The Theme of Helplessness in Kwesi Brew’s A Plea for Mercy

A plea for mercy was written by Kwesi Brew a Ghanaian who grew up in the eye of the independence struggle. Some of his poems include The Mesh , A sandals on the Head. His poems mostly reflects a sense of strife and A plea for mercy is a classic example as it depicts the helpless nature or the poor condition of a group who have come begging in front of their  master.
In this post, I will illustrate the  theme of helplessness in the poem A plea for mercy. But before this, let us take a close look at the meaning of helplessness. Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as lacking protection or support. This is a running idea in the poem.
Firstly, the illustration of this theme is seen the narrator’s experience of poverty and oppression. The poem opens with a line that invokes the presence of a deity at whose shrine ‘the son of the land’s (line 2) have come to worship (line1). After the first two lines, line 3 creates the impression that the group lacks support and are insecure. “The naked Cowherd has brought the cow safely home” and the play their silent bamboo flute.The bamboo flute is mostly played at funerals, this image created shows the condition of the group and as very melancholic.
   These lines also highlights the narrator’s lack of basic needs, such as food and clothing, which leaves him feeling helpless and dependent on others for survival.
Again, the second illustration of helplessness is the narrator’s description of his social status. We are told in the poem that they are “peasants” Poor farmers who do not have  shelter but sits by the fire side just to entertain themselves with ” tales long ago”  in the same way,  the
imagery of ill–boding continues in the poem because we are told that the birds stay brooding in their nests with ‘unsung melodies’ (line 8) while they await the dawn. This shows that the narrator feels inferior and powerless and in that regard cannot  anything to help the situation.That in itself also signifies a state of helplessness and misery.

CLICK HERE TO READ AN ANALYSIS AND THEMES IN SHAKESPEARE’S SONNET 1 “SONNET 1: FROM FAIREST CREATURES WE DESIRE INCREASE“
In addition , the shadows crowd on the shore (line 9), and when the peasants have finally come home from their day’s toil, they ‘sit by their log–firer’s (line 12). What could it mean now when you compare line 6 which says the cowherd wipes ‘the rain from his brow? It is raining outside and so the peasants must stay in to keep warm by the fires?. The use of rain and those who seek comfort find it in no one but by the log–fires. More melancholy. The narrator wished he could find comfort, he sought for one but could find none.
Moreover, another illustration is also seen when the group is fed up as they cries are not heard. They rhetorically asks.. ” Why should we the sons of the land plead unheeded before your shrine? And their lips even tremble with with fear as they cannot revolt but plead with the master .
This shows their helpless state as the master fails to listen to their grievances.  In the concluding lines..It hammers their helpless state as they have still come in their tattered penury to plead at the door of the master 
To conclude, form all that I’ve stated above, we can agree that the group were in a helpless state as it it projected in the “Naked” and Tattered penury, The mention of their social status as poor farmers who like basic needs as shelter and clothing and the rhetorical questions also demonstrate their frustrations who continue  to beg at the door of a master.  

CLICK HERE TO READ AN ANALYSIS AND THEMES IN SHAKESPEARE’S SONNET 1 “SONNET 1: FROM FAIREST CREATURES WE DESIRE INCREASE”