1
WHAT IS THE POEM ABOUT? Describes a
scene in an over loaded taxi carrying
paying passengers. They pay a fare to a
'cool' young man whore turns their
change and insists they pay their fairs as
The ride by Joyce Chigiya (1960-, Zimbabwe)
the fuel is very expensive and bought
1 A relay of notes in untidy piles illegally.
2 is played back to front
3 the partially displaced tout
4 bending his jean-clad butt
5 through an open window
6 holds on tight lest he be puked
TITLE: 'Theride' focusses on the experience of
7 by this bursting vehicle
8 as he relays back change travelling on a taxi but it also points to 'being
9 Please pay the fare, we buy fuel taken for a ride', or being ripped off by a
10 from the black market corrupt system that does nothing to protect
passengers from exploitation by those out to
do nothing but make a quick buck.
Examples of a black markets in South Africa FORM/ STRUCTURE OF THE POEM: it consists often lines and
has no patter nor RHYTHM or RHYME. This is a descriptive
South Africa has an extensive black market.
poem that comments on the life of the people of
Imitation branded clothing and goods,
Zimbabwe. It is a brief, vivid snapshot, but the words used
sunglasses and cosmetics come and illicit
often have unpleasant CONNOTATIONS and the poem is
cigarettes.
sharply critical. The language has the simplicity of
everyday speech and relies on multiple meanings of
words for effect.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 2
Line2: 'played back to front'.
Literally: means the money in notes FIGURE OF SPEECH
is passed from the passengers in
PERSONIFICATION: L6–the full,
the back to the tout in the front
cramped taxi is personified as
Figurative: it also suggests music
(notes) that is often played loudly a sickening stomach about
filling the taxi with sound from back to vomit. The poem is almost
to front. The ride by Joyce Chigiya (1960-, Zimbabwe) a METAPHOR for the political
situation that exists in
1 A relay of notes in untidy piles Zimbabwe. This is a very
2 is played back to front clever poem in that almost
3 the partially displaced tout every word the poet uses can
4 bending his jean-clad butt
be interpreted in multiple
5 through an open window
STYLISTIC DEVICES 6 holds on tight lest he be puked ways.
SUGGESTION: L1 'piles' –weak 7 by this bursting vehicle
currency/ 'notes' – music 8 as he relays back change
being played/ 'relay' money 9 Please pay the fare, we buy fuel
used as a baton in a relay race 10 from the black market
& taxi moving from stop to
stop/ L2 'played'–a game, like
Monopoly. IRONIC: L10 'black
market'–fuel is bought illegally
and cheap, that makes there
quest to pay ironic and
humorous.
The effect of run-on lines: The run-on lines capture
the chaotic nature of the taxi which lacks order
entirely.
@Juffrou_Ansie
WHAT IS THE POEM ABOUT? Describes a
scene in an over loaded taxi carrying
paying passengers. They pay a fare to a
'cool' young man whore turns their
change and insists they pay their fairs as
The ride by Joyce Chigiya (1960-, Zimbabwe)
the fuel is very expensive and bought
1 A relay of notes in untidy piles illegally.
2 is played back to front
3 the partially displaced tout
4 bending his jean-clad butt
5 through an open window
6 holds on tight lest he be puked
TITLE: 'Theride' focusses on the experience of
7 by this bursting vehicle
8 as he relays back change travelling on a taxi but it also points to 'being
9 Please pay the fare, we buy fuel taken for a ride', or being ripped off by a
10 from the black market corrupt system that does nothing to protect
passengers from exploitation by those out to
do nothing but make a quick buck.
Examples of a black markets in South Africa FORM/ STRUCTURE OF THE POEM: it consists often lines and
has no patter nor RHYTHM or RHYME. This is a descriptive
South Africa has an extensive black market.
poem that comments on the life of the people of
Imitation branded clothing and goods,
Zimbabwe. It is a brief, vivid snapshot, but the words used
sunglasses and cosmetics come and illicit
often have unpleasant CONNOTATIONS and the poem is
cigarettes.
sharply critical. The language has the simplicity of
everyday speech and relies on multiple meanings of
words for effect.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 2
Line2: 'played back to front'.
Literally: means the money in notes FIGURE OF SPEECH
is passed from the passengers in
PERSONIFICATION: L6–the full,
the back to the tout in the front
cramped taxi is personified as
Figurative: it also suggests music
(notes) that is often played loudly a sickening stomach about
filling the taxi with sound from back to vomit. The poem is almost
to front. The ride by Joyce Chigiya (1960-, Zimbabwe) a METAPHOR for the political
situation that exists in
1 A relay of notes in untidy piles Zimbabwe. This is a very
2 is played back to front clever poem in that almost
3 the partially displaced tout every word the poet uses can
4 bending his jean-clad butt
be interpreted in multiple
5 through an open window
STYLISTIC DEVICES 6 holds on tight lest he be puked ways.
SUGGESTION: L1 'piles' –weak 7 by this bursting vehicle
currency/ 'notes' – music 8 as he relays back change
being played/ 'relay' money 9 Please pay the fare, we buy fuel
used as a baton in a relay race 10 from the black market
& taxi moving from stop to
stop/ L2 'played'–a game, like
Monopoly. IRONIC: L10 'black
market'–fuel is bought illegally
and cheap, that makes there
quest to pay ironic and
humorous.
The effect of run-on lines: The run-on lines capture
the chaotic nature of the taxi which lacks order
entirely.
@Juffrou_Ansie
