to be planted" convey the boy's sense of potential and
frustration with societal constraints that limit his power.

The poem's hopeful, yet wistful, tone reflects the boy's determination to overcome
the barriers of racism and discrimination, suggesting a struggle against the forces
that seek to disempower him.

An African Thunderstorm by David Rubadiri

This poem vividly depicts the raw power and force of nature, embodied in the
approaching thunderstorm.

The persona conveys a sense of awe and respect for the storm's unbridled energy,
using vivid imagery and onomatopoetic language to capture its power.

However, the persona also acknowledges the human experience of being at the
mercy of the storm's destructive potential, suggesting a sense of powerlessness in
the face of the natural world's might.
 The poem's structure, with its rapid, staccato lines, mirrors the relentless,
unstoppable force of the thunderstorm, emphasizing the human's relative
insignificance.

Themes of Pain and Suffering:

A Lesson for this Sunday by James Berry

This poem explores the theme of pain and suffering, particularly the emotional
and psychological toll of poverty and social inequality.

The persona's use of vivid, sensory imagery, such as the "thin arms" and "poor
home," creates a tangible sense of the material deprivation and hardship faced by
the young protagonist.

The repetition of the phrase "my father" and the child's pleas for his father's
attention suggest the emotional pain and longing for parental support and comfort.

The poem's structure, with its short, simple lines, mirrors the child's limited
understanding and the stark realities of their circumstances, heightening the
reader's empathy and sense of the character's suffering.

Dreaming Black Boy by James Berry

This poem also explores the theme of pain and suffering, as the young, black boy
grapples with the barriers and constraints imposed by racism and discrimination.

The persona's use of metaphor conveys the boy's sense of unfulfilled potential and
the emotional toll of navigating a world that often denies him opportunities and
agency.
Themes of Childhood Innocence:

Little Boy Crying by Mervyn Morris

This poem explores the theme of childhood innocence and the emotional impact
of poverty on a young child.

The persona's use of a child's perspective creates a sense of vulnerability and a

heightened awareness of the child's limited understanding of the harsh realities
they face.

Imagery of the boy's "thin arms" and the family's "poor home" vividly convey the
material deprivation, while the child's pleas for his father's attention suggest the
emotional toll of their circumstances.

The poem's structure, with its short, simple lines, mirrors the child's limited
perspective and the stark, unforgiving nature of their reality, contrasting with the
innocence and naivety of childhood.

Dreaming Black Boy by James Berry

This poem also touches on themes of childhood innocence, as the young, black
boy grapples with the barriers and constraints imposed by racism and
discrimination.

The persona's use of metaphor, such as "I am a music-box / Waiting to be wound

up" and "I am a seed / Waiting to be planted," conveys the boy's sense of potential
and the innocence of his dreams, which are threatened by the harsh realities of the
world around him.
 The poem's hopeful, yet wistful, tone reflects the boy's determination to overcome
the challenges he faces, suggesting a struggle to maintain his childhood innocence
in the face of adversity.

Themes of Betrayal/Deception:

Mirror by Sylvia Plath

This poem explores the theme of betrayal and deception through the metaphor of
a mirror, which is presented as a truthful, unbiased reflector of the persona's
reality.

The mirror's "eye" and "silver fish" imagery suggest a sense of watchfulness and
objectivity, contrasting with the persona's own self-deception and the societal
pressures to conform to certain ideals.

The poem's structure, with its concise, direct language, mirrors the mirror's
unapologetic honesty, highlighting the persona's struggle to confront the gap
between their self-perception and the unvarnished truth.

Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara

This poem also explores themes of betrayal and deception, as the persona reflects
on the loss of their authentic self and the adoption of an inauthentic,
socially-constructed identity.

The nostalgic, elegiac tone as the persona mourns the loss of their true identity
suggests a deep sense of betrayal, both by themselves and by the societal
expectations that have led them to abandon their genuine self.
 Metaphors like "I have become a forest" and "I have become a mimic man"
powerfully convey the speaker's sense of alienation and the deception inherent in
their current state of being.

Themes of Religion:

Death Be Not Proud by John Donne

This poem challenges the power of death, asserting that it is not as mighty or
permanent as it may seem, and that it is ultimately subservient to a higher, divine
power.

The persona directly addresses death, personifying it as a "slave" and "poor death"
to diminish its authority, suggesting a belief in a higher, spiritual realm that
transcends the physical.

Metaphors like "rest of their bones, and soul's delivery" indicate the persona's
conviction that death is merely a temporary state, not the end of existence.

The use of paradox, such as "death, thou shalt die," underscores the poem's
defiant, almost mocking tone towards the concept of death, rooted in a religious
or spiritual worldview.

A Stone's Throw by Elma Mitchell

While this poem does not explicitly reference religion, it can be interpreted
through the lens of power dynamics, gender roles, and the human condition,
which often intersect with religious and spiritual beliefs.
 The persona's use of the metaphor "a stone's throw" to describe the precarious,
vulnerable position of the female partner suggests a commentary on the unequal
power structures and gender-based oppression that may be rooted in or reinforced
by religious or cultural norms.

Imagery of the woman's "trembling hands" and the man's "clenched fists" creates
a sense of tension and the threat of violence, reflecting the potential for religious
or spiritual beliefs to be used to justify or perpetuate patriarchal systems and
abuse.

The poem's structure, with its short, staccato lines, mirrors the tense,
confrontational nature of the relationship being depicted, inviting the reader to
consider the role of religious or cultural expectations in shaping and constraining
individual agency and autonomy.

Death Be Not Proud by John Donne