War and Humanity in Abani's Poetry Poem Review by Riyoku

This paper focuses on "Song for Night," a poem written by Nigerian author Chris Abani. The paper examines the poem's focus on war and the use of child soldiers, stating that such a thing is prevalent in Africa where youths and adolescents are plucked from their lives and turned into tools in war. The paper goes on to explore the many ways war twists and harms humanity, often taking from us that which makes us human. In response to the question of why war warps man, the paper concludes by answering that in the hearts of all humanity, there is a desire to live, a greed for life, and a need to save lives - all of which are directly contradicted by war.