3 Main Poetic Devices in Piano and Drums by Gabriel Okara

3 MAIN POETIC DEVICES IN PIANO AND DRUMS BY GABRIEL OKARA
This Gabriel Okara's poem took the reader back to his childhood with vivid local memories but at the
later part of the poem introduced the foreign piano with technical musical terms to express his civilized
lifestyle. The poem is an example of a free verse.
Speaking of the poet's background, Gabriel Okara is a Nigerian born 1921. He started work as a
bookbinder before writing for broadcasting. Okara later joined the civil service as an Information Officer.
Below are three (3) poetic devices from the poem "Piano And Drums"
(1) IMAGERY:
This poetic device played a big role in
the poem "Piano And Drums" by Gabriel Okara. The use of imageries assisted in shedding more light on
both the background of the poet and his civilized present with the use of imageries like "jungle drums
telegraphing" in line 2, "the leopard snarling" in line 7, "warmth of hurrying feet and groping hearts" in
line 15, "tear-furrowed concerto" in line 19, "mystic rhythm" in line 28.
There are some imageries in the poem that typified the title of the poem "Piano And Drums" in terms of
the fact that they created musical effects as the jungle drums telegraphing mystic rhythm while wailing
piano solo speaking of complex ways.
(2) SYMBOLISM:
There is the theme of clash of cultures (the European and the African) where the European culture
depicts the poet's present state of civilization while the African culture depicts the poet's past rural
background. Gabriel Okara symbolized his simple African cultural background with drums and his
complex civilized European lifestyle with piano; maybe to reveal that he didn't learn to live through his
background the same way one doesn't really learn how to beat drums. He learned to be civilized which
was as complex as learning to play piano.
(3) PERSONIFICATION:
Personification is one of the poetic devices commonly found in poems because poets even
unconsciously create it in their poems. embodiment or exemplification. Personification is a figure of
speech in which an inanimate object or an abstraction is given human qualities.
Few personifications are "wailing piano" in line which the poet claimed was speaking of "complex ways"
(17-18) and the "jungle drums" which the poet revealed was "speaking of primal youth and the
beginning" (line 4-5
) Symbolism which is the representation of a concept through symbols or underlying meanings of

objects or qualities, appears in the poem from the title down to the context. “Drums” symbolizes
Okara’s past uncivilized ways of life while “Piano” symbolizes the poet’s present and future existence in
a westernized world. His symbolisms are further broadened with related musical dictions.
#2) There are instances of personifications in the poem where inanimates are given human attributes. In
line 15 (groping heart/ in green leaves) actually, line 15 can also be named a synedoche. In line 4-5
“speaking of/ primalyouth and the beginning” which gives human quality to the drums. In line 17-18, the
poet also personified the piano “piano/ solo speaking of complex ways”
#3) Alliterations in the poem are “the panther ready to pounce” in line 6, “leopard snarling about to
leap” in line 7, “turn torrent” in line 9, “solo speaking” in line 18.
In brief, few other poetic devices are Simile in line 4 “like bleeding flesh” Assonance in line 3 “mystic
rhythm” Imageries, etc.
Poetic Devices Employed In Gabriel Okara’s Piano And Drums #1) Symbolism which is the
representation of a concept through symbols or underlying meanings of objects or qualities, appears in
the poem from the title down to the context. “Drums” symbolizes Okara’s past uncivilized ways of life
while “Piano” symbolizes the poet’s present and future existence in a westernized world. His
symbolisms are further broadened with related musical dictions. #2) There are instances of
personifications in the poem where inanimates are given human attributes. In line 15 (groping heart/ in
green leaves) actually, line 15 can also be named a synedoche. In line 4-5 “speaking of/ primalyouth and
the beginning” which gives human quality to the drums. In line 17-18, the poet also personified the
piano “piano/ solo speaking of complex ways” #3) Alliterations in the poem are “the panther ready to
pounce” in line 6, “leopard snarling about to leap” in line 7, “turn torrent” in line 9, “solo speaking” in
line 18. In brief, few other poetic devices are Simile in line 4 “like bleeding flesh” Assonance in line 3
“mystic rhythm” Imageries, etc http://www.osunloaded.com/2017/02/poetic-devices-employed-in-
gabriel.html

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3 MAIN POETIC DEVICES IN PIANO AND DRUMS BY GABRIEL OKARA

This poetic device played a big role in

) Symbolism which is the representation of a concept through symbols or underlying meanings of

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