By Elimu Assistant Team 
Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow
From Song of Prisoners
Where is my gold pen?
I want to write letters
To my children
And send them money
I will not tell them
I am here,
I don’t want them
To know that I am
A Prisoner,
I want them to grow up
Without suffering,
I want to pass
Their examinations
And get jobs
And buy land,
Houses,
Cars……………..
I do not want my children
To get shocked
I do not want them
To feel sad and sorry
And cry for me,
I do not want them to know
That my hands and feet
Are tied with ropes
And I am sitting
On the naked thigh
Of the stone floor…………………..
There is and empty chair
In the cabinet room,
The occupant is on leave,
He is alone
Buried in soft cotton wool
Thought of hope
Filled with poisoned needles
Of hopelessness…………
Where is my writing pad?
I want to write
To my parents,
I want to send a fat cheque
To my old mother
And another fat cheque
To my old father
But how can I tell them
That I am shoeless,
That my feet are swollen,
Blistered and bleeding?
How can I tell
My mother that I am
Naked and bruised
All over?
(O kot P’Bitek)
English Poetry Questions
i. Who is the personer in the poem? (2mks) ……………………………………………………………………………………………
ii. What is the poem about (4mks) …………………………………………………………………………………
iii. Explain the persona’s attitude towards his family (2mks) ………………………………………………………………
iv. Identify an instance of repetition in the poem and comment on its effectiveness. (2mks) ………………………………………………………
v. Apart from repetition describe two other features of style in the poem. How effective are their uses? (4mks) ………………………………………………………
vi. Describe the mood of the poem in the second stanza (2mks) ……………………………………………………………………………………
vii. Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the poem. (3mks)
a) Fat cheque –
b) Blistered –
c) Cry for me –
POETRY MARKING SCHEME
NB: All answers must be illustrated
No mark for identification without illustration
i)
The persona is a prisoner. √1mk
I don’t want them
To know that I am
A prisoner √(any other relevant
Illustration (Total 2mks)
ii)
The poem is about a prisoner √ 1mk who wants to write to his/her family √1mk and assure them that all is well √1mk though he/she is suffering in his confinement in prison.√1mk 4mks
iii)
The persona’s attitude towards family – loving /sympathetic/ caring to/about them.√1mk
“I will not tell them
That I am in a prisoner”
He wants to send them money:”I want to send a fat cheque / to my mother.
He also wants them to grow without suffering.
1mk – Identification
1mk – Illustration 2mks
iv)
A number of phrases are repeated:
I want them / I do not want (any other relevant instances of repetition)√1mk
It is effective in that it brings out the persona’s desperation to hide his fate/ suffering
From his family and his desire for them to lead a good life.√1mk 2mks
v)
Other feature of style used in the poem include:
Rheotorical questions
‘Where is my god pen?’
‘Where is my writing pad?’
“How can I tell…….bruised all over?’√1mk
Effectiveness – The questions enable us to understand the feeling of hopelessness of the prisoner and his attempts to deal with it.√1mk 2mks
Personification – “…….naked thigh of the stone floor”
Effect: brings out the harsh /cruel conditions of prison life.
Elliptical marks(ellipses )………….”Homes, cars……….”
Effect – They indicate that the persona has a lot to communicate but he is incapacitated by the confined environment of prison.
Any 2 identifications 1mk each = 2mks
And illustrations 1mk each = 2mks
Total = 4mks
vi)
The mood in the second stanza expresses optimism and hope(optimistic/hopeful)
“I want them to grow without suffering……….. get good jobs , buy land/homes/cars.
Identification 1mk
Illustration 1mk
Total 2mks
vii)
Fat cheque – a lot of money. √1mk
Blistered – swollen / wounded/ injured.√1mk
Cry for me – sympathize / feel sorry for we/ emphasize/ feel for me.√1mk
