By Elimu Assistant Team 
DUSKS OF DRINKS AND DRUGS – ENGLISH POETRY
Read the poem provided below and answer the questions that follow: (20mks)
Drinks and drugs drained our dreams,
Drinks and drugs drowned our dreams;
They drew dusks and dark nights,
Drinks and drugs spawned our nightmares;
We wailed and screamed in seas of terror
In sweat-drenched bodies, bobbed we out,
Like drugged fish out of muddy streams;
Gasping for breath-hearts pumping and panting.
Inaudibly mumbled incoherent words
Pulled back stubborn sleep to no avail,
She fled like a refugee fleeing a civil war.
Our bedmates asked: we answered not!
~ Boniface Wasira
QUESTIONS
- i) Who is the persona in the poem? (2 marks)
- ii) What is the poem talking about? (3 marks)
- iii) Comment on the use of any three aspects of style in the poem. (6 marks)
- iv) What the persona’s attitude towards drinks and drugs as brought out in the poem? (3 marks)
- v) In your own opinion, do you think the persona has regrets regarding drug use? Support your answer. (3 marks)
- vi) Explain the meaning of the following phrases as used in the poem. (3 marks)
- a) …bobbed we out
- b) Drinks and drugs spawned our nightmares
- c) Pulled back the stubborn sleep to no avail.
ANSWERS AND MARKING SCHEME
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