Poetry Project

                         TWO VOICE POEM ON SELMA MARCH

There’s no more segregation

in this state, so please let us

March                                                                                               

                                                                                                            Go home negros

                                                Why wont they just

leave

We would like to

March

Your safety is at risk, leave!

                                                Get out of our way!

We want to march!

and we want our

freedom!

                                                Why are you destroying

                                                What we believe in?

This is your last warning

…    

Ask me my name

That light is

awfully bright

Are you disturbed

by me? I feel that

you’re afraid

Do I have

any friends?

I want to see my

face Who am

I?

I scare you

What do I do?

Life is black and

white I hide in

the shadow of

my hoodie

Do I like myself?

I don’t know

me I am ashamed

I bow my head

As me my name

She brings out my emotions sad or pleased

The green grass changes me to a player

I love it all when I play I’m released

It’s like shedding a hard outer layer

She plays with my emotions everyday

This sport gives me joy and a team to love

She has produced chants like ole ole!

I would be forever thanking above

I always hope my team can win a game

I always wish they could win a title

I will never forget the day I came

She makes me work hard all the time

This is what I want to do in my life

If I can do this there will be no strife

   

            The poem “America” by Claude Mckay is about a man who loves something that

gives him stress. Claude Mckay describes America with harsh words in the first half of

the poem. Then he’ll go on to write how much he embodies it. In the end it’s a complex

confusing poem that provokes thinking.. America has different main ideas, word

choices, and literary devices.

            As mentioned above this poem can be seen from different points of view. The

poet Claude Mckay describes America as a country he loves but at the same time it’s a

love hate relationship. He mentions some negatives and positives of America. It seems

like America is the only place he’s able to call home.   

            Claude Mckay has a unique arsenal of word choice throughout his poem. He uses

deep words like “Although she feeds me bread of bitterness and sinks into my throat her

tiger’s tooth.” The poet uses such harsh words to describe how much pain America

causes him. The poet goes on to write how America gives him strength and how he loves

it.

            This entire poem is filled with many literary devices. Throughout the poem

Claude Mckay expresses his feelings metaphorically, for “stealing my breath of life, I

will confess I love this cultured hell that tests my youth!” America is a nation not a

cultured hell, but the poet wants to explain his bittersweet feeling. He also uses similes

like “her vigor flows like tides into my blood”. Claude uses this simile to show how

America can give him strength.