A Maverick Perspective

By Thapelo Molosiwa

The evocative ensemble of poems contained in this book taps into one’s inner creative nerve without being prescriptive in how to perceive things, but invoke creativeness pertaining to imagination, thinking, feeling and ultimately acuity.

The anthology depicts a fusion of deep seated and light-hearted emotions. Because of their non-conforming and paradoxical stance, they possess a mixture of coaxing appeal and exigent robustness to force one, in a gentle way, to start seeing things from a very atypical point of view.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thapelo Molosiwa
• Release date: Jan 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005944490

Thapelo Molosiwa

Thapelo David Makhonofane Molosiwa was born on the 27th May 1971 in Lomanyaneng village, which is in Mahikeng. This is his third book. He has released a Setswana short-stories book titled ‘NKO GA E DUPE’ in 1997. He then co-authored a book titled ‘MATLHOGELA’ with other three authors, which is an anthology of Setswana poems and it was released in 2015. He once assisted Oxford University Press to edit some of their books before they go for publishing. This book, ‘A MAVERICK PERSPECTIVE’, is a collection of English poems.

Book preview

A. Poetry Devices

1. ALLITERATION

Alliteration involves repetition of the same consonant sounds in the same line or sentence. In most instances, these are the consonants in beginning of the word.

For instance, in the following sentence: "Long legged lazy lady Lizzy."

The same consonant -l- is repeated at the beginning of each word in the sentence.

2. ASSONANCE

Assonance takes place when two or more words, in the same line or sentence repeat the same vowel sound, but start with different consonant sounds.

For instance, in the following sentence: "Deeply rooted roots is a boon too great too soon."

The same vowel sound of the short vowels -oo- repeats itself in almost all the words.

3. CACOPHONY

Cacophony points to a situation in which there is a mixture of harsh and clashing sounds. In literature, however, the term refers to the use of words with sharp, harsh, hissing, and unmelodious sounds – primarily those of consonants – to achieve desired results. For instance, in the sentence: "I detest war because cause of war is always trivial."

The phrase because cause is cacophonic as because is followed by the word cause, which has a similar sound, but different meaning. Generally, it sounds unpleasant as the same sound is repeated in two different words.

4. CATHARSIS

A Catharsis is an emotional discharge through which one can achieve a state of moral or spiritual restoration, or achieve a state of liberation from anxiety and stress. Catharsis is a Greek word meaning cleansing.  In literature, it is used for the cleansing of emotions of the characters. It can also be any other radical change that leads to emotional rejuvenation of a person.

5. ELLIPSIS

Ellipsis is a literary device that is used in narratives to omit some parts of a sentence or event, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while acting or reading it out. It is usually written between the sentences as a series of three dots, like this:  …

Apart from being convenient, ellipses also help in advancing the story. Leaving out part of a sentence or an event by substituting it with ellipses is often done to either save time, or as a stylistic element.

6. HYPERBATON

Hyperbaton has been derived from a Greek word that means transposition, and refers to an inversion in the arrangement of common words. It can be defined as a rhetorical device in which the writers play with the normal positions of words, phrases, and clauses in order to create differently arranged sentences, which still suggest a similar meaning. That is Words are not arranged in their normal order to interrupt the natural flow of sentences and for emphasis and rhetorical effect.

7. HYPERBOLE

Hyperbole, derived from a Greek word meaning over-casting, is a figure of speech that involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. Therefore, a hyperbole is an unreal exaggeration to emphasize the real situation. It is important not to confuse hyperbole with simile and metaphor. It does make a comparison, like simile and metaphor. Rather, hyperbole has a humorous effect created by an overstatement.

For an example: It has been ages since I saw you.

8. MEIOSIS

Meiosis originated from the Greek word meioo, which means to diminish, or to make smaller. Meiosis can be defined as a witty understatement that belittles or dismisses something or somebody; particularly by making use of terms that give an impression that something is less important than it is or it should be.