Scientific diction, Poetic intentions, And paths to literacy: An analysis of ladé wosornu’s “chemistry” and “the street”

Abstract

This paper analyzes two poems by the Ghanaian surgeon turned poet – Ladé Wosornu – in order to demonstrate how thepoet’s use of scientific diction to achieve a literary purpose can enhance the literacy horizon of the reader. In both “Chemistry” and “The Street”, the poet deploys images and concepts from chemistry, physics, biology, and general technology to facilitate his poetic intentions. An effective appreciation of the poems requires some amount of dictionary work, imaginative flights, and critical thinking, which could impact the literacy horizon of the reader.