A_Young_Mans_Thoughts_Before_June_16

A YOUNG MAN’S THOUGHTS BEFORE JUNE THE 16TH FHAZEL JOHENNESSE THE TITLE IS IN REFERENCE TO THE UPRISING OF SOWETO Tomorrow I travel on a road That winds to the top of the hill THE ABOVE STANZA MAKES A REFERENCE TO THE FREEDOM THEY WILL ENCOUNTER I take with me only the sweet Memories of my youth HIS YOUTH WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM IN REFERENCE THAT HE DIED My heart aches for my mother (IMAGERY) For Friday nights with friends Around a table with the broad belch of beer (ALLITERATION) I ask only for a sad song Sung by a woman with downturned eyes And strummed by and old man with (STRUMMED – MEANING A GUITAR A broken brow (FIGURATIVE MEANING – BROKEN SPIRIT) O sing my sad song sing for me (REGARDING A FUNERAL) SING MY SAD SONG – FIGURATIVE MEANING STATING TELL ALL ABOUT THIS EVENT DON’T LET IT GO IN VAIN. For my sunset is drenched with red (IMAGERY) – DEATH STAINED WITH BLOOD THERE IS NO RHYME SCHEME IN THIS POEM. The above poem evokes sadness, and brings about anger as to what the youth had to go through in order to get freedom. QUESTION 2 JUNE 16 a day that is in the memory of every person whether you were alive at that time or got to know about it through reading books or having conversations with people who were aware of this event. We honour those children and youth that fought for the freedom of language we are allowed to enjoy today. The above poem gives a good description of what the feelings of the youth were before and after the June 16th riots. I did like the poem in regards to the description of the events that took place. The poet should have brought about the aspect of after this sad event how the youth engulfed their freedom and the joys that it brought about to all. The poet uses the Figurative language, Imagery as well as alliteration; it works very well as he gets his message across in a good manner. The poet uses words such as my heart aches for my mother, you feel the pain of wanting to be with his mother instead on being dead. Takes on sweet memories of his Youth that shows they were kids trying to fight for a worthwhile course. O sing my sad song meaning tell them about me what we fought for. My Sunset Drenched in Red meaning his Sunset was his death and it was stained with blood so don’t let what we fought for go in vain, let everyone know. The poem makes you feel sad and angry because our youth had to fight till death to get what they wanted, why there wasn’t a choice why did everything we got today had to be a battle and so many lives had to be lost in order for us to get what we have today. The poem makes you appreciate what we have today and not take or freedom for granted.