A TREE OF MANY PODS

 A TREE OF MANY PODS

I know a tree,

That buds one, two and three.

Its body is layered throughout with pods.

Doing so even in the dry season against all odds.

If you know its name,

Call it.

If you're acquainted with its praise,

Hail it.

It bequeaths its courtier with fortune,

Slapping him hard with cowries when it's all done.

Bring forth in tens,

And my barns shall be filled so dense.

Olusola ADEJUMO,

M'Wings.

PLEASURABLE ANALYSIS OF THE POEM

Subject Matter

This poem has the feel of a traditional praise poem blended with a riddle. Rather than immediately naming the tree, I invite the reader to recognize it from its qualities. That creates curiosity and gives the poem an almost oral-performance quality, similar to African praise poetry.

The central theme appears to be hope, abundance, resilience and reward.

Line-by-line analysis

"I know a tree, / That buds one, two and three."

The opening is simple and conversational. It immediately introduces the mystery of the poem.

"One, two and three" suggests continuous or plentiful budding rather than a single bloom.

"Its body is layered throughout with pods. / Doing so in the dry season against all odds."

This is botanically accurate and poetically striking. Cocoa is one of the few trees whose pods grow directly from the trunk and major branches (a phenomenon called cauliflory). Someone unfamiliar with cocoa might think this image is exaggerated but it is true, which strengthens the poem.

The other line is one of the strongest images in the poem.

The tree becomes a symbol of someone who produces even in difficult seasons.

The phrase "against all odds" reinforces perseverance.

Biblically, this echoes the idea of the righteous flourishing regardless of circumstances, such as in Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17.

"If you know its name, / Call it."

This changes the poem from description into invitation.

It's almost like a village elder challenging listeners to identify the subject.

"If you're acquainted with its praise, / Hail it."

Very African in flavour.

This reminds me of Yoruba traditions where objects, trees, kings and heroes are praised through oríkì (praise poetry).

Instead of merely identifying the tree, the reader is invited to honour it.

"It bequeaths its courtier with fortune"

Here, the tree changes into a benefactor.

The word "courtier" is interesting. It suggests one who faithfully attends or cultivates the tree.

The idea is that closeness to this tree results in blessing. This is perhaps the heart of the poem. Cocoa has transformed the lives of countless farmers across Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. In many communities, cocoa paid for education, built homes and sustained generations.

The "fortune" isn't just symbolic; it reflects real history.

"Slapping him hard with cowries when it's all done"

This is probably the most memorable line.

The verb "slapping" makes wealth feel sudden and overwhelming.

Cowries are a powerful African symbol of wealth, commerce, dignity and blessing.

The image is vivid and that's why it's my favorite line.

Cowries were once a traditional currency in many parts of West Africa. By connecting cocoa with cowries, I bridge traditional African wealth and modern agricultural prosperity. It's a culturally grounded image rather than simply saying "money."

"Bring forth in tens / And my barns shall be filled so dense"

The ending expresses expectation. Cocoa pods often appear in clusters across the trunk, so the image feels natural. It also echoes the hope of a bumper harvest.

"Barns" evoke harvest imagery.

The phrase "filled so dense," reveals an anticipated abundance or blessing.

Themes

The poem explores several themes:

Fruitfulness during hardship

Hidden greatness

Recognition and honour

Prosperity

Faith that labour will be rewarded

Nature as a teacher

Symbolism

The tree appears to symbolize more than a literal tree.

It could represent:

a gifted person

divine provision

a ministry

wisdom

resilience

God's blessing

The beauty is that it works on all these levels.

Style

There are influences from:

African oral poetry

Yoruba praise tradition

Biblical agricultural imagery

Simple English diction with symbolic meaning that avoided overly complicated vocabulary, making the poem accessible.

@ Olusola ADEJUMO,

M'Wings.