03-04-2013, 08:34 AM
There is something captivating about this poem although I don't understand it necessarily (interpreting poetry and reading critically are things I'm still working on).
In this poem, I like the shift in voice. In the first stanza, I feel like I'm listening in on a private conversation. Then the second stanza is the subject of that conversation. Then the rest of the poem is third person explaining the consequences of the actions of the past speakers.
I also like the break in the lines with the idea "black periphery". In the first stanza, you isolate black perhaps to signify the black population. Then in the last stanza you write black periphery together, which reminds me more of a cultural shadow than of race. Or perhaps it's all coincidence
...I also like the imagery in this poem. Some parts reminded me of many stars cast against the backdrop of a black sky.
I feel like this poem is about black progress and always being in the shadow of slavery even though it's over.
In this poem, I like the shift in voice. In the first stanza, I feel like I'm listening in on a private conversation. Then the second stanza is the subject of that conversation. Then the rest of the poem is third person explaining the consequences of the actions of the past speakers.
I also like the break in the lines with the idea "black periphery". In the first stanza, you isolate black perhaps to signify the black population. Then in the last stanza you write black periphery together, which reminds me more of a cultural shadow than of race. Or perhaps it's all coincidence
...I also like the imagery in this poem. Some parts reminded me of many stars cast against the backdrop of a black sky.I feel like this poem is about black progress and always being in the shadow of slavery even though it's over.