Blood Iron and Trumpets Oral Poem
Blood iron and trumpets
Blood iron and trumpets
Forward we march
(Others fall on the way)
Blood iron and trumpets
We shall hack kill and cure
Blood iron and trumpets
Singers of the datsun blue
Forward we drove breaking the records
Blood iron and trumpets
Let bullets find their targets and the earth be softened
Blood iron and trumpets
Let the dogs of war rejoice
And the carrion birds feed
We are reducing population explosion
Blood iron and trumpet
The uniformed machines are around
Put on your helmet iron and rest
Blood iron and trumpets
Only through fire can be baptized to mean business
So once again
Blood iron and trumpets
We shall always march along
Blood iron and trumpets
Blood iron and trumpets
Blood alone
Questions with Answers to Blood Iron and Trumpets
1. With reasons, classify the above oral piece. (2 Marks)
War song- We shall kick, hack and cure
2. Identify the functions of the above oral piece. ( 2 Marks)
Used to encourage warriors as they prepare to leave for war: Forward we march
- To praise warriors as they go to war: the uniformed machines
- Used to intimidate the enemy: repetition of ‘blood iron and trumpets
(Award any two illustrated functions)
3. Identify and illustrate two features of oral poetry evident in the above oral item. ( 4 Marks)
Repetition- Blood iron and trumpets
Direct translation- “let the bullets find their targets”
4. Briefly explain any two issues that the above oral poem is talking about. ( 4 Marks)
War- “Let the dogs we drive breaking records”
Violence- “We shall hack kill and cure”
“We are reducing population explosion”
5. Identify one social and one economic activity of the community from which the oral poem is taken. ( 2 Marks)
Social activity: Going to war- ‘dogs of war’
Economic activity: Blacksmithing - ‘Blood iron trumpets
6. Who would be the most suitable audience for the oral poem? Give reasons for your answer. ( 2 Marks)
Warriors preparing for war as the song is sang to inspire them. (Award 1mk for identification 1 for reason)
7. “The uniformed machines are around” Give the meaning of this statement. (2 Marks)
This statement means that the army which is as efficient as a machine is around.
8. What is the mood of the poem? (2 Marks)
Tense/anxious- ‘Only through fire can be baptized to mean business’