And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars And they pulse again with a keener sting
This line is referring back to how slaves were tortured and hurt so bad. Even though they were in so much pain they kept going in fear that if they didn't something else would happen to them
They have no care for his innocence
The guards did not care that he was innocent. It is sad, but it is true this did happen back than. You even see this happening to people in todays society
And I trembled sore when they rode away, And left him here alone
This line is talking about how afterwords people just left the slave there on the tree.
The gray of the sea, and the gray of the sky, A glimpse of the moon like a half–closed eye. The gleam on the waves and the light on the land, A thrill in my heart,—and—my sweetheart’s hand.
This little passage has so much to it. You can really picture what is happening and its romantic. Especially the last line.
o bravely I wore the mask
What do they mean by this? Could they be talking about trying to hid the fact of how much he likes her and how much he just wanted to give her one kiss.
I wonder could she have been thinking the same
This line is cute because he is wondering if she wants to kiss him too
We wear the mask that grins and lies
I think he is talking about how some people will put there guard up and pretend everything is fine. They might be hiding something.
Perhaps you may not be able to read their meaning
I think that flowers could have a deeper meaning. Because, you have flowers that you give people when there sick, weddings, funerals and events. Each flower relates back to something more for someone when they look at it.
It was Easter evening, and the newly risen spring world was slowly sinking to a gentle, rosy, opalescent slumber, sweetly tired of the joy which had pervaded it all day.
You can really picture the sun setting and how it might look as she is describing it
Souls unto me are as stars in a night,
This line to me is powerful. I want to know what was meant by this because from just reading this do they mean the souls of people who have passed on?
but he done me wrong"
This line is very powerful. It keeps getting repeated. Everyone is coming to terms that he is not treating her right.
"Well, I don't want to cause you no trouble And I don't want to tell you no lies But I seen your man about an hour ago With that high-browed Nellie Bly He was your man, I think he's doing you wrong"
The Bartender is being honest and telling Frankie the truth and also giving his own opinion on Johnny
He was my man, I think he's doing me wrong"
She knew something was up. Sometimes you have to listen to your gut feeling. She is showing me that she did.
Frankie and Johnny were lovers Oh lordy, how they could love Swore to be true to each other Just as true as the stars above He was her man, but he done her wrong
It starts off that you are hoping it would work out for them. Because it says that they "swore to be true to each other." But sometimes thats only a saying. It has to be shown that someone can be trusted. Then he goes in to saying "he dong her wrong." It makes you question what did he do to her.
but home is unknown.
This is so sad but true, many slaves did not know where there home was. Even after when they were free because they had know where to go
My soul wants something that's new, that's new
I wonder what he might mean by this?
new world has expressed itself in vigor and ingenuity rather than in beauty
I see what he means by the world "expressing itself in vigor and ingenuity rather than in beauty" because so much violence and hate happening in the world at the time.
and yet at once I knew them as of me and of mine.
The songs were apart of who he is because they were past down from generation to generation. He grew up listening to them.
My work pleased the captain so well that he told Page 50 me if I desired I could continue working for a small amount per day.
It was nice to see that after being there for a while he found a job that would help him start in the right path
I had difficulty often in securing a satisfactory teacher
Its sad that he could not find someone to teach him but, at the time that was not nothing new because, some people would stop there education early to go work. They would work to help support their families.
and that they must leave the old plantation for at least a few days or weeks in order that they might really feel sure that they were free
In the podcast that we had to listen to this week they said that once they were allowed to leave the plantations they had no where to go and people would just wonder the streets.
that they must change their names, and that they must leave the old plantation for at least a few days or weeks in order that they might really feel sure that they were free
Why would they have to change their names once they were free?
Until that question was asked it had never occurred to me that there was no period of my life that was devoted to play.
It is so sad that children never got the chance to have a real childhood. In the readings we read that children as young as 4 years old had to work. Also, at most times people would have to start working at dawn and finish at sunset.
I was born in a typical Page 2 log cabin, about fourteen by sixteen feet square.
The log cabin that they are talking about is really that small or even smaller. When we were doing our Pinterest boards I learned that sometimes these cabins were shared with maybe 10 other people or a couple families at a time.
I suspect I must have been born somewhere and at some time.
Reading this line made me sad because we read other stories of this happening. It is sad but it is true. Some people did not even know the day they were born. Some might have not known who there parents were.
He loved Mag to the last
This line stuck out to me because they really loved each other and she helped take care of him until his last breath.
"Who'll take the black devils
Why was she speaking badly about her children?
"you's down low enough. I don't see but I've got to take care of ye. 'Sposin' we marry!"
They fell in love really fast, which kind of makes me wonder what there relationship might be further in to the story.
She thought she could ascend to him and become an equal
The impact that this man was having on her was enough to make her think that she needed to leave everything to go be with him. But it would just hurt her in the end
Thy bleeding hands abroad;Thy cry of agony shall reachAnd find the throne of God.
To fight for what you believe in or to make a change in the world is something that is going to be tough and dangerous to do. You do not want to give up though, you have to stand up for what is right.
The burning throne of God.
What does she mean the burning throne of God?
For she is a mother—her child is a slave— And she’ll give him his freedom, or find him a grave!
This was a powerful line. It shows that the mom wants to give her child freedom, she wants what is best for her child just as any other mom would. When she says "or find him a grave" she knows that giving her son freedom was something that was hard to give.
Each comes as a guest to the table The hand of our God has outspread, To fountains that ever leap upward, To share in the soil we all tread.
What does he mean that "each comes as a guest to the table" I was a little confused on that part. But for the second line about God reaching his hand out. It sounds like he is extending his hand as a way of helping people find the right path.
She is a mother, and her heart Is breaking in despair.
The ending is so powerful. It not only shows the unconditional love that these moms had for there children but also that heartbreak that they had to indorse, watching their children being taken away from them.
I'll take the crown from off my head
I like this line because it shows her sticking up for herself. She is wasn't letting what the king said stop her from making sure her voice is heard.
And left the palace of the King, Proud of her spotless name -- A woman who could bend to grief, But would not bow to shame.
She is not letting what has happened to her in the past stop her from moving on and not letting it have a toll on herself and her life
Although his portion should be cast With demons in eternal flame!
This line I am not really sure why but, it stuck out to me because with the part about demons. Who are they referencing? Or in a sense what deeper meaning could that line mean? I think it could be about the demons with in us, meaning negative thoughts or actions. But, it could also mean the actions of others and how all actions have consequences.
But trusting in the aid of Heaven, And wielding, with unfaltering arm, The utmost power which God has given
This line is saying that trust in the plan that God has for you. You might not know what it is right away and thats ok. You just have to do what is best for you and it will all work out. The line that says " But trusting in the aid of Heaven" to me means that you have to trust God but at the same time you also have to believe in yourself.
Mocking his hopes, falls to the ground
People are going to let you down at times. But you can not let that happen. You have to do what it best for you, if you have your mind set on something don't stop until you make it a reality
In happier hours once cheered him on, With visions that full brightly shone, But now, alas! are dimmed and gone!
This section to me stuck out because in a sense it was saying this person was having something good happen to him for a while. Then one day it was gone and dark again. The dimmed and gone could mean the happy hours are gone. But I do not think that they are fully gone.
The path which God and nature’s laws Point out, doth earnestly pursue. When adverse clouds around him lower, And stern oppression bars his way, When friends desert in trial’s hour, And hope sheds but a feeble ray; When all the powers of earth and hell Combine to break his spirit down, And strive, with their terrific yell, To crush his soul beneath their frown
I liked this little section of the poem because to me it sounds like when there is a little darkness in your life or something might not be going your way. You have just have to remember that God has a plan for each and everyone of us.
I love you. O, Linda, isn't this a bad world? Every body seems so cross and unhappy. I wish I had died when poor father did."
This sentence proves what Linda said above, when she had her daughter. She said that women got treated worse then men. In a way yes they where. Not saying that not everyone was treated horribly but women were always looked at as sex objects. Which effects how they see, and trust others. It also brings down there self-esteem. It messes them up mentally and fiscally.
They lived together in a comfortable home; and, though we were all slaves, I was so fondly shielded that I never dreamed I was a piece Page 12 of merchandise, trusted to them for safe keeping, and liable to be demanded of them at any moment.
I was not sure how to get both lines in one annotation. But this line also goes to with what i was talking about above. How her family tried to shield her away from a world that they did not want to show her.
I WAS born a slave; but I never knew it till six years of happy childhood had passed away.
Just this first sentence alone stood out to me because it is powerful in the message that it is giving. She did not know that she was a slave for most of her childhood. Others that we have read about and even from the podcast did not get the chance of not knowing. Even though she was born in to it there is a little bit of a difference there from the others that we had read or listened too. There is a difference between when you know something verse when you don't. In her eyes she was living a normal childhood because she was shielded away from that part of life for a little while.
The bee begins her ceaseless hum, And doth with sweet exertions rise; And with delight she stores her comb, And well her rising stock supplies
I really like this part of the poem. I like how in-depth in detail he goes with not just the bee but with the rest of the poem. As I was reading it, I could picture the bee in my head.
And dart from world to world.
I think this line is really powerful. I was thinking what if world to world could also mean generation. Like he wants his story to be past down from generation to generation?
My wish to prove, my calling to pursue,
I really liked this line. To me it kinda sounds like he wants to show people what it was like, so they can learn from it.
Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach.
I really liked reading this poem. This one line stuck out to me the most because to me it sounds like even though it might look tough or impossible right now, there is always something on the other end that will be better. It might just take a while to reach it or even see it.
The refluent surges beat the sounding shore;Or think as leaves in Autumn's golden reign,Such, and so many, moves the warrior's train.
I think that Wheatley is talking about only hearing the sound of solders walking on the shore, instead of hearing the waves crash. I wonder if she was referencing when Washington crossed the Delaware river in 1776. Because not only did she say, “So many, moves the warrior's train." But she also mentioned hearing the solders on the shore, like I mentioned above. I could be wrong with that one but to me it sounds like that.
A crown, a mansion, and a throne that shine,With gold unfading, WASHINGTON! Be thine
This last line really stuck out to me. I am not really sure I fully understand what "be thine" means ?