Democracy Analysis
Author: poem of Langston Hughes
Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.
I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.
Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.
Poetry analysis: Democracy, by Langston Hughes
by Hamlet Pericles
It is no surprise that democracy in the United States was nonexistent in the early 1900s and
throughout the Jim Crow era, for blacks had no rights. Democracy back then was laughable and a
joke - and outright biased. Government rule by the people pertained to whites exclusively,
excluding all African Americans.
Therefore, Langston Hughes felt compelled to speak his mind for equality and his birthright
freedom via poetry. He clearly addresses his points of view about democracy in the first stanza
of "Democracy" (1949).
He declares the following: "Democracy will not come / Today, this year / Nor ever / Through
compromise and fear." He believes his rights should parallel those of white people, without
compromising his dignity in any way. He declares he is an American and should have the rights
to stand on his two feet and own his land, supported by lines 7 through 9.
He doesn't want to wait for freedom; he wants to fight for freedom and make a change.
Moreover, he is not too fond of passive individuals who say the following, "Let things take their
course / Tomorrow is another day," because that kind of attitude signifies submission.
He indicates that everybody should have the right to exercise their freedom because that's a
birthright, for whites, blacks, and whomever. The final three lines - "I live here, too / I want
freedom / Just as you" - need no interpretation, because the clarity of what he wants is obvious.
Democracy implies free and equal representation of people; in more concrete language, it implies
free and equal right of every single soul to participate in a system of government, which was
nonexistent to blacks at the juncture, due to the Jim Crow laws.
The poem "Democracy" by Langston Hughes is one of many great poems (poetic protest)
conceived throughout his illustrious poetic life. Written in 1949, he obviously wanted change
and equality in the present when he was alive, and not in the future, for a dead man has no right
to freedom. Appropriately, he had a pessimistic view of democracy because blacks were treated
badly and suffered greatly.
Can anyone blame a man for having such a negative view on democracy while living in a racist
society? Absolutely not! Thousands of Black Americans had the same feeling.
In reality, democracy was profoundly one-sided, for blacks were not allowed to be involved with
any decision making, etc. Freedom and equality summarize the entire poem, for that is what
Hughes wanted at the time - basic entitlement for one and for all.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou
The free bird leaps
on the back of the win
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom
The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Maya Angelou's poem, Caged Bird is a poem that represents many ideas, themes, and
thoughts. This poem states that there are two birds, one trapped in a cage, and the
other in free and flying in the sky. The trapped bird is an African American man or
woman, while the free bird is a white man or woman. The poem is portraying the
relationship between an African American person and a White person. Maya Angelou is
explaining the feelings of racial discrimination, segregation, and domination. The poem
describes how she was the bird that was trapped and tied up and unable to reach
freedom.
One of the themes in this poem has to do with dreaming. The caged bird sings because
it has dreams and aspirations. It hopes for change. Dr. Angelou writers "The caged bird
sings with fearful trill/ of the things unknown/ but longed for still/". Even though the bird
is confined within a cage it still dreams because it has hope. Its one escape is to sing of
things that he wishes to experience, of liberation, of exploration, of being free
I think that in writing this, Dr. Maya Angelou was writing about the dream of attaining
freedom. I think the fact that the bird is a caged bird represents oppression and the fact
that the bird is singing represents the dream, the longing for a future full of freedom. I
interpret the meaning of this poem to be about slavery and is about the dream of
freedom and the longing for freedom from behind bars. With clipped wings and tethered
feet, the only way the caged bird can express himself is by singing since he is after all,
caged.
This poem made me feel a lot of emotions. I felt a lot of sadness because I could feel
the oppression; I could only imagine what it would feel like to be stripped of my freedom
and still have the will to dream. I feel a deep admiration for anyone with such strength. I
also felt a deep anger that anyone would be forced to live without freedom. Yet, all of
these negative feelings that I felt were balanced nicely with the beautiful and touching
feeling of hope that was the shining theme of the poem. I found the message of always
holding onto your dreams, even if they seem far away and even if attaining them is a
scary thing very inspirational.
My initial reaction to this poem was an emotional one. I found it to be deeply touching. I
found the meaning to be a powerful one and it was well stated. As for the technical
aspects of the poem I liked the way the words flowed, nicely complimenting one
another. I especially liked the imagery Dr. Angelou used. Overall I found the poem to be
simple which is good because I believe when you are sending a strong message you
don't want the readers to get hung up on the complexity of the poem. This poem is
absolutely captivating. I am inspired by the writing.
