PSALM By Wole Soyinka

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PSALM

the sceds have ripened fast my love

and the milk is straining at the pods

the ever-cager thought is chaste

at the ruin of your corn-stalk waist

swaddlings  of  my  gratitude

stir within your plenitude.

moist the quickening consciousness sealed in warm mis-shapenness

ivory  granaries  are  filled

a prize of pain will be fulfilled

bright  stream  from unbroken  springs threads of ever linking rings

sealed in earth your sanctuary yields  to  light;and  a  mystery

of pulses and the stranger life comes to harvest and release   the  germ  and  life  exegesis

inspiration  of your  genesis.

Analysis of the poem 

"Wole Soyinka's poem 'PSALM' reflects themes of love, growth, and the cycle of life. The poem begins with imagery of ripening seeds and milk straining at pods, symbolizing the fertility and abundance of nature. The speaker expresses love and admiration for their beloved, describing them as the embodiment of abundance and fertility.

The second stanza juxtaposes the purity of thought with the physical allure of the beloved's "corn-stalk waist," suggesting a tension between intellectual and physical desires. The speaker's gratitude is compared to swaddlings, implying a sense of comfort and protection found in their relationship.

The third stanza delves into the concept of consciousness and growth, with the "quickening consciousness" sealed in the warmth of intimacy. The imagery of "ivory granaries" being filled suggests the culmination of a fruitful endeavor, albeit one that may come with pain or sacrifice.

The fourth stanza evokes the image of an unbroken stream and ever-linking rings, symbolizing continuity and interconnectedness. The speaker sees the beloved as a sanctuary that yields to light and reveals mysteries of life and growth.

Finally, the poem concludes with a celebration of life's cycles, from germination to harvest, and the inspiration found in the genesis of new life. The poem suggests that love and growth are intertwined, and that through the cycles of nature and human experience, we find meaning and inspiration."