"A GOVERNMENT DRIVER ON HIS RETIREMENT"
by Onu Kingsley Chibuike
Many years on wheels
In faithful service to his fatherland
Today retires he home
And a celebration he holds
5. Many years has he pummeled his boozy throat
In obedience to duty rules and regulations
Today, he'll go home a Freeman
Eligible for his country's services
9. "Come, friends, rejoice with me
I shall booze and zoom myself home
Away from duty rules
Come celebrate my freedom"
"Early to duty tomorrow holds not,
Thirty-five years of faithful services
I'll booze to sleep away my sufferings
Today I've long waited for"
17. More joy to send him home.
A brand new car in his name
An appreciative symbol
For undented thirty-five years of service to
fatherland
21. "Come, friends and rejoice more,
Joy till no more joy to joy
Today frees and makes me a king
My patience rewarded".
25. And so, he boozed and boozed
Celebrating the celebration of his retirement
From faithful service to fatherland
He battled with his bottle booze
On his way home on wheels,
Booze boozed his vision and clear judgment
He boomed his brand new car
And it sent him home
Home to rest in peace.
(7 Stanzas; 33 lines.)
by Onu Kingsley Chibuike
Many years on wheels
In faithful service to his fatherland
Today retires he home
And a celebration he holds
5. Many years has he pummeled his boozy throat
In obedience to duty rules and regulations
Today, he'll go home a Freeman
Eligible for his country's services
9. "Come, friends, rejoice with me
I shall booze and zoom myself home
Away from duty rules
Come celebrate my freedom"
"Early to duty tomorrow holds not,
Thirty-five years of faithful services
I'll booze to sleep away my sufferings
Today I've long waited for"
17. More joy to send him home.
A brand new car in his name
An appreciative symbol
For undented thirty-five years of service to
fatherland
21. "Come, friends and rejoice more,
Joy till no more joy to joy
Today frees and makes me a king
My patience rewarded".
25. And so, he boozed and boozed
Celebrating the celebration of his retirement
From faithful service to fatherland
He battled with his bottle booze
On his way home on wheels,
Booze boozed his vision and clear judgment
He boomed his brand new car
And it sent him home
Home to rest in peace.
(7 Stanzas; 33 lines.)
Pls can we get the analysis for the poem...🙏🙏
ReplyDeleteIt's really hard to find this stuff on the internet..
Tnx in anticipation 🙏
I'm sorry. I would say the poem is easy-to-read. Kindly explain it to the students as much as you can.
DeletePlease we need the poetic device of The government drive on his retirement
DeleteJ
ReplyDeleteWhat is the prose of the poem?
DeleteAny vacancy is there
ReplyDeleteI need themes....please get it
ReplyDeleteCheck below for my personal perception on the themes.
DeleteTheme of hardwork,obedience, dedication, discipline and selflessness to duty
DeleteThanks for this submission but I want to ask if we can draw a theme of indiscretion from this poem
DeleteThe themes of the poem should include survival of the loyal, freedom from servitude, the inevitability of death, passage of time amongst others.
ReplyDeleteSurvival of the loyal: The persona is seen as a civil servant who is ready to accept any form of subjugation in order to survive. He says he has endured "his boozy throat" being "pummeled" with "rules and regulations". He did everything possible to remain obedient to the guiding instructions of the government establishment.
Freedom from servitude: The end of his service to the government signifies his freedom. He rejoices at the thought of being free from daily engagements with his duty. He feels his thirty-five years of service is a form of bondage. His retirement from service is freedom to him. To celebrate his freedom, he calls his friends with whom he gets drunk to stupor.
The inevitability of death: To everything that has a beginning, there is an end. The bid to remain alive and employed lingers on after his retirement but this time he decides to loosen his grip on survival and ends up losing his life. There is a moral lesson here. Life is transient and when not well handled, it may be lost. He retires not only from work but also from life itself.
Passage of time: In his repetitive stance, he counts his time as a government driver. He has served for thirty-five years during which he sometimes remained on the road, slept in the vehicle or went home late at night. He calls his friends to rejoice with him in the passing moment of celebration.
I love this so much
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteGod bless you for this ,thanks alot
Deletewhat about theme of joy
Deleteit is really simple and short
DeletePlease what poetic devices did you use in the poem
ReplyDeleteI need the theme the patient dog eats the fattest bone
DeleteI need the theme the patient dog eats the fattest bone
DeletePoetic devices include: Repetition, Synecdoche, Alliteration, Assonance, Dissonance, Enjambment, Euphemism, Zeugma, Inversion.
ReplyDeleteRepetition: Words like "thirty-five years", "wheel", "joy", "Come, friends", "booze" were repeated several times in different lines. These lay emphasis on what the persona want to hold more ground in the poem. Each repeated word tracks back to the subject and theme of the poem.
Synecdoche: "wheel" is used for the the government vehicle the driver drove while serving and for the "brand new car" he was given at his retirement. It is a part of the car which is used to represent all of it.
Alliteration: "f" alliterates in line 2 of stanza 1 with the words "faithful" and "fatherland"; the same in line 3 of stanza 6.
"r" in "rules and regulations" - line 2, stanza 2
"s" in "sleep away my sufferings" - line 7, stanza 3
"b" in "boomed his brand" - line 3, stanza 7
"b" in "battled with his bottle booze" - line 4, stanza 6
Assonance: "oo" in "booze and zoom" sounds alike - line 2, stanza 3
"oy" is repeated in "Joy till no more joy to joy" - line 2, stanza 5
Dissonance: "s" in "his country's services" has the same ending consonant sound. line 4, stanza 2
"m" in "him home" - line 1, stanza 4
Enjambment: Most lines are completed in succeeding lines. Example include: line 1 of stanza 2 runs into line 2 of the same stanza.
"Many years has he pummeled his boozy throat
In obedience to duty rules and regulations"
Euphemism: the persona's death is trivially presented in the last lines of stanza 7 and the stanza ends thus "rest in peace."
Zeugma: "home" ends line 4 of stanza 7 and begins the next line (line 5).
Inversion: the structure of normal sentence is changed in lines 3 and 4 of stanza 1, thus: "Today retires he home
And a celebration he holds". This might have been structured thus: "He retires home today and he holds a celebration". This delivers the poetic diction of the poem.
Zeugma I actually not used as said in the above reply. It is "Anadiplosis" instead. I'm sorry for the misinformation.
DeleteThe wheels is not synecdoche but rather metonymy.
DeleteSynecdoche is when using a part of the body to represent a whole while Metonymy is using a well known object to represent it meaning e.g a 'crown' represent a king,a 'pen' can be associated to knowledgeable person.etc
I disagree with that notion. Synecdoche is the use of a part of a thing to represent the whole and vice versa while Metonymy is the use of something related to it (not part of it) to represent it. The "wheel" is a part of the car, not just related to it, hence, "wheel" is a synecdoche.
DeleteIdentify and discuss the major thematic preoccupation of the poem
DeleteCan you please give the onomatopoeia
DeletePun in line 22?
ReplyDeleteYes, there is. Thanks for noting that.
DeleteWhere? By osf
DeleteThis is a wow work. Thumb up for you.
ReplyDelete"A GOVERNMENT DRIVER ON HIS RETIREMENT" AS AN IRONY OF LIFE
ReplyDelete"A Government Driver on his Retirement" vindicates the theme of destructive nature of unbridled joy. This is shown in how a man who has served his country meritoriously for thirty-five years gets killed in an auto-crash caused by his excessive consumption of alcohol in celebration of his retirement.
Literally, Advanced English Dictionary defines IRONY as the difference "(incongruity) between what might be expected and what actually occurs."
It is expected that this hardworking man who is retiring should cease serving and start benefitting from the various programmes of the government for retirees, most especially to enjoy the rest of his life with the gifted brand new car. He feels now is the time for his rest from stress. But what actually happens is the death of the man (driver) who dies at the moment he should be relaxing and enjoying his pension. In fact, the car he gets as immediate gift for his hard work drives him to death as repercussions of his actions (drink-driving and uncontrolled joy). He does not go to his earthly home to rest but returns to his immortal home. What should have aided his movement upon retirement aids his demise.
Ade-Oluwa JOLAOSHO, __In the Spirit of Poetry._( Facebook page)
Thanks for this, sir.
DeleteThis was indeed helpful. Can You say something about the Language and Structure of the poem?
DeleteThe language of the poem is prosaic and easy-to-read. This is what characterises most African poems. There are however words that reveal the contemporary or modern setting, especially the word "booze". This word shows the defect in civil servants and this persona who was a driver.
DeleteThe poem follows no regular structure. This is because the length of each of the seven stanzas differs from the other except the first, second, fifth and sixth who are four lines each; a quatrain of a sort. The poem has no end rhyme. The structure most likely represents the carefree state of mind of the persona, who is in a celebratory mood.
Another significant perception is the shifting perspective between the poet and the poet persona. The poet describes while the persona interrupts to speak. This makes the poem more prosaic.
In the case of the poem being prosaic, it will also be right to say the poet uses dramatic monologue
DeletePlease vanity as a theme in the poem
DeletePlease do u have analysis on the other poems and text for WASSCE?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't.
DeletePlease show us the themes used in the poem
ReplyDeleteNationalism
DeleteColonalism
Slave trade
Or the tones used in the poem
ReplyDeletepls explain the following themes;
ReplyDelete1. the joy of retirement
2. the need for moderation and caution at all times
3 dangers of drunk driving
4 benefit of diligence and commitment to duties
A very analysis. can you also help with the mood/tone of the poem? Thanks
ReplyDeleteThe mood that characterize the poem is that of happiness mixed with ecstasy until the tail of the poem where the moods changes to pity
ReplyDeleteSimple And Straight Forward To Understand.
ReplyDeleteCan I pls get a summary of the background and setting of this poem.
ReplyDeleteGovernment driver on his retirement
The use of Imagery
DeleteThe background of the poem is most likely the condition of working in the civil service of any country.
DeleteThe spatial setting can be anywhere in the world seeing that it is not explicitly stated there. The temporal setting is any period from the colonial era into the postcolonial or contemporary period.
The use of imagery helps paint pictures for clearer or pictorial imagination of the actions in the poem. Words like bottle, booze, car, drink, pummeled etc. all help to paint pictures in the poem. These gives life (or activities) to the poem.
The history background of wole soyinka
ReplyDeleteThe history background of wole soyinka
ReplyDeleteI need the themes
ReplyDeletePls can you give a plot summary of the poem . It is hard to see on the internet
ReplyDeleteVery good analysis about the poem "A GOVERNMENT DRIVER ON HIS RETIREMENT". But as student, we need all necessary poetic analysis about these poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lots!
It a good book to read and explain to the student
ReplyDeleteMy name is eze ego
Delete. K26 February 2020 at 07:12
ReplyDeleteVery good analysis about the poem "A GOVERNMENT DRIVER ON HIS RETIREMENT". But as student, we need all necessary poetic analysis about these poem.
Thanks a lots!
Please can you give me the image of the government worker created in the poem
ReplyDeletewhat will be the applicable alcohol in life to forget your long suffering in the poem
ReplyDeleteModeration, it seems.
DeleteOK I love this poem its very interesting
ReplyDeletePlease I have searched in vain for the BIOGRAPHY OF ONU KINGSLEY CHIBUIKE. Can u help? Very urgently needed please. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe government driver question serverd for how many years?
ReplyDeleteHe served for 35 years. Check the poem; it's in it.
DeleteThe government driver question serverd for how many years?
ReplyDeletecan u pls explain carelessness in the poem
ReplyDeleteThe driver, having successfully served for thirty-five years as a government driver, he becomes reckless in handling his newly found or gained freedom. He resorts to drinking and driving at the same time. He becomes careless about his life which he had once jealously protected from sack and suffering.
DeleteCarelessness is explored in the middle and towards the end of the poem. It is a dangerous character in man.
Can you please help me give the name of this stanza:
ReplyDeleteAnd so he boozed and boozed
Celebrating the celebration of his retirement
From faithful service to fatherland
He with his bottle booze
On his way home on wheels,
Booze boozed his vision and clear judgement
He boomed his brand car
And it sent him home
Home to rest peace
First: That's not a stanza.
DeleteSecond: It can only be the concluding stanzas (a sad end to a previously careful/law abiding life now turned careless when freed)
This a really good site;good job.Just what I need to know.
ReplyDeleteThis is good but can I get the subject matter of the poem
ReplyDeleteThis is quite helpful. Thank you
ReplyDeletePlease explain this poem as an irony
ReplyDeleteThe poem is not an irony. It has irony in it, but entirely an irony.
DeleteThe irony there is seen in the sad ending. What is expected to give him joy ends his life.
What is the effect of alliteration and repetition in the poem
ReplyDeleteAlliteration helps to create rhythm in poems and so it does in this.
ReplyDeleteRepetition creates emphasis, which itself is a sense of importance, in a poem. It helps to focus on the repeated word(s). Booze is repeated in the poem.
Discuss it as dramatic monologue
ReplyDeletewhat is the dramatic monologue
ReplyDeleteDiscuss the poem as a situational irony.
ReplyDeletePlease what the moral lesson in the poem
ReplyDeleteIs there personification in the poem?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the diction for the poem
ReplyDeleteWhat is the diction for the poem
ReplyDeleteExplain the poem in relation to situational irony
ReplyDeletehow do we explain the theme
ReplyDeletetragedy of excessive celebration
Please what is the Diction of the poem
ReplyDeletePlease can you explain why the government reward the driver with a brand new car.
ReplyDeleteSection1
ReplyDeleteCHIBUIKE ONU’S BIOGRAPHY
Onu Kingsley Chibuike is a rising Nigerian Poet. He was educated at Abia State University, Uturu, where he obtained his B.Sc. Degree in Industrial Chemistry. At present, he is the Registrar, Department of Surgery, National Hospital, Abuja.
PARAPHRASE & SUMMARY
This is a story one might call ‘Twist of fate/Irony of life or Situational irony’ whereby a day that ought to be celebrated for freedom from daily stress associated with forced waking up early every day for work; and having spent thirty-five years of meritorious service to his fatherland, and now appreciated with the gift of a brand new car to ease his movement in retirement but somehow ends him up in self-destructive actions caused by his unbridled joy from excessive intake of alcohol. The poem which begins on a celebratory tone suddenly ends up in anti-climactic tone as a result of destined self-destruction.
Lines 1 – 4
Hear the persona speaks in the first person: having served his country all his life by taking up driving as a career (many years on wheels) and having travelled all over the country in the employ of the government (civil service); and today, he decides to hold a party (send- off) to celebrate his retirement from the civil service.
Lines 5 - 8
He truly admits being a compulsive drinker; but never allowed his excesses impinge on his work ethics and rules because he *(pummelled his boozy throat¬). So today, as a free man as well as a retiree, he is completely free from those rules of engagement. *(pummelled or bashed) -in this context means, held back his drunkenness then).
Lines 9 – 16
Then, he invites friends, well-wishers even the free-loaders for a drinking spree, and so will drink (booze) himself to stupor if possible, and then ‘zoom’ himself home afterwards all in celebration of his freedom from starting work early every day, and marking his thirty-five years of fulfilled services; so he will drink and drink to stupor and sleep off his past ‘sufferings’ as today is that long-awaited retirement day.
Lines 17 – 20
The celebration didn’t end there, imagine his unbridled joy as a retiree, and then more joy from the gift of a brand new car just for his thirty-five years of untainted (undented) services to his fatherland.
Lines 21 – 24
So friends, come and let us celebrate and have fun -even more joy till none is spared for tomorrow (joy till no more joy to joy), as today frees him from civil servitude, thus feeling like a king who has been duly rewarded for his faithful services.
Lines 25 - 33
And so he drinks and drinks with unrestrained joy (unlike when he was on the job holding back his drinking habit) –(celebrating the celebration of his retirement) in this drinking spree till he becomes so drunk; and yet, heads home driving his gift car while ‘battling with his bottle booze’ in stupor and poor vision, and then crashes his car and dies on the spot. Thus, the twist of fate is he zoomed to his heavenly home (for his final resting place) instead of his earthly home for true rest to enjoy the benefits of retirement.
ISBN: 978-978-981-954-6
An extract from
SURE SUCCESS
A Literary Handbook on Poems
for 2021-2025 WASSCE/NECO
By LAWSON U. IWUCHUKWU
Section2
ReplyDeleteIN SUMMARY
This is a poem where its persona started in a celebratory tone having completed his mandatory thirty-five years of services in the employ of the government as a driver or (its variant in other sectors), and now duly rewarded. The twist of fate is his decision to celebrate his freedom from civil servitude, enjoy the goodness of the gift car, and have a total rest at home in retirement but all these aspirations fell flat as everything turned his tragic end. Here, the irony of life is this retiree-driver who out of his unbridle joy in celebrating his retirement ends up killing himself at the time when he should have had every cause to celebrate, relax, enjoy his pension and his gift car but then, these supposed sources of joy worked against him by ‘zooming’ him to his untimely death viz.:
i. Instead of retirement, he retired his life;
iii. Instead of celebrating, we mourn him;
iv. Instead of ease of movement with the gift car, the car sends him to death;
v. Instead of resting his worries, he got laid to rest;
vi. Instead of home-coming, he returns to heaven.
In this sense, the heavy dose of incongruities (contradictions) of what was expected and that which actually happened makes the poem a good example of a Situational irony that he was able to manage his duties but couldn’t manage one free day of his retirement to his benefit.
THEMES
This poem has a universal appeal as it applies everywhere in the world. It equally has a lot of themes and sub-themes that are noteworthy but just a few are analyzed below.
1. Danger of drink and drive culture:
It’s a common knowledge that most drivers world over drink and drive. So this poem supports the dictum: ‘when you drink, don’t drive, or drink responsibly’. But in this poem, the persona already known for ‘battling his boozy throat’ still threw caution to the winds and got himself killed while celebrating his life.
2. The inevitability of death/meaninglessness of life:
In ‘Things fall-apart’ by Achebe, the Agbara says, ‘He’s a god that kills a man when life is sweetest for him’. And going by this, we see a celebration of freedom from civil servitude turned into a shocking mourning. This suggests that life is transient as death always lurks around even more when life is sweetest; so it’s a retirement from work as well from life. It succinctly suggests the absurdity of life.
3. Reward for loyalty: though a compulsive drinker, yet the retiree-driver never allowed his drunkenness interfere with his work. The moral lesson here is ‘caution’ in the sense that one can still rein in his frailties or excesses as we observed in this story in order to give one’s best which at the end could be very rewarding.
4. Joy of Fulfillment: Thirty-five years of stressful day by day work has been accomplished and not just that, it has also been rewarded. Generally speaking, every civil servant in government job always looks forward to seeing this day which requires celebrating but then with restraints to live out life in retirement.
ISBN: 978-978-981-954-6
An extract from
SURE SUCCESS
A Literary Handbook on Poems
for 2021-2025 WASSCE/NECO
By LAWSON U. IWUCHUKWU
ReplyDeleteSection3
SETTING/TONE/STRUCTURE AND DICTION
The setting is in a post-colonial Africa or elsewhere where people take up government jobs. The persona is a driver in the government service. He sets the narrative in celebratory tone as he has fulfilled his life’s ambition, thus invites his friends and well-wishers to come and celebrate with him but thereafter, he never lived out his life in retirement as was anticipated. The poem is structured into thirty-three (33) lines with seven (7) stanzas of irregular lengths without rhymes. It’s narrative in nature as it’s a story told by three personas viz. the *first persona, the *second persona and the *driver himself.
The Diction is simple and spiced up with slangs and clinches.
Viz, ‘...booze and zoom myself”
‘...joy till no more joy to joy’...booze boozed his vision, ...battle with his bottle booze; undented (for untainted).
FIGURE OF SPEECH
The poet employed many figures of speech that make the poem so easy to follow even to a hater of poetry.
REPETITION
Words like ‘joy’, ‘come friends’, ‘new car’, ‘booze’, ‘thirty-five’, ‘home’ – are all repeated for emphasis and musicality.
EUPHEMISM
The retiree-driver’s death is mildly stated. Instead of ‘he crashed his car and died on the spot’, the poet states ‘he boomed his brand new car and it sent him home/Home to rest in peace’.
PUN
Play on word as *‘joy till no more joy to joy’; * booze boozed his vision; *battling with his booze; *celebrating the celebration… etc.
SYNEDOCHE
Here ‘wheels’ tells us he’s a driver who drives government vehicles.
MALAPROPISM
‘undented is misused word for ‘untainted’ – even though they sound similar.
ZEUGMA
Here a verb is applied to two nouns ...*booze his vision and clear judgment.
PERSONIFICATION
‘.... as he pummeled his boozy throat.’
Others are invasion, alliteration, assonance, enjambment etc.
Section4
QUESTIONS AND ANALYTIC ANSWERS
1. Question: Explain in details the situational irony in this poem, and how the persona greatly contributed to it?
ANSWER:
Situational irony as an unexpected turn of events tends to explain the circumstances man is confronted with in his existence in a world of shifty values. It tends to evoke the vanity and meaninglessness of life after all struggles/sufferings yet life and potentiality turn cruel in some sense.
Irony of situation is that discrepancy between expectation/aspiration and fulfillment, or that difference between appearance and reality of an issue, thus in this poem, it’s so shocking how this huge exciting celebration of retirement abruptly ends in horror by self-destruction. It’s a good example of how all struggles, aspirations and expectations returned to nullity which then tends to question if life is truly worth struggling for. Though irony enables us (readers) to imagine what has not come to us; and for authors, it suggests meanings/ideas implied without stating them. In this poem, the poet begins his narrative with the celebration of a retiree after his thirty-five (35) years of service in government. Actually, it’s a thing of joy not only to the persona but to his family and friends, so the celebration does worth it with regard to stress, commitment and restraints employed in the service that he’s rewarded in the end. And for this reason, he feels today gives him the opportunity to express his total freedom and enjoy himself even where it costs him his life. And this he carries on to the letter by not only drinking himself to stupor but to his death as well, thus he loses it all. An irony that he managed his job but can’t manage his freedom just for a day of his own.
ISBN: 978-978-981-954-6
An extract from
SURE SUCCESS
A Literary Handbook on Poems
for 2021-2025 WASSCE/NECO
By LAWSON U. IWUCHUKWU
This is beautiful! I'd like to get a copy of this. Let's learn, relearn and unlearn.
DeleteHappy New Year Sunny. How do I reach you? You deserve copies of my books. Pls reply. Thank you.
DeleteOnu Chibuike Kingsley graduated from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. He read English Language and is from Imo state.
DeleteHis contact details is +2348039398855.
It's been a while since I last came here. Mr Lawrence Iwuchukwu, I'm sorry for the very late response. You can contact me on 07062867640 on WhatsApp
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, dude? You haV no other place to advertise ur "sluttiness"? Try Tinder
DeleteHow does the attitude of the government driver become a disappointment to the nation
ReplyDeleteWrite five moral lessons in the poem the government driver on his retirement.
ReplyDeletePls visit lawson iwuchukwu on Quora. the answer is there for you also. Also reach for 'SURE SUCCESS' by lawson iwuchukwu.
DeletePls can I get the authorial and textual background of the government driver on his retirement
ReplyDeletePls visit lawson iwuchukwu on Quora. The answer is there for you. Also visit lawsoniwuchukwu@gmail.com.
DeleteMr Lawson, I'm not trying to bring u down or anything but those answers are in the new Exam Focus, word for word.... Isn't that plagiarism? No offence sir
ReplyDeletePlease read your Focus very well; and possibly quote the plagiarized passage(s) verbatim.It's no offence.
DeleteOnu Chibuike read English at the University of Nigeria Nsukka.
DeleteHe is from Imo State
His contact details is +2348039398855
explain the government driver on his retirement as a narrative peom
ReplyDeletePls can you discuss the use of irony in the poem. I need it immediately.
ReplyDeleteThe use of Irony/situational irony has been answered. You will glean it from the answer already given to the question in my analysis.
DeletePlease discuss the use of irony i this poem. I need it immediately.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that great poem, it make to understand life.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this wonderful analysis
ReplyDeletePlease what is the writers use of imagery
ReplyDeleteCan someone also tell me the writers use of imagery I need it please
ReplyDeleteThank you very much I really appreciate it because u have help with this poem God bless you and your family
ReplyDeletecan you give me the authors background on the introduction of this poem
ReplyDeleteIt's irony
ReplyDeleteAS A NARRATIVE POEM
ReplyDeleteCan I get the writers use of imagery in this poem please
ReplyDeleteI love this,I have learnt a lot and I can't wait to transfer it to my sss3 students.
ReplyDeleteThis is a comprehensive analysis of this poem
The book is 'Sure Success'; and by Jan 2021, the hard cover will be @ the bookshops; and specifically @ Bale Rd Ajungle, Apapa, bookshops. Or still contact mikelawsons@gmail.com for soft copy.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Please I need the athour background 🙏
ReplyDeleteWhat makes the poem a satire
ReplyDeleteWhat makes the poem a satire
ReplyDeleteWhat is the tone and mood of the poea
ReplyDeleteWhat is the tone and the mood of the poem
ReplyDeleteTo what extant do you agree that the poem is a caution on jubilant celebration
ReplyDeleteAnyone
ReplyDeleteTry a get a copy of SURE SUCCESS: A literary Handbook on Popems for 2021-2025 by Lawson Iwuchukwu.
Delete...TONE:
The setting is in a post-colonial Africa or elsewhere where people take up government jobs. The persona is a driver in the government service. He sets the narrative in celebratory tone as he has fulfilled his life’s ambition, thus invites his friends and well-wishers to come and celebrate with him but thereafter, he never lived out his life in retirement as was anticipated. The poem is structured into thirty-three (33) lines with seven (7) stanzas of irregular lengths without rhymes. It’s narrative in nature as it’s a story told by three personas viz. the *first persona, the *second persona and the *driver himself.
The Diction is simple and spiced up with slangs and clinches.
Viz, ‘...booze and zoom myself”
‘...joy till no more joy to joy’...booze boozed his vision, ...battle with his bottle booze; undented (for untainted).
culled from the said book.
Then again the answer to your question is very simple if you can glean from the themes:
*The inevitability of death/meaninglessness of life:
In ‘Things fall-apart’ by Achebe, the Agbara says, ‘He’s a god that kills a man when life is sweetest for him’. And going by this, we see a celebration of freedom from civil servitude turned into a shocking mourning. This suggests that life is transient as death always lurks around even more when life is sweetest; so it’s a retirement from work as well from life. It succinctly suggests the absurdity of life.
*Danger of drink and drive culture:
It’s a common knowledge that most drivers world over drink and drive. So this poem supports the dictum: ‘when you drink, don’t drive, or drink responsibly’. But in this poem, the persona already known for
‘battling his boozy throat’ still threw caution to the winds and got himself killed while celebrating his life.
Please read my analysis of the poem. Google lawson iwuchukwu for more. Thank you.
Thanks so much for a wonderful analysis
ReplyDeletePlease why the theme slave trade
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePls what's the subject matter of the poem
ReplyDeleteMy Answer to your question is this:
DeleteSUBJECT MATTER: is the message, focus or the concern of a story in a book. It is the substance of a communication, or let’s say, what a poem, play or prose is talking about regardless of style. It is the actual story as can be discerned from a particular work of art under study. For example, a story about the deflation of military mystique and might, and condemnation of marriage of convenience are likely the subject matters (topics of discussion) in Arms and the Man by B. Shaw, while its theme could be ‘the illusiveness of heroism and nobility’. Theme, in this sense, is inferred, or believed to be a logical conclusion drawn from the subject matter. Theme is not a subject matter per`se.
In the Government Driver On His Retirement, is a story about habit (drunkenness) that turned sour. A story of joy turned sorrow. A story about the ‘Twist of fate/Irony of life or Situational irony’ whereby a day that ought to be celebrated for freedom from daily stress associated with forced waking up early every day for work; and having spent the mandatory thirty-five years of meritorious service to his fatherland, and now appreciated with the gift of a brand new car to ease his movement in retirement but somehow ends him up in self-destructive actions caused by his unbridled joy from excessive intake of alcohol. The poem which begins on a celebratory tone suddenly ends up in sad anti-climactic tone as a result of destined self-destruction. Here drunkenness becomes his tragic flaw. The Subject matter or topic under discussion here becomes that cause and effect of ‘over indulgence’ or say, caution on the consequences of human excesses in general with alcoholism in focus. Subject Matter is solely the concern of a writer as it is the substance of his story –here, it becomes this poet’s story on the dangers/risks of alcoholism just to warn us, or other would-be drunkards. He is simply advocating self-control/restraint. Have it in mind that the poet didn’t ask us not to drink at all but suggested the trait of ‘moderation should be our watchword both in drinking as well in other spheres of our lives.
Here, the irony of life is this retiree-driver who out of his unbridled joy/spree in celebrating his retirement ends up killing himself at the time when he should have had every cause to celebrate, relax, enjoy his pension and his gift car but then, these supposed sources of joy worked against him by ‘zooming’ him to his untimely death viz.:
i. Instead of retirement, he retired his life;
ii. Instead of celebrating, we mourn him;
iii. Instead of ease of movement with the gift car, the car sends him to death;
iv. Instead of resting his worries, he got laid to rest;
v. Instead of home-coming, he returns to heaven.
In this sense, incongruities/contradictions) of what was expected and that which actually happened makes the poem a good example of a Situational irony that he was able to manage his duties but couldn’t manage one free day of his retirement to his benefit.
Answered by Lawson Iwuchukwu. Google lawson iwuchukwu. Also get a copy of “SURE-SUCCESS: A Literary Handbook on Poems for 2021-2025 WAEC recommended Poems".
Attitude of the government driver
ReplyDeletepls where is the backround of poet
ReplyDeleteCall the poet on +2348039398855
DeleteThis. One Dieter wassce cool chop ooo
ReplyDeleteA very nice novel
ReplyDeleteThe theme of moderation on A Government Driver in his Retirement
ReplyDeleteDISCRETION stands for Freedom of choice, or implied maturity in your actions with regard to Tact and Moderation. While INDISCRETION means Carelessness, Thoughtlessness / Unthinkingness, or lack of Caution. In both senses, they cannot be taken as Themes but aspects of the Subject Matter in the context of this poem "A Government Driver on His Retirement". It is evident that the Driver wasn't careless per'se because he completed his 35 years with caution/clear-eye, and yet refused to rein in his bad habit in the guise of Drunkenness. The poem teaches MODERATION, SELF-DISCIPLINE against the consequences of EXCESSES. So INDISCRETION in this context is only suggested but not part of its themes.
DeleteThank you.
Please get a copy of 'SURE SUCCESS': a Literary Handbook on WAEC recommended 12 poems for the 2021-2025 examinations. You will be pleased you did.
Pls what is the central theme of the poem a government worker on his retirements
ReplyDeletePls how does the poet highlight the tragedy of the ordinary worker in the Nigerian society
ReplyDeleteDiscuss the prom as a narrative peom
ReplyDeleteConsequences of intempererance
ReplyDeleteConsequences of intempererance
ReplyDeleteThis is a great site,God bless you
ReplyDeleteExplain how the attitude of the government driver is a disappoinment to the entire Nation
ReplyDeletePls can someone explain to me the change of mood in the poem
ReplyDeletePlease can someone explain to what extent you agree that the poem is a caution on jubilant celebration.
ReplyDeletePlease I need a comprehensive reply
ReplyDeleteSimply get a copy of SURE SUCCESS by lawson Iwuchkwu. google lawson iwuchukwu to get more analysis.
DeletePlease can someone explain to what extent you agree that the poem is a caution on jubilant celebration?
DeleteDear Reader, your insistence on having a comprehensive answer to this your question seems to me you want the entire analysis predigested for you. The truth is questions on this poem (like others) could spring a 1000 questions. The idea of you studying what has been analyzed is for you to employ your understanding gleaned from the worked poem(s). To answer you pointblank, CAUTION, yes is just a sub-theme. The entire idea or message of the author is SELF-RESTRAINT, SELF-DISCIPLINE, because excesses or unbridled joy/jubilation (call it orgy) could lead to self-destruction. This is what played out in this poem.
Here, the twist of fate or situation irony is he didn’t care anymore about the consequences of his unrestrained jubilation. He couldn’t contain his joy anymore like he did while working. That’s, he drew caution to the winds with reckless abandon. That degree or the extent you want to know is he lost his sense of discipline, thus his decision to celebrate his freedom from civil servitude, enjoy the goodness of the gift car, and have a total rest at home in retirement fell flat as everything turned his tragic end. Here, the irony of life is this retiree-driver who out of his unbridled joy in celebrating his retirement ends up killing himself at the time when he should have had every cause to celebrate, relax, enjoy his pension and his gift car but then, these supposed sources of joy worked against him by ‘zooming’ him to his untimely death viz.:
i. Instead of retirement, he retired his life;
ii. Instead of celebrating, we mourn him;
iii. Instead of ease of movement with the gift car, the car sends him to death;
iv. Instead of resting his worries, he got laid to rest;
v. Instead of home-coming, he returns to heaven.
In this sense, the heavy dose of incongruities (contradictions) of what was expected and that which actually happened makes the poem a good example of a Situational irony that he was able to manage his duties but couldn’t manage one free day of his retirement to his benefit.
Please Google Lawson Iwuchukwu on ‘Quora.com.’ You will equally see my analysis of this poem at ‘community.giftedminds.com.’ All sourced at “SURE SUCCESS: a Handbook on Poems 2021-2025 by Lawson Iwuchukwu. Thank you.
I'm grateful for this, it's really helpful.Thank so much.
DeletePlease discuss this as narrative poem
ReplyDeleteMr Lawson Iwuchukwu's responses have been greatly helpful and much appreciated. Thank you, sir.
ReplyDelete