I Too, Sing America

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I believe the central theme in this poem is about life and never giving up no matter the obstacles life throws at you. It places emphasis on life, and the struggles one will encounter on a daily basis, but to never give up. It also shows the love and affection a mother has for her son to prepare him for life. The poem contains twenty lines which have no regular rhyme or rhythm scheme. There is, however, a small amount of rhyme with the connection of the “stair” in the second line and ‘bare’ in the seventh line and is written in an irregular pattern. I can relate to this poem in that my mom and dad divorced when I was in the sixth grade, and my mother raised us single handed. She always instilled in me to be the best I could in whatever I decided to do in life. I see that in the mother telling her son to continue to climb and whatever he does never to give up continue to reach for the impossible.

In conclusion, the mother’s advice is simple, yet very pertinent to the theme, to overcome adversities life throws at you, you must remain unmovable, steadfast, and always focused and determined to keep your eyes on the prize. In reading this poem I find that not only does the mother empower her son, but she empowers the reader with solid words from experience.

Works Cited

Gates, Henry Louis Jr., & Smith, Valerie A. The Norton Anthology of African American

Literature. Volume 1, 3rd Edition. New York. WW. Norton & Company, Inc. (p.1305). 2004. Print

Gates, Henry Louis Jr., & Smith, Valerie A. The Norton Anthology of African American

Literature. Volume 1, 3rd Edition. New York. WW. Norton & Company, Inc. (p.1308). 2004. Print