Desert Rivers Analysis: by Lade Wosornu
Issues in the poem
This poem points out that there are a lot of life activities which go unnoticed as we go through
the ups and downs of our daily lives. This poem seeks to encourage the reader to find hope and
courage even in the most hopeless situation. We will go into some details in the poem but first
let’s go through this amazing poem.
Table of Contents
* Issues in the poem
* Desert Rivers
* Some themes in the poem
* Literary devices in the poem
* Form and Structure
* Some questions and answers on the poem
Desert Rivers
by Lade Wosornu
Deserts too have their rivers
Entombed from birth in earth
Waters mightier than Voltas
Lie hid from glare of sun
And winds that dry
Roofed not by sky
But rocks that do not always hold
These run their unwitnessed course
To their unwitnessed end. Without a sound
They gush into bowels of seas
Far, far away from unaided human eyes.
If you cannot see our tears
It does not mean we do not cry.
Some themes in the poem
1. There are values in people we sometimes count as valueless.
This means irrespective of one’s educational background, position or current situation, they
cannot be counted as useless.
2. People have hidden talents. The fact that these talents are not seen does not mean they do
not exist.
Line 12 and 13 clearly explain a this fact. The line reads, ” if you do not see our tears, it does not
mean we do not cry.”
3. Poverty can hide/limit one’s potentials and abilities.
Eg line 1 and 2 quotes, ” Deserts too have their rivers Entombed from birth in earth.
“Entombed” here means covered/buried Therefore a person’s abilities can be covered right from
birth and may even continue throughout the entire life of that individual.
4. Lack of support and motivation may kill/ hide one’s talents.
Sometimes we all need motivation, support and cheers from our families and loved one’s to help
us reach our goals.
The “rocks” in line 7 of the poem relates to the people mentioned.
5. People may be hurting in the large society that we live in, but they may be suffering silently.
Literary devices in the poem
Oxymoron
1.”Desert Rivers” :These are two contradicting words that are closely held together.
Symbolism
[Link] : Desert represents represents individuals assumed to have nothing good in them.
2. Rivers : Rivers symbolises one’s talents and potentials.
3. Rocks : Rocks represent people around us like our families, friends and the society.
4. Sun : The Sun symbolises witnesses, viewers or the society.
5. Sky : It symbolises nature
Rhymes
1.”Entombed from birth in earth” : Birth and earth have the same internal rhyme.
2. ”Dry and Sky” : Lines 5 and 6 have two last words as dry and sky which have the same tail end
sounds as /ai/
Metaphor
1. “Bowels of seas” (Line 10). The sea has no bowels or belly. Bowels have been used
metaphorically as the middle of the sea.
Repetition
1. Far , far away from unaided human eyes: ”Far” has been repeated twice on the same line
Alliteration
1. Far, far away from unaided human eyes: the two repeated words far and far have the same /f/
consonant sound in the beginning.
Simile
1. Waters mightier than Voltas (line 3) : There is a direct comparison between waters and rivers
with the connecting word “than”
Form and Structure
Desert rivers is a one stanza poem with 13 lines which does not rhyme. We can therefore
conclude it’s a “free verse.”
Some Questions and Answers on the Poem
1. What does the reference to the “Voltas” convey?
Ans: It Convey’s the setting of the poem
Note: Volta is a large river in Ghana
2. Complete this line : “if you do not see our tears”…………
Ans: it does not mean we do not cry
3. Identify any three literary devices used in the poem.
Ans: Metaphor, Simile, Repetition
4. What happens far, far away from unaided human eyes?
Ans: The gushing of rivers into bowels of seas.
5. What literary device is found in “waters mightier than Voltas”?
Ans: Simile
6. How many lines are in the poem?
Ans: 13 lines
7. What can you say about, “these run their unwitnessed course to their unwitnessed end”
Ans: People exhibit unseen talents
8. How does the poet describe the underground water?
Ans: They move with urgency without a sound.
9. Find two places you can find rhymes
Ans: Line 2 and 3 (Dry and sky)
Ans: Line 2 ( birth and earth)
10. Name one issue raised by the poem.
Ans: Sometimes people tend to focus on the outward appearances instead of inner qualities of
people.
Desert Rivers by Lade Wosornu
Table of Contents
* Issues in the poem
* Desert Rivers
* Some themes in the poem
* Literary devices in the poem
* Form and Structure
* Some questions and answers on the poem
Some themes in the poem
1. There are values in people we sometimes count as valueless.
This means irrespective of one’s educational background, position or current situation, they
cannot be counted as useless.
2. People have hidden talents. The fact that these talents are not seen does not mean they do
not exist.
Line 12 and 13 clearly explain a this fact. The line reads, ” if you do not see our tears, it does not
mean we do not cry.”
3. Poverty can hide/limit one’s potentials and abilities.
Eg line 1 and 2 quotes, ” Deserts too have their rivers Entombed from birth in earth.
“Entombed” here means covered/buried Therefore a person’s abilities can be covered right from
birth and may even continue throughout the entire life of that individual.
4. Lack of support and motivation may kill/ hide one’s talents.
Sometimes we all need motivation, support and cheers from our families and loved one’s to help
us reach our goals. The “rocks” in line 7 of the poem relates to the people mentioned.
5. People may be hurting in the large society that we live in, but they may be suffering silently.
Literary devices in the poem: Desert Rivers Analysis
Oxymoron
”Desert Rivers” :These are two contradicting words that are closely held together.
Symbolism
Desert : Desert represents represents individuals assumed to have nothing good in them.
Rivers : Rivers symbolises one’s talents and potentials.
Rocks : Rocks represent people around us like our families, friends and the society.
Sun : The Sun symbolises witnesses, viewers or the society.
Sky : It symbolises nature
Rhymes
”Entombed from birth in earth” : Birth and earth have the same internal rhyme.
”Dry and Sky” : Lines 5 and 6 have two last words as dry and sky which have the same tail end
sounds as /ai/
Metaphor
“Bowels of seas” (Line 10). The sea has no bowels or belly. Bowels have been used metaphorically
as the middle of the sea.
Repetition
Far , far away from unaided human eyes: ”Far” has been repeated twice on the same line
Alliteration
1. Far, far away from unaided human eyes: the two repeated words far and far have the same /f/
consonant sound in the beginning.
Simile
1. Waters mightier than Voltas (line 3) : There is a direct comparison between waters and rivers
with the connecting word “than”
Form and Structure
Desert rivers is a one stanza poem with 13 lines which does not rhyme. We can therefore
conclude it’s a “free verse.”
Some Questions and Answers on the Poem
1. What does the reference to the “Voltas” convey? Ans: It Convey’s the setting of the poem
2. Complete this line : “if you do not see our tears” Ans: it does not mean we do not cry
3. Identify any three literary devices used in the poem. Ans: Metaphor, Simile, Repetition
4. What happens far, far away from unaided human eyes? Ans: The gushing of rivers into bowels
of seas.
5. What literary device is found in “waters mightier than Voltas”? Ans: Simile
6. How many lines are in the poem? Ans: 13 lines
7. What can you say about, “these run their unwitnessed course to their unwitnessed end” Ans:
People exhibit unseen talents
8. How does the poet describe the underground water? Ans: They move with urgency without a
sound.
9. Find two places you can find rhymes Ans: Line 2 and 3 (Dry and sky) Ans: Line 2 ( birth and
earth)
10. Name one issue raised by the poem. Ans: Sometimes people tend to focus on the outward
appearances instead of inner qualities of people.