Basic 5 · Ghanaian Language · Poem
Exploring a Poem of Six to Seven Lines
In this topic you will read, recite and discuss a poem of six to seven lines, focusing on its meaning, rhyme and lessons.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Read a poem of six to seven lines with expression
- Identify features of the poem
- Explain the poem's meaning and lesson
What you already know
- Exploring poems (Basic 4)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Oral Language
- Sub-strand
- Poem
- Indicator
- B5.1.3.1.1 – 2 Explore a poem of about six to seven lines correctly
Introduction
Poems use few words to say a lot. In Ghanaian languages, poems are recited at festivals, funerals and durbars. Poets use rhythm, repetition and images to touch our hearts.
1. A Seven-Line Poem (English Example)
"Our River"
Our river runs from the hills so green,
The cleanest water I have ever seen,
It feeds our farms and quenches thirst,
Of all our gifts, it is the first.
But if we fill it with mud and waste,
Our children will never know its taste.
So guard our river, keep it clean.
2. Features of a Poem
| Feature | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| line | one row of words | "It feeds our farms and quenches thirst" |
| stanza | a group of lines | the whole poem is one stanza of seven lines |
| rhyme | words ending with the same sound | green / seen; thirst / first; waste / taste |
| imagery | words that create pictures | "hills so green" |
| theme | the main idea | protecting rivers |
| tone | the feeling | loving and warning |
3. Meaning and Lesson
The poet describes the river as a precious gift that feeds farms and gives drinking water. In lines 5 and 6, the poet warns that if people pollute it with mud (from galamsey) and waste, future generations will not enjoy it. The last line gives the lesson: we must protect our river and keep it clean.
4. Reciting with Expression
- Read the poem silently first to understand it.
- Stand straight and look at your audience.
- Speak clearly and loudly enough for all to hear.
- Pause at the end of each line and at commas.
- Use your voice to show feeling: gentle for the beauty of the river, serious for the warning.
- Use gestures, for example pointing to the hills.
5. Practise in Your Ghanaian Language
Your teacher will give you a poem of six or seven lines in your Ghanaian language. Read it, find the rhyming or repeated words, state its theme and recite it with expression.
New words
- poem
- A piece of writing arranged in lines with rhythm.
- stanza
- A group of lines in a poem.
- rhyme
- Words with the same ending sound.
- imagery
- Words that create pictures in the mind.
- theme
- The main idea of a poem.
- recite
- To say a poem aloud from memory.
Summary
- A poem has lines, stanzas, rhyme, imagery and a theme.
- "Our River" teaches us to keep rivers clean.
- Recite with clear speech, pauses and feeling.
- Practise poems in your Ghanaian language.
Class activity: Poetry Recital
- Learn a seven-line poem in your Ghanaian language.
- Recite it to the class with expression and gestures.
- Explain its theme and lesson.
You need: Locally made song or poem cards, Local drum, Gourd shaker
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A group of lines in a poem is a…
- A. stanza
- B. chapter
- C. paragraph
- D. title
Show answer
Answer: stanzaPoems are made of stanzas.2. Which pair of words rhyme?
- A. green, seen
- B. river, hills
- C. farm, water
- D. mud, clean
Show answer
Answer: green, seenSame ending sound.3. What is the theme of "Our River"?
- A. protecting rivers
- B. playing football
- C. going to market
- D. a birthday
Show answer
Answer: protecting riversThe main idea.4. Imagery creates pictures in the mind.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: Truee.g. "hills so green".5. You should recite a poem very fast without pausing.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalsePause at lines and commas.6. To say a poem aloud from memory is to ______ it.
Show answer
Answer: reciteRecitation.7. Give two features of a poem with examples from "Our River".
Show answer
Answer: Rhyme (green/seen) and imagery ("hills so green").Any two.8. What warning does the poet give in lines 5 and 6?
Show answer
Answer: If people pollute the river with mud and waste, future children will not enjoy its water.Environmental message.
Homework
- Write a six-line poem in your Ghanaian language about something in nature.