who poverty and tatters and hollow-eyed and high sat up smoking in the supernatural darkness of cold-water flats floating across the tops of cities contemplating jazz,
three alliterations, creates rhythm and a jazzy feel from the beginning of the poem.
with mother finally *****, and the last fantastic book flung out of the tenement window, and the last door closed at 4 A.M. and the last telephone slammed at the wall in reply and the last furnished room emptied down to the last piece of mental furniture, a yellow paper rose twisted on a wire hanger on the closet, and even that imaginary, nothing but a hopeful little bit of hallucination—
The repetition of "who" ends, transitioning to the climax of the poem.
borsht
How is the American writer familiar with borsht? The fact that he mentions it in the poem gives the audience an idea of the culture that influenced Allen's writing.
I I
The repetition of “I” in the first two lines makes it clear that the social commentary throughout the poem is based on what the “I”, the conditioned observer (filtered lens of the writer) perceived.
The whisper of “I want to be white” runs silently through their minds.
White propaganda through newspapers have conditioned the minds of each family member, causing them to think of material success as the end goal in life.
We know we are beautiful. And ugly too.
One must understand that beauty as well as ugliness are part of life. Upon acceptance comes freedom and love.
The Old Negro, we must remember, was a creature of moral debate and historical controversy.
A concept, belief, or an ideal cannot be the truth.
The Negro mind reaches out as yet to nothing but American wants, American ideas.
How did the Negro mind lead to seeking for such ideals? Who did they look up to at this period of time? What was their source of knowledge and wisdom?
the Negro has been more of a formula than a human being –a something to be argued about, condemned or defended, to be “kept down,” or “in his place,” or “helped up,” to be worried with or worried over, harassed or patronized, a social bogey or a social burden.
The mind of the observer is deeply conditioned and is not actually seeing the person that is being observed.
Ah, stern harsh world, that in the wretched way Of poverty, dishonor and disgrace, Has pushed the timid little feet of clay, The sacred brown feet of my fallen race! Ah, heart of me, the weary, weary feet In Harlem wandering from street to street.
Paints a dark picture on prostitution in the streets of Harlem. Something that needs to be done for survival.
Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
Why did Hughes include six lines that end with question marks? Did he want the readers to delve into a process of self-inquiry?
I am the darker brother.
Darker brother compared to the white brother living in the same household?
O Ma Rainey, Sing yo’ song; Now you’s back
The dialect of the song makes it easier for the message to resonate with the listeners, who were probably from a poorer community in the south. The writer may be highly educated but chose to write in this style so that the words would speak to those suffering from poverty.
from de little river settlements, From blackbottorn cornrows and from lumber camps
The list of these locations indicate that the folks are coming from a background of poverty.
The million men and a million boys, come out of hell and crawling back, maybe they don’t know what they’re saying, maybe they don’t dare but they know what they mean
It is time to stop being complacent to authority. It is time to revolt and take down the authoritative figure. The author is serving as a voice for millions that do not want to be controlled by a senseless, failing authority.
But I am not a dog and can understand
The speaker is attempting to revolt with intelligence. He sees that war is pointless and capitalism, the driver of war, should be demolished. He addresses the problem, but doesn't really elaborate on the solution. The tone of the speaker shows fearlessness.
I am resigning from the American Legion It reminds me of a dog I used to have
Comparing the American Legion with a dog described as "the dumb fool" shows that the speaker is radical, rebellious, and unafraid of breaking free from fixed order.
I am Chico, the Negro
The reader gets a picture of three characters from different types of lower class backgrounds (Ivan the peasant, Chico the Negro, Chang from Shanghai ). The repetition of "Comrade Lenin of Russia" shows that they are honoring him or asking him for a plea in times of struggle.
Comrade Lenin of Russia
Are these individuals from the lower class crying out to Comrade Lenin, whose system of Communism, may save them from an oppressed life?
And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief, And the dry stone no sound of water
Really strong imagery of lifelessness. This place does not support life with comfort.
for you know only A heap of broken images,
This line represents the theme of this poem. One perceive the world by cutting reality into pieces. Narrowness of the mind.
Here one can neither stand nor lie nor sit
There is no place in the wasteland where one can rest and find peace in relationship with the self, others, and even with nature.
We who were living are now dying
Narrowness and the dull nature of the mind is causing many to die spiritually while alive.
Gentile or Jew
This is the shortest section of the poem, well structured, ten lines.
O you who turn the wheel and look to windward, Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you.
One cannot resist the cycle of nature, one must observe the world as a whole instead of cutting reality into fragments, seeing beauty as well as ugliness. Ugliness such as death is part of life and a deep understanding of this leads to love and liberation.
Twit twit twit
The onomatopoeia of twit twit twit reminds me of tick, tick, tick. Not very pleasant and it symbolizes ugliness. Is it that the beauty of the nightingale's song cannot be sensed as beauty in the dirty riverside of the city, where humans are empty and corrupt?
“My nerves are bad tonight. Yes, bad. Stay with me. “Speak to me. Why do you never speak. Speak. “What are you thinking of? What thinking? What? “I never know what you are thinking. Think.”
These lines show emotional instability of the speaker. The structure of the poem changes after these lines.
the nightingale Filled all the desert with inviolable voice And still she cried, and still the world pursues, “Jug Jug” to dirty ears.
There is a contrast here. Philomel's beautiful, unbroken voice in a fragmented, deserted world. For corrupted, fragmented minds, her voice doesn't come close to touching their hearts.
Die early and avoid the fate. Or if predestined to die late, Make up your mind to die in state.
One must understand that death is part of life.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood
This piece illustrates how choice breeds confusion. Life is pathless, there is really no good or bad paths, but it is in our nature to avoid roads with unknown destinations. When it's time to choose left or right, we ask questions such as "would I GAIN more if I take the path to the left?" or "what would they think of me if I walk on this path?" Many fail to listen to their true consciousness and follow their own hearts.
It is only in isolate flecks that something is given off
Seeing in fragments, instead of the whole.
The pure products of America
Pure products may refer to innocent, energetic, honest, free, and young children who are yet to be conditioned with tradition, culture, and beliefs.
The Woman had once been supreme; in France she still seemed potent, not merely as a sentiment, but as a force. Why was she unknown in America? For evidently America was ashamed of her, and she was ashamed of herself, otherwise they would not have strewn fig-leaves so profusely all over her.
Adam is arguably the first feminist writer in America.
The force of the Virgin was still felt at Lourdes, and seemed to be as potent as X-rays; but in America neither Venus nor Virgin ever had value as force–at most as sentiment. No American had ever been truly afraid of either.
The Virgin is so powerful, she can create Cathedrals. Unfortunately, American culture doesn't recognize the power of the virgin.
Great men before great monuments express great truths, provided they are not taken too solemnly.
Adam observed the experience of the Cathedral, not the thing itself. He was not interested in the Cathedral but the relationship between St. Gaudens and the Cathedral; the consciousness of St. Gauden.
To use absolutely no word that does not contribute to the presentation.
I think the author insists that one should avoid the use of adverbs and adjectives. Instead one should use verbs and nouns that create vivid, meaningful imagery for the readers.
economy of words
"The Clerks" was short but elegant. Words such as "alnage" and phrases such as "Poets and kings are but the clerks of Time" consist of multi-layered meaning, adding depth to the text.
John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no REASON to suffer, and that satisfies him.
John lacks sensitivity. He is unintelligent as he cannot observe without conducting an instant evaluation; basing his judgement on past knowledge and experiences which are not necessarily true.
But what is one to do?
How does one live in an irrational world? What her husband thinks is rational but is not irrational to her senses.
John is a physician, and PERHAPS—(I would not say it to a living soul, of course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind)—PERHAPS that is one reason I do not get well faster.
John holds a high social status, but lacks emotional intelligence; self-centered.
unasked by some through feelings of delicacy; by others through the difficulty of rightly framing it. All, nevertheless, flutter round it.
In order to maintain a sense of superiority/security, the white folks won't ask the question. One may see the ugliness of their irrational beliefs, but many are apathetic, so they avoid asking the real questions to avoid unnecessary trouble.
They approach me in a half-hesitant sort of way, eye me curiously or compassionately, and then, instead of saying directly, How does it feel to be a problem?
Dubois can hear and feel the “real” beneath the apparent; ‘what is’ being observed; true consciousness. This is what the white folks cannot do as their minds are blinded, polluted, and corrupted by a sense of superiority, fear, and all sorts of prejudice against black people.
unasked question
The unasked question breeds conflict and chaos. The unasked question creates a gap between the conditioned observer (racist white folks) and the thing that is being observed (oppressed black people).
Yet many a man is making friends with death Even as I speak, for lack of love alone.
Millay may be referring to spiritual death, which is common amongst those that lack an understanding of the self and what love is. Dying spiritually while alive may have been a common phenomenon in 1931.
It well may be. I do not think I would.
Love is not pleasure, it is not a commodity to be bought or sold in a market. It is an immeasurable force that carries life forward and it is not replaceable.
Resting cow curtain. Resting bull pin. Resting cow curtain. Resting bull pin.
Once again, anaphora is being used here. Short phrases tend to create imagery and more impact.
I love honor and obey I do love honor and obey I do.
It is possible that the speaker obeys a certain form of higher power or a form of government. Loving honor and obedience indicates that the speaker is utterly confused.
Poets and kings are but the clerks of Time,
Time is capitalized to convey subtext. Time has colonized both poets and kings and they have become dull and mechanical. Time is the ruler over the poets and kings. Time is created by thought; visions, fears, beliefs, traditions.
And you that feed yourselves with your descent, What comes of all your visions and your fears?
Can a person create anything new when beliefs of the past are soaked in their mind? Doesn’t fear and illusion kill creativity? I feel that the author is attempting to ask these questions in these stanzas.
tick, tick, tick,
The repetition of the word "tick" is monotonous and it symbolizes death and the dryness of nature.
Woodlands, meadows, streams and rivers– Blind to all of it all my life long.
Conforming to form or fixed patterns kills creativity as one becomes blind to the free flowing beauty that lies in nature.