Resource 3: Praise poems and stories

 Teacher resource for planning or adapting to use with pupils

A Yoruba poem in praise of the python

Some praise poetry praises animals or objects rather than people. Here is a poem from the Yoruba people. Explanation of some of the language is provided after the poem.

Python

Swaggering prince [Line 1]

Giant among snakes.

They say python has no house.

I heard it a long time ago

And I laughed and laughed and laughed.

For who owns the ground under the lemon grass? [Line 6]

Who owns the ground under the elephant grass?

Who owns the swamp – father of rivers?

Who owns the stagnant pool – father of waters?

Because they never walk hand in hand [Line 10]

People say that snakes walk only singly.

But just imagine

Suppose the viper walks in front

The green mamba follows

And the python creeps rumbling behind – [Line 15]

Who will be brave enough

To wait for them?

Notes

To walk with a swagger is to walk proudly – thinking you are the best, showing off. In Line 1, the poem describes the python as a swaggering prince.

The questions in Lines 6 to 9 suggest that the python has many houses – both on the ground and in water.

In verse two, the poem suggests that other animals and people would be too frightened to walk next to the snakes – that is why snakes ‘walk’ singly (by themselves).

Taken from:Python taken from English Matters, Grade 7 Anthology, compiled by Lloyd, G. & Montgomery, K.