I am But a Man

[Achebe]

Hi unknown - some comments below (just the first 2 stanzas, but the general rule applies elsewhere). Basically, the abstractions are perhaps overdone, and the metaphors could be made tighter and more unified.


I am but a man,
do not let me see the monsters,
the ones who were left to rot.             .... the 'ones' refers to monsters, but the 'left to rot' implies 'bodies' (that presumably became the monsters). So it's a problematic metaphor


I am but a man, .... it'd not clear what your not being a man has to do with what follows. It's a bit like 'I am but a man / do not let me see my friends die'. Makes no sense.
do not let the cold grasp of sorrow, ..... 'cold grasp of sorrow' is a terrible cliche
with its hands ever reaching into my heart,
reap my freedom and will like the crop of souls. ....the metaphor of hands reaching IN to your heart doesn't sit with the image of it now reaping your freedom and will. Not only are 'freedom' and 'will' abstract concepts that add nothing to the line, but also the agricultural metaphor comes out of nowhere, giving the impression that you're pretty much saying anything that comes to your mind.