Poem by Barolong Seboni

About the Poet

• Barolong Seboni was born in Botswana in 1957.
• Lived and studied in America and England.
• Work includes poetry collections, newspaper articles, and radio scripts.
• Teaches at university level, contributing significantly to literature and community development.

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Overview of the Poem

• Free Verse poem exploring verbal communication and the impact of hurtful words.
• The first four stanzas depict negative words and their consequences.
• The final two stanzas offer a solution: choosing gentle and positive words instead.

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Structure and Form

• Written in free verse (no fixed rhyme or rhythm).
• Stanzas 1–4 focus on the damage caused by harsh words.
• Stanzas 5–6 emphasise healing and constructive communication.

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Analysis of Key Lines

Lines 1–4

• The use of collective pronouns ("we", "us") includes everyone, stressing shared responsibility.
• "Jaggered words" (intentional spelling) compared to "pieces of shattered glass":
  • Imagery of sharpness and pain.
  • Highlights how words can wound deeply.

Lines 5–7

• The metaphor "acidic words of sarcasm" suggests bitterness and emotional corrosion.
• Negative words "corrode" and "poison" relationships.

Lines 8–15

• Harsh words are described as "cold," "icy," and "deadly weapons".
• They "destroy and kill" (metaphorically) by creating distance and hurt.

Lines 16–27

• A call for positive language: "let us search in our speech for words that feed, nourish, and grow a new world".
• Emphasises hope, unity, and transformation.
• Suggests silence or a smile can be more powerful than speaking harmful words.

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Themes

Power of Words

• Words can heal or harm, build or break relationships.
• Emphasises responsibility in communication.

Love vs. Hate

• Contrasts destructive language with loving, supportive words.
• Highlights choice in how we speak.

Transformation & Unity

• Final stanzas encourage a shift from negativity to positivity.
• Calls for collective effort to create a better world through language.

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Diction and Figurative Language

• Metaphor: "acidic words" and "poisonous words" show toxic effects of hurtful speech.
• Simile: "sharp like pieces of shattered glass" underlines painful impact.
• Personification: Negative words are portrayed as "deadly weapons" capable of destruction.
• Alliteration: "woolly words" (line 20) emphasises waiting and uncertainty.

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Tone and Mood

• Frustrated/Upset: Early lines reveal the speaker's distress at words that "dig a trench" and cause emotional wounds.
• Persuasive/Hopeful: Later lines urge readers to improve communication and speak with kindness or remain silent.

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Exam Tips

• Focus on how Seboni uses imagery (e.g. shattered glass, acidic words) to illustrate emotional harm.
• Discuss the contrast between destructive and constructive language.
• Comment on tone changes: from frustration to a hopeful plea for positive speech.
• Highlight the role of free verse in expressing the raw emotion of the speaker.