Analysis of Prayer in Africa
In an ascending tone the words resonated
Of prayer rendered for the congregation
As the prophet’s voice gonged the woofers
They repeated the words: die, die
Who is to die, for Satan has his time?
His eyes are fixed hard on what only hearts
Can see, shouting:
Pray, pray congregation pray
Coming from close behind, compelling songs
In symphony from modern Islam Sheikh;
Melodiously rendered to all-in-white set of people
Resounded by his assistant sonorously
They sang back, followed by-
“all evil ones… rise no more” perish, perish
Where are the evil ones, for there is judgment?
A day set for them to be in aljannah
They pray, the traditionalists pray
To what only hearts can see while dead-
Oracle that represents folk-tale elements of nature.
Rolling, squatting and leaping around
Casting spirits to oblivion yonder, yonder
What are the spirits’ conveyor, until end of age?
The shrine frontier surrounded in candles
Throws four cowries on sand, in order to see tomorrow
Still they pray, the sounds are synchronizing
With former’s hands pressed on their heads,
Those in white robes’ got pressed against them by wind,
And latter's knees touch the living sand-
Whilst, another set of highlife-rs
Close-by boast at beer parlor;
Others drinking palm wine and pepper soup.
Still they pray..
On and on they pray.
Scheme | XABCXXDE XXFFCXXA EXGXGXXX DXXX BGXEE |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 01010101100 111010010 101011010 10100111 1111110111 1111111101 1110 110101 1011010101 0100110011 11011011110 1110101 111101 11011111010 11010111110 011111101 11001001 111011111 10010111100110 101001001 1010101001010 1101001001111 0101010010 1110110101101 111011100 1111111 10111101111 010110101 10101111 1111110 1010110101 111 10111 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,331 |
Words | 235 |
Sentences | 7 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 8, 8, 4, 5 |
Lines Amount | 33 |
Letters per line (avg) | 32 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 209 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 44 |
About this poem
This poem came on me to check the notion some Africans have concerning prayer: They so much seems to trust in their religious leaders more than their Maker they're been led to pray to. Some of these spiritual leaders gazette religious programs to members' working hours reducing their productive time. This has led to proliferation of various religious centers: be it Christianity, Islam, or Traditionalist. Not opposing prayer nor any religion, but to watch as we pray!
Written on July 27, 2022
Submitted by Adetoys on November 17, 2022
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:10 min read
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"Prayer in Africa" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/145991/prayer-in-africa>.
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