poems for Feb. 20-21

 We did not finish discussion of the last two poems in the February 13-4 packet:

The line up for Feb. 20-1
  Poem for a Lady Whose Voice I like

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48226/poem-for-a-lady-whose-voice-i-like

(You tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9EO_nP2QjI

And Black Boys Play the Classics.  https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42877/black-boys-play-the-classics

What Make a Man by Geffrey Davis

On Anger  by Rage Hezekiah

The First Book by Rita Dove

Giovanni:  What an unusual way to  portray racism, sexism and accomplish a portrait of a real person at the same time.  The "Lady" in question is Nina Simone, who changed her name, bore the criticism of her parents for having played in cocktail lounges, and had plenty to sing about in full voice.

The reference to Genesis, the "Black" within, the big "Black" greasy rib, where "Black" has a capital letter (no where else in the poem... is filled with overtones about what "black" is... the void from which we all come from... the dark side of us, the prejudices of "adam" and how did he get a big Black greasy rib, and who is calling it so and why... 

and what is sapphire and is the 4 part divide 4 part harmony?

The last two lines changed in the youtube to "i'll show you an empty person"... hungry is stronger,

and works with the chitterlings, good things to eat, the black within, the song... the desire to feel

complete.  As Judith put it, the woman's voice is pulling a "going to church lady" on him.  She also brought up The Creation, by James W. Johnson.

for the Derricotte: beautifully set up poem to address stereotypes.  The kids playing classical music

are wearing ratty sneakers... but the most popular act in Penn Station... 3 reactions to the fact they are black:  White businessman don't stop, listen, notice and just toss in coins;  Brown workmen stare in amazement , and a three year old white boy transforms them into angels... 

the trembling... could be these three voices... or the strings of the violins and cello, the rumble of the train station... or the tension of being a reader, pulled into this, one of the "us" experiencing the trembling.  Only two choices ?  What is left out?    What if A had been B and ended the poem? 

Beautiful, regular rhythm, but set up in uneven lines... pun of "bar"... the admiration of the workmen for people of their race achieving... the indifference to the music... which is as good as being indifferent to the soul each of us carries inside... 

The next poems:

What Make a Man:  the format really helps the flow of contradictions... 

What make?  a man.  It is not written that way.  But then, the closing line is not written so we assume

"you are my sun!"  Shine each dark step... both a sense of "shine on", but the act of polishing,  (Jim calls it an "encouraging imperative").

like shining shoes.  Rich poem... What make:  second stanza the man... what make him see, open him, offer... what get the man loaded, is no longer what make... 

There's a difference between choice and decision... the --no-- two lines down from choose...

stanza break... to the next line:  what make a man decide...'

how we can be contradictory things…  A beautiful poem about humanity; Martin brought up control over others evokes a pathology in the brain…  which could explain the first action... the refusal to ask forgiveness.  

We don't know the circumstances that would make this man park the car two block away--

nor do we know what it is "away from" ...  the poem closes on the intimacy of  his arms filled--

one hopes, with his child...  the mystery of a soul.  

On Anger, written by Rage whose last name means "God is my Strength and is one of a King. 

The capital letters, italics, the words of the therapist are outside her.  Why should Rage have the job of
"sating" a therapist?  I love how armor sounds and looks like marrow... how her emotions, which includes anger
fill her with a sense of herself which seems to serve her.  

The First Book unfolds the mystery of the endless road of  shared knowledge... 
I love that you can read the last two lines two ways:
Just the world as you think...

You know it.

Do we know how the world as we think we know it really is?
Fabulous questions to think about!