Prayer Before Birth

Question 1

Thoughts and feelings

Answer 1

The unborn child speaks, expressing fear of the world’s cruelty and pleading for protection and moral guidance. The poem reflects a deep anxiety about humanity’s flaws and the loss of innocence.

Question 2

Purpose

Answer 2

To criticize societal corruption and evoke a sense of responsibility for preserving innocence and humanity.

Question 3

Structure

Answer 3

Free verse with a repetitive, prayer-like rhythm.

Each stanza builds on the child’s fears, creating a crescendo of urgency.

Question 4

Language

Answer 4

Stark and disturbing imagery, such as “bloodsucking bat,” highlights the threats to innocence.

Personification of evils like “strong drugs dope me” makes societal issues feel personal and immediate.

Repetition of “I fear” emphasizes vulnerability and desperation.

Question 5

Tone and mood

Answer 5

Foreboding and urgent, tempered by a faint hope for redemption