Themes in “Hearty Garlands” by S.O.H. Afriyie-Vidza
The poem, Hearty Garlands, revolves around interesting themes like aging and wisdom, celebration, continuation of purpose in old age, legacy as life’s purpose, etc. Here are the themes in “Hearty Garlands” discussed with references to the poem.
Themes in “Hearty Garlands” by S.O.H. Afriyie-Vidza
1. Aging and Wisdom
One of the central themes captured in “Hearty Garlands” is aging and wisdom. This is evident in the first three stanzas.
Lines 1 and 2 open the poem with a statement that points to the recipient as having lived long and achieved much.
Line 14 states the age of the recipient as eighty-five, marking it as a significant milestone worth celebrating.
Line 14: “Age eighty-five is life’s smiley, cloudless dawn“
Line 15: “It is the gainful twilight of fulfilled dreams“
Old age is spoken of in metaphors like “smiley, cloudless dawn” and “gainful twilight of fulfilled dreams”, portraying it as a time of contentment, to bask in fulfillment, peace, and harvest of life’s beautiful rewards from rich experiences.
The writer states that at the age celebrated for the mentor, life “blooms into stark beauty and failures give no trite, crippling regret” (Lines 4 and 5). Aging is therefore not seen as a decline but a blooming of something beautiful, not a time to regret but to reflect and be proud of the life you have lived – to “beat your mahogany chest in pride” (line 24). The celebrant is presented as one who has conquered life’s challenges and made some positive impacts on the younger generation.
2. Celebration
The poem, Hearty Garlands, is written in celebration of a man who just turned eighty-five. The poem speaks of his accomplishments, the beauty of his old age, the expectation for him to rest and take pride in the life he has lived, etc. The expression of admiration for the celebrant echoes throughout the poem – “stark beauty” (line 4), “no trite, crippling regrets” (line 5), “wondrous mentor” (line 11), “mahogany chest (line 24), and “iroko agama” (line 25), capture this.
It is obvious that the poem’s primary aim is to praise the life of the celebrant, possibly presented in a public setting to acknowledge the man’s contributions, respect his age, and pledge to hold dear the virtues he had passed on to the younger generation and remember them long after this occasion. Expressions like “Receive copious blessings today” (line 12), “gainful twilight of fulfilled dreams” (line 15), “Watch us strive and beat your mahogany chest in pride” (line 24), and “clinch yonder untamed gain” (line 26), display these.
3. Mentorship and its impact
The impact of a mentor on mentees is one of the most evident themes in the poem. The person celebrated in this poem is described as a “wondrous mentor of rouges like us,” (line 11). This shows that he had influenced the writer and others positively, teaching and guiding them as a caring and dutiful mentor that they would remember for a long time. The mentees identified as “rogues” may have been wayward, difficult, or a group of outcasts in the community, but found a place with their mentor, something they possibly did not have with others or expect to have.
The poem captures the respect and expectations of the mentees for the mentor. Their hope that their mentor enjoys old age and watches them thrive (lines 24 -25) shows the longing of every mentor, fulfilled in his old age.
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4. The peaceful contentment that comes with fulfilled desires
The poem points at contentment in line with spent years – “Hope now nods in contented concert with spent desires” (Line 16). The hope and contentment at this age are said to neither nag nor rave nor rant at you. Rather, it is “restful”. –
“Now restful Hope neither nags nor raves nor rants
At you“
(Lines 17-18)
This declaration being spoken of at a certain time in a man’s life shows achievements of ambitions and a sense of fulfillment. Therefore, the celebrant in this poem at his age has largely achieved his desires and the fulfillment brings him inner peace and satisfaction. He no longer battles the pressure of unfulfilled desires. At the age of eighty-five, life has become a “gainful twilight of fulfilled dreams” (line 15).
5. Interplay of Envy and Felicitation
The poem captures the reality of human emotions at play when success is achieved and celebrated. Amidst the congratulatory messages and gestures, envy often is found in the heart of some people. The speaker juxtaposed envy and felicitation to express this reality.
“Yet. On occasion, shamed, horrid green-eyed
Envy fights benign Felicitation exclusively couched“
(Lines 6-7)
Envy here is acknowledged as a natural emotional response, however, it yields to positive admiration which is sincere and desires to celebrate the achievement of others.
6. A well-lived life and the legacy left behind.
The subject of legacy is repeatedly portrayed in the poem by reference to the gift of garlands, and the recipient’s influence on the lives of others. The poem shows that what he had done for others would outlive him and the mentees are proud to give laudable appreciation for the legacy.
Also, the lines show that the celebrant is admired and expected to take pride in his personal accomplishments for a life well lived. Line 25: “You must shake your own hands like iroko agama”, points to this.
The accomplishments of the individual celebrated by this poem are viewed as worthy of accolades, respect, and admiration. The use of “solo musical bravo” (Line 30) and “trumpet sound” (Line 29) reveal that the achievements would be sung aloud, celebrated, and remembered.
7. Purpose of life and continuation of purpose in old age.
The writer notes that at old age, “Hope now nods in contented concert with spent desires” (Line 16). This speaks of contentment and hints at hope for the future.
Aging is portrayed as a part of the process of life and as such, there are still things to hope for and work towards, better achievements waiting ahead. Lines 26-27 buttress this point –
“March on, old boy, do, and clinch yonder untamed gain
For yon lies mop-up work and higher tasks still“
(Lines 26-27)
The poem therefore states that old age is not a time of inactivity, a common notion. Rather, it emphasizes that there is still time to grow, repair errors made, or simply chart new courses.
Stanza 6 (Lines 26-30)
“March on, old boy, do, and clinch yonder untamed gain
For yon lies mop-up work and higher tasks still
By you
To be accomplished; then must you hear trumpet sound
That to a guru must blow solo musical bravo“
Final Thoughts
Themes in “Hearty Garlands” by S.O.H. Afriyie-Vidza show aspects of African culture that celebrates aging and pays respect to the elderly. It identifies the honour given to mentors and the desires of the younger generation to uphold the values passed down to them and the elders take pride in them.
Did you identify other themes in “Hearty Garlands” by S.O.H. Afriyie-Vidza? Share in the comment section.
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