- May 2021
-
www.poetryfoundation.org www.poetryfoundation.org
-
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
She makes the way into America clear. Makes it seem good with the phrase "golden door"
-
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me
The ones without a place to stay, the ones that are lost, the ones who have things going on
-
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
The ones that have been refused from the plentiful land of other countries.
-
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
Shes offering a place for the outcasts of other countries. Maybe they are oppressed in other countries so shes offering peace in America?
-
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Crys with silent lips, she's speaking quietly or not at all?
-
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!”
Pomp means boastfulness or vanity.
-
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
The many harbors of America, twin cities makes me think of New York
-
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
America is welcoming to immigrants and open to all cultures.
-
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Mother of Exiles is a nickname for America. America is the home of immigrants and has many cultures present.
-
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Hecate is a Greek goddess whose symbol is two torches. Also reminds me of the Statue of Liberty.
-
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Lightening plus Greek reminds me of Zeus
-
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
Mount Olympia with all the Greek references?
-
With conquering limbs astride from land to land
Alexander the great was Greek and conquered many lands, Greece is now associated with conquering
-
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
It is unlike the typical Greek stereotype. Giant, but with shame.
-
The New Colossus
New big statue or new big famous name
-
-
www.poetryfoundation.org www.poetryfoundation.org
-
The label, the labor, the color, the shade. The shirt.
Says everything that goes into making the shirt.
-
Printed in black on neckband and tail. The shape,
The brand name on the tag, ignoring the people who made these by hand
-
The buttonholes, the sizing, the facing, the characters
Talking about the small details, different for every shirt
-
Down to the buttons of simulated bone,
"Working down to the bone" working extremely hard to make these clothes
-
Both her and me. We have culled its cost and quality
They are making sure it is worth the quality since it was made by hand.
-
And feel and its clean smell have satisfied
She likes to look at every aspect of the clothing to make sure it is worthy of selling.
-
And she inspected my shirt. Its color and fit
Irma liked to look at the details of clothing making.
-
Lady in South Carolina, her name is Irma
Doesn't just say that they are related, also gives her name. Almost to show her importance.
-
George Herbert, your descendant is a Black
Talks about how Herbert is a descendant of a black woman. It is capitalized like it is a proper noun.
-
As slaves in calico headrags sweated in fields:
Compares to slaves because of the type of work and little pay.
-
Sweating at her machine in a litter of cotton
The people working in this sweatshop are working hard at making these clothes.
-
The docker, the navvy. The planter, the picker, the sorter
Talks about all the people involved in this process.
-
Weavers, carders, spinners. The loader,
Talks about the machines used in order to make clothing.
-
To wear among the dusty clattering looms.
Dusty, maybe ashy from the fire?
-
Bailey, MacMartin. The kilt, devised for workers
Different brands for these patterns. Due to the popularity of kilts, sweatshops began making them.
-
By a fabricated heraldry: MacGregor
This pattern was made by the Scottish and was popularized and eventually made in sweatshops.
-
To control their savage Scottish workers, tamed
Scottish workers stood up for themselves and were the originators of a lot of famous patterns.
-
Invented by mill-owners inspired by the hoax of Ossian
The writer of Ossian was questioned of his authenticity of this poem because phrases seemed to be stolen by different famous figures.
-
Houndstooth, Tattersall, Madras. The clan tartans
These are all common patterns on shirts and other clothing
-
Or a major chord. Prints, plaids, checks,
Making of a poem and making of clothes has a similar process
-
Corners of both pockets, like a strict rhyme
The shirts are made in a specific strict way
-
Across the placket and over the twin bar-tacked
The pattern lines up perfectly on the shirt
-
Wonderful how the pattern matches perfectly
Even though this is a tragedy, there is a focus on their perfectly made clothing
-
Like Hart Crane’s Bedlamite, “shrill shirt ballooning.”
Allusion to her story, compares this jump to the insane (more likely depressed) character committing suicide.
-
Air filling up the legs of his gray trousers
The air was flying up his clothes because of him jumping from this high up.
-
And fluttered up from his shirt as he came down,
As he jumped from the window, the air flew up his clothes and caused them to puff out.
-
He stepped to the sill himself, his jacket flared
After he helped her out, it was his turn to jump from the window.
-
Her into space, and dropped her. Almost at once
He didn't want to let her go, he didn't want to drop her from this high up but it was the only chance they had.
-
Around his neck and kissed him. Then he held
She knew him, they were partners and he knew what was about to happen.
-
A third before he dropped her put her arms
Something about this one is different compared to the other people he was helping escape.
-
To enter a streetcar, and not eternity.
They were trying to escape the fire, but ended up dying anyway because of how high up they were.
-
And then another. As if he were helping them up
More and more people jumped out the window in order to escape the fire. The way he was helping them up was casual, not like they were about to jump from the 9th floor.
-
Away from the masonry wall and let her drop
They climbed out the window and dropped from the ninth floor in order to escape the fire.
-
Up to the windowsill, then held her out
The only way out was out the window. This shows the need for precautions and safety measures.
-
Who watched how a young man helped a girl to step
She instead watched someone else trying to help the workers in this fire.
-
The witness in a building across the street
She witnessed it but did she do anything to help?
-
On the ninth floor, no hydrants, no fire escapes
There were no safety precautions because at this time it was not required, eventually led to labor unions
-
One hundred and forty-six died in the flames
Talks about the amount of losses suffered from this accident
-
At the Triangle Factory in nineteen-eleven.
Twist, talking about the triangle shirtwaist factory fire
-
The treadle, the bobbin. The code. The infamous blaze
Breaking down the step by step process in a simple way
-
The wringer, the mangle. The needle, the union
Discusses the different technologies and utensils used in the process of making clothes.
-
Of cuff I button at my wrist. The presser, the cutter
Shows the detail and effort they put into each shirt
-
This armpiece with its overseam to the band
These people work hard to make these shirts for people to buy
-
Or talking money or politics while one fitted
They also discuss current topics while working, not just on break.
-
Gossiping over tea and noodles on their break
When they finally get a break they take the time to eat and socialize.
-
Turned in a sweatshop by Koreans or Malaysians
Talking about a sweatshop factory that makes shirts and they feel like they are being treated like working farm animals.
-
The nearly invisible stitches along the collar
Talking about the shirt, maybe there's something hidden (word invisible)
-
The back, the yoke, the yardage. Lapped seams,
Has a large backyard, maybe a farm with animals to use the yoke on.
-
Shirt
Shirts are clothing which protect us from our environment.
-
-
poets.org poets.org
-
radiant flesh. Incandescent
Her skin is almost radiating the light. Maybe she caused the fire?
-
holding my cindery, non-existent
Her skin burned from the fire, flesh covered with soot
-
and grubby yellow T-shirt
She remembers that she wasn't wearing anything special, maybe pjs?
-
in my burning clothes, the thin green shorts
Her spirit is still wearing the clothes she wore on that day.
-
(I can almost see)
Even though it was a while ago, she can almost see it now.
-
bare child's feet on the scorched floorboards
The memories of her life before the fire
-
as I sit at this morning table, alone and happy
Her spirit is stuck here and stays here, but she isn't mad about it
-
including the body I have now
...compared to the body she has now
-
including the body I had then
She remembers how she was before the fire...
-
including my own body
Plot twist - she is dead, she was killed in the fire, her body is still here
-
kettle and mirror, spoon and bowl
Lists everything that is still here and was ruined by the fire.
-
in this house has long been over
Even though this incident was a long time ago, it feels like yesterday.
-
finding myself back here, where everything
For some reason she keeps finding herself coming back to this memory and place.
-
or know if this is a trap or blessing,
She likes seeing her old home where she used to live, but it is also sad because of the memory of it burning.
-
I can't see my own arms and legs
Maybe they are covered in soot or ash
-
those flares where the sun hits them
Events and things can make these flaws more clear to see
-
I can see the flaws in the glass
Flaws in the structure of the house, maybe flaws in the structure of the family
-
I can see the swirls in the oilcloth
Oilcloth, things are soaked in a certain oil to make it waterproof
-
rises up silently like dark bread.
Foreshadows bad happenings or a storm.
-
In the east a bank of cloud
Bank of cloud, a large cloud maybe?
-
the lake is blue, the forest watchful
Everything around the burned house is normal and calm.
-
The day is bright and songless
Songless, maybe meaning its quiet and sad without hope. Bright, sunny day, maybe bright like a fire.
-
tin cup and rippled mirror
Rippled mirror, maybe broken mirror? Maybe the tin cup caused the mirror to break.
-
every detail clear,
she can see all the details from the fire and its effects on the house.
-
with its grate and sooty kettle
Probably the source, soot needs to be cleaned off, plus usually a sign of a fire.
-
which is beside the woodstove
Woodstove, probably the source of the fire. Woodstoves aren't used anymore, so this occurred a while ago.
-
their dishes piled beside the sink
They didn't straighten up the house, showing they had no intention of running away but for some reason did.
-
perhaps. Their clothes are still on the hangers
Even though they ran away, their belongings are where they normally are, which is usually a sign that they did not intend to runaway.
-
mother and father? Off along the shore
She states where she thinks they possibly ran off to.
-
Where have they gone to, brother and sister,
They have disappeared, maybe ran from fire, or possibly killed by fire.
-
No one else is around
Maybe the fire drove away everyone nearby, aka the incident drove people away.
-
the bowl which was melted also
Everything in the house was affected by the fire.
-
The spoon which was melted scrapes against
The spoon is melted from the fire, yet she still uses it for breakfast.
-
yet here I am
Even though she understands this concept, she still does it anyway.
-
You understand: there is no house, there is no breakfast
Usually if you don't have the base of something, you don't jump to details or the little things.
-
In the burned house I am eating breakfast
Even though there has been destruction, she is trying to keep to her routine.
-
Morning in the Burned House
Mornings are typically associated with new beginnings or realizations. Burned in the past tense means it was previously done.
-
-
poets.org poets.org
-
driven by a godawful wind.
wind can either make a fire worse or end the fire
-
She burns like a burning bush
she is easy to upset or hurt
-
to my nostrils.
he can smell or sense the burning of this girl
-
She rises like dragonsmoke
hot air, specifically smoke rises because it is less dense
-
at the edge of a rain forest.
at the edge so maybe the grass isnt wet and therefore still very flammable
-
She burns like a field of poppies
grass in general is flammable as long as it is dry
-
She burns like a shot glass of vodka.
vodka is alcohol and is very flammable
-
at nightfall.
rainbows are hard to see at night, almost impossible. Rainbows are usually good omens.
-
A tiger under a rainbow
a tiger is brightly colored like a fire, maybe a surprise under the rainbow
-
silent as quicksilver
quicksilver is a marvel superhero who is faster than the speed of light. He is known for being quiet because of how fast he moves.
-
of a banker's cigar
the tip of a cigar is bright from the embers of fire
-
She glows like the fat tip
she lights up the world
-
dipped in gasoline
gasoline helps the fire stay put
-
She burns like a cattail torch
Cat tails are commonly used for torches and they are flammable
-
She burns like oil on water
Oil and water can't mixed, reminds me of a oil fire and water making it worse.
-
like a sack of dry ice.
Dry ice is so cold that it will burn your skin. Dry ice also has a lot of smoke coming from it.
-
while she burns
They are just standing by watching her burn and are not helping
-
hanging at our sides,
hands relaxed at sides, united together,
-
We stand with our hands
They stand together, united
-
at dusk
the fire lights up bright at night time, easier to see
-
dances around her
moves around her, surrounding her
-
A skirt of flames
surrounding something in a circular shape
-
in a thigh-shaped valley
In a rounded and deep valley
-
She burns like foxfire
She glows and lights up the world
-
she burns like a piece of paper
She is hurt completely and quickly. Maybe easily hurt.
-
inside my head. At daybreak
He can picture her still crying from the pain he put her threw.
-
belongs to a girl still burning
The cry belongs to a girl that is still in pain or still hurt/sad.
-
The cry I bring down from the hills
He screams so loud that you can hear it from far away.
-
You and I Are Disappearing
This could be referring to them drifting apart and growing apart.
-
-
poets.org poets.org
-
in the many many mornings-after;
Many days after they are gathering this hope...
-
in the chalk and choke
Chalk -> outline of dead bodies, bones Overall death
-
in the many many mornings-after;
Many days after gathering together and trying to grow hope together...
-
in the non-cheering dark,
No one is cheering them on, they are on their own, there are no groups trying to help, its just them.
-
cultivation of strength to heal and enhance
She is calling for them to grow whatever strength they have left and grow together.
-
-
www.npr.org www.npr.org
-
we also need to accept that there will be consequences. Some good, some disastrous, but none neat or simple.
No matter who it is, there will be sort of consequences.
-
We need a stronger, more considered sense of why some things are received differently in one place than they are in another.
Context. Context. Context.
-
Johnson understood Carmona's use of it as emblematic of a larger constellation of workplace abuse.
It is all about context. Who, what was happening, and why.
-
context is always likely to be more powerful and resonant than any speaker's intent.
The context you say it in is more important than if you were trying to cause harm or not.
-
The relationships of the speakers to each other matter
It's exactly what the other article was talking about.
-
Russell Simmons, Paltrow's friend, rushed to her defense, saying that the actress "didn't mean any harm."
Even if you didn't mean any harm, is word still has a history of hatred and oppression.
-
Anyone can say it — but that doesn't mean there won't be fallout for doing so.
The conversation is more about who should receive social punishment for saying it.
-
But we treat it as if there should be clear, simple rules around its usage, so that we might point out transgressors (and avoid transgressing ourselves). There shouldn't be a double standard, the arguments go. Just one standard.
He believes there should be one rule for all, instead of different depending if you are part of the community or not.
-
-
www.poetryfoundation.org www.poetryfoundation.org
-
Or does it explode?
Maybe the dream/goal causes a lot of things to go wrong. Or when you go to achieve it, something goes wrong.
-
like a heavy load
Maybe the pressure of this dream is like a heavy load on their back. The dream sounds good, but it is a lot of pressure and work.
-
Maybe it just sags
Sags is typically a negative association. Maybe it is a let down or doesn't achieve what you thought it would.
-
like a syrupy sweet
Syrups can be sweet and tasty, but also messy and difficult to clean up. Maybe this dream sounds good but is gonna be messy to achieve?
-
Or crust and sugar over—
As liquid sugar cools down it solidifies and develops a crust almost. Maybe the dream isn't as sweet and enjoyable as first thought of?
-
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Does the hope of the dream linger in the air? Even though the dream is being postponed and less achievable, does the hope still linger?
-
And then run?
The more you postpone your dream/goal, does it seem to be unattainable to run away from you almost?
-
Or fester like a sore
Does it become more difficult and unattainable as it is postponed?
-
like a raisin in the sun?
Simile. This is interesting because a grape is a dried up raisin. Even though it is no longer a grape, it is still a food people eat. Even though the dream is postponed, is he still following it?
-
Does it dry up
When someone refers to an abstract thing such as a dream/goal as drying up, means it loses it's traction. It's asking if the dream is still being followed even though it has been put aside/postponed.
-
What happens to a dream deferred?
Typically when a dream is put aside or postponed, the person loses sight of said dream and forgets about it.
-
Harlem
Harlem is a place in New York, greatly associated with the Harlem Renaissance.
-
-
gcs.instructure.com gcs.instructure.com
-
Nasty NasNasty NasNasty Nas.
He repeats his name in the last part, maybe to solidify his words.
-
Nothing's equivalent to the New York state of mind
He can't think of anything that is like this way of mind he has developed.
-
I lay puzzle as I backtrack to earlier times
He is puzzled as he thinks about how times used to be. He misses those times.
-
I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
Sleep -> vulnerable and dangerous
-
Inhale deep like the words of my breath
Take in this information to your mind and soul
-
In the streets I can greet ya, about cigars I teach ya
He can either just say hi, or teach you his ways.
-
I'm an addict for sneakers, 20s of beliefs and broads with beepers
He enjoys and likes sneakers, compares to an addict.
-
That's where I learned to do my hustle had to scuffle with freaks
He learned his ways and how to get by from New York
-
The city never sleeps, full of villains and creeps
Does a new take on "the city that never sleeps" (NYC). Instead of because of all the lights, its because of the crime.
-
Never put me in your box if your stuff eats tapes
He wants to make sure his words and thoughts aren't lost.
-
The smooth criminal on beat breaks
Even smooth criminals can be broken by something.
-
My rhymin' is a vitamin held without a capsule
His wrapped isn't isolated, is out there for everyone to experience and see.
-
I'm taking rappers to a new plateau, through rap slow
The way he raps and what is about is new to the rap scene.
-
And the stuff that I write is even tougher than life
The stuff he writes about may be tougher than what most people have to deal with.
-
It's only right that I was born to use mics
He feels he was born to speak up about these experiences he deals with.
-
Arrest me, blaming us, we're held like hostages
Speaks about how cops can just get away with blaming innocent black people because of systemic racism.
-
And be prosperous, though we live dangerous, cops could just
Brings up how police are racist. Even though he is doing these things, he doesn't have to be in order for cops to look at him different.
-
Life is parallel to Hell but I must maintain
Life is difficult and not easy like other people have it.
-
I got so many rhymes I don't think I'm too sane
Even though he is dreaming about this it doesn't mean he isn't scared to fight back.
-
Or the legal luxury life, rings flooded with stones, homes
Now he is thinking about the safer legal life that he isn't sure he can have.
-
And lamp like Capone, with drug scripts sewn
Another reference to a mobster/gangster/drug lord.
-
The fiends fight to get drugs I just max, I dream I can sit back
Everyone is fighting over drugs and the hierarchy while he is relaxing and dreaming about his fantasy life.
-
I'm living where the nights is jet-black
He is living is a place that is dark -> dark usually means bad so where he lives is dangerous
-
From what I hear in all the stories when my peoples come back, black
He doesn't know these things from experience, its just from what he has heard.
-
Full of black rats trapped, plus the Island is packed
New York is known for its huge rats everywhere. Long island?
-
Young girls are grazed, each block is like a maze
The girls are well fed? The neighborhood is confusing and large.
-
In the P.J.'s, my blend tape plays, bullets are strays
he is talking about what he would do on a relax day and how it would be
-
Whenever frustrated, I'm a hijack Delta
He is saying he would hijack a plane in order to destress in this fantasy.
-
Thinking of cash flow, religion and shelter
He is thinking of all he could have if he lived this life.
-
Give me a Smith & Wesson, I have negroes undressin
Another reference to guns, all he would need is a gun to have people do what he wants.
-
I ain't the type of brother made for you to start testin'
He is letting the person know not to mess with him or they will face consequences.
-
Make enough figures until my pockets get bigger
He is thinking of this rich dream life and being able to support himself.
-
But just a negro walking with his finger on the trigger
This probably has to do with police brutality. Police don't see him as this huge gangster, and instead as just a threatening black man.
-
Winning gunfights with mega-cops
He is imagining this dream life where he is top of the top
-
Investments in stocks, sewing up the blocks to sell drugs
Having enough money to invest and still work hard for more money
-
Making sure the cash came correct, then I stepped
He double checks his money and paycheck and then goes on
-
Be having dreams that I'm a gangsta; drinking Moets, holding Tecs
His goal is to be better off than how he was when he was younger.
-
New York state of mindNew York state of mindNew York state of mindNew York state of mindNew York state of mind
He repeats the "New York State of Mind" which means it is important. His state of mind has been greatly affected due to how he grew up.
-
I think of crime when I'm in a New York state of mind
He associates New York with crimes and things he dealt with
-
Beyond the walls of intelligence, life is defined
Life is determined for you, no matter how intelligent you are
-
I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
If you are too relaxed or vulnerable, someone will get you
-
It drops deep as it does in my breath
The secrets are told in a low voice
-
Keeps large negroes erasin' and their wives basin'
Keeps the higher up people on their toes and their wives talking?
-
But yo, you gotta slide on a vacation, inside information
You can get inside information by being around someone when they are relaxed
-
And if it's good, she'll bring you customers in measuring pots
If you have a good deal, she'll bring people she knows to give you more customers.
-