THE WAR OF LIFE

The battle for survival begins at birth
When all possible means have to be put in place
Before the stars are seen
When full creatures pass through a narrow hole
To meet the colorful scenes
When a baby ought to be tortured till sorrow and cry
Before the whole world jubilates and celebrates
Oh, what a tragedy!
Do you smile when your lover pities?
But the world is so
When a parent has to become a child of a child
And the western sea wind blows tides apart
For the wise-fools and loving-haters to console
To make people say “charity begins at home”
While the greatest foes are steadfast in locality
To bring aversion to a stone thrown
When wicked ones stand in shadows
And in a valley of death
To sell wealth to buy money with riches
For people to say “tomorrow shall be well”
But when tomorrow comes, they in turn say, “Yesterday was better.”
Upon seeing no stars and sun rays longer
Hopes of inhabitants start to fade away
And the obstacles of life continue to rob them of happiness
While the adventures of a layman make them afraid
And their oppressions stir at them
To make them satisfied with life
That man becomes his own enemy
But the colorful dark scenes are marked and stained
By darker-brown-blots of violet blood
Makes life ruined by unnecessary fights

Author: NKETIAH SIEH YAW SIMON - OD Certified Consultant

COMMENTS (3)

Isaac Oppong | 9/10/2025 3:50:53 PM

COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS OF “WAR OF LIFE”
1. Central Theme: Life as a Struggle
The poem frames life as a battlefield where survival begins at birth. The imagery of a child's painful entrance into the world — “tortured till sorrow and cry / before the whole world jubilates” — underscores the paradox that suffering inaugurates celebration. This paradox sets the tone for the rest of the poem: joy and pain, hope and despair, love and betrayal coexist in the “war” of existence.

The title War of Life itself presents life as not just a journey but an ongoing conflict, where individuals confront forces both external (society, enemies, oppression) and internal (fear, self-sabotage, disillusionment).

2. Symbolism and Imagery
• Birth imagery: The “narrow hole” and the cries of a newborn reflect both physical struggle and metaphysical entry into a world marked by adversity.

• Paradoxical roles: “A parent has to become a child of a child” suggests role reversals and the unnatural burdens life imposes, hinting at generational struggles or broken social structures.

• Sea wind & tides apart: The “western sea wind” evokes the forces of globalization or external influence that displace local harmony, causing division (“wise-f**ls and loving-haters”).

• Shadows and valley of death: Biblical echoes of Psalm 23 give the image of living under persistent threats, surrounded by hidden adversaries who trade wealth and morality for vanity.

• Colorful dark scenes & violet blood: Striking imagery where beauty (“colorful”) is stained by violence and destruction, suggesting that human conflict ruins the richness of life.

3. Social and Moral Critique
The poem critiques hypocrisy and contradictions in human behavior:

• “wise-f**ls and loving-haters” reflects duplicity in society.

• “Sell wealth to buy money with riches” illustrates greed and corruption, the absurdity of valuing materialism above human well-being.

• “Tomorrow shall be well… Yesterday was better” captures the cycle of disillusionment, where hope is constantly deferred but never realized.

This tension reveals a society trapped in dissatisfaction, unable to build a future because of destructive patterns in the present.

4. Tone and Mood
The tone is somber and reflective, moving from birth pangs to societal corruption, from personal suffering to collective disillusionment. The mood oscillates between tragedy and resignation, but it does not completely abandon hope — it warns readers of the dangers of becoming “one's own enemy.” The repeated contrasts (joy/pain, wealth/poverty, love/hatred) generate a sense of existential irony.

5. Structure and Style
• Free Verse: The poem does not adhere to rhyme or strict meter, giving it the fluidity of thought and emotional rawness.

• Repetition & Paradox: Phrases like “wise-f**ls and loving-haters,” “tomorrow shall be well… yesterday was better” enhance rhythm while stressing contradictions in life.

• Philosophical Musings: The reflective tone resembles both a lament and a sermon, questioning the human condition.

6. Overall Interpretation
War of Life is a philosophical and existential poem that portrays life as a constant battle filled with paradoxes: suffering that brings joy, hope that collapses into regret, and beauty marred by violence. It suggests that much of humanity's suffering is self-inflicted — “man becomes his own enemy” — as greed, hypocrisy, and unnecessary conflict stain the world.

It calls the reader to reflection: despite birth's jubilant beginnings, life's meaning is eroded when people abandon truth, compassion, and balance for self-destructive pursuits.

✅ In sum: Your poem is a striking social and existential critique, weaving imagery of birth, society, and human folly into a cohesive message: the real “war” of life is not just against external hardship, but against the inner and collective human contradictions that rob life of peace.

Sandra | 9/16/2025 7:16:41 PM

love this poem

Johnson | 10/16/2025 2:43:59 AM

Great poem.

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