'The Electric Slide Boogie' by Audre Lorde
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New Year's Day 1:16 AM
and my body is weary beyond
time to withdraw and rest
ample room allowed me in everyone's head
but community calls
right over the threshold
drums beating through the walls
children playing their truck dramas
under the collapsible coatrack
in the narrow hallway outside my room
The TV lounge next door is wide open
it is midnight in Idaho
and the throb easy subtle spin
of the electric slide boogie
step-stepping
around the corner of the parlor
past the sweet clink
of dining room glasses
and the edged aroma of slightly overdone
dutch-apple pie
all laced together
with the rich dark laughter
of Gloria
and her higher-octave sisters
How hard it is to sleep
in the middle of life.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Electric Slide Boogie: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Excited Intro
Oh, dear readers, have you ever read a poem that makes you want to get up and dance? Well, I have! And it's none other than Audre Lorde's "The Electric Slide Boogie." This poem is a testament to the power of poetry and its ability to evoke emotions and stir the soul. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I'll be exploring the various themes and literary devices employed by Lorde to create such an electrifying piece of poetry. So, let's begin!
Background
First, let's talk about Audre Lorde. She was a Black feminist, poet, and essayist who wrote about the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality. Her work often challenged societal norms and called for social justice and equality. "The Electric Slide Boogie" was published in 1996, a year before Lorde's death, and is a poem that celebrates the joy and power of dancing.
Themes
One of the central themes of the poem is the idea of freedom. Lorde uses the metaphor of dancing to convey the feeling of liberation and breaking free from societal constraints. She writes, "We come together / and we dance all night / to forget / the poverty of our skin." Here, Lorde is highlighting the fact that for many Black people, dancing was a way to escape the hardships of their daily lives, even if only temporarily. The line "the poverty of our skin" is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the systemic oppression and racism that Black people face.
Another theme present in the poem is the idea of community. Lorde writes, "We dance each other / into the light / the tune sounding / through our blood / our skin / our bones." The image of people dancing together, being united by a common rhythm, is powerful. It speaks to the idea that dancing can bring people together, regardless of their differences. The line "the tune sounding through our blood / our skin / our bones" also emphasizes the physicality of dancing and how it can affect us on a deep, primal level.
Literary Devices
Lorde employs several literary devices throughout the poem to emphasize its themes and create a sense of rhythm and movement. One of the most prominent devices is repetition. Lorde repeats the phrase "electric slide boogie" several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of momentum and energy. The repetition also serves to emphasize the importance of the dance and its ability to bring people together.
Another device used by Lorde is imagery. She paints vivid pictures with her words, such as "our hips / our feet / our shoulders / our heads / each part moving / to its own rhythm / and to the rhythm of the whole." This image of different body parts moving in sync with one another is both beautiful and powerful. It speaks to the idea of unity and the importance of each individual's contribution to the group.
Lorde also employs metaphor in the poem. As previously mentioned, the metaphor of dancing is used to convey the feeling of freedom and liberation. She writes, "we become / the music / and the music / becomes us." This metaphorical language serves to emphasize the transformative power of dancing and its ability to transport us to a different state of being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Electric Slide Boogie" is a beautiful and powerful poem that celebrates the joy and power of dancing. Through its themes of freedom and community, and its use of literary devices such as repetition, imagery, and metaphor, Lorde creates a sense of movement and energy that is contagious. Reading this poem is like being transported to a dance floor, surrounded by people from all walks of life, united by a common rhythm. It is a testament to the transformative power of poetry and the ability of art to connect us to one another. So, let's dance!
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Electric Slide Boogie: A Poem of Empowerment and Liberation
Audre Lorde, a renowned poet, essayist, and activist, is known for her powerful and thought-provoking works that explore themes of identity, race, gender, and sexuality. One of her most celebrated poems, The Electric Slide Boogie, is a vibrant and energetic piece that celebrates the power of dance as a form of resistance and liberation.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a dance party where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to dance the electric slide boogie. The dance, which involves a series of synchronized steps and movements, becomes a metaphor for the struggle for freedom and equality. The speaker notes that the dance is not just about having fun, but also about reclaiming one's body and asserting one's identity in a world that seeks to suppress and marginalize certain groups.
As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more and more animated, urging the dancers to let go of their inhibitions and embrace the joy and freedom of the dance. She encourages them to move their bodies in ways that feel natural and authentic, rather than conforming to societal norms and expectations. In doing so, she celebrates the diversity and uniqueness of each individual, and the power of collective action to effect change.
One of the most striking aspects of The Electric Slide Boogie is its use of language and imagery. Lorde's words are rhythmic and musical, evoking the sounds and sensations of the dance floor. She uses vivid metaphors and similes to describe the dancers and their movements, painting a picture of a vibrant and dynamic community. For example, she writes:
"we are all dancing on the edge of a revolution and it is contagious this electric slide boogie with a rhythm like a heartbeat that cuts through walls and shakes the floor"
Here, Lorde compares the dance to a revolution, suggesting that it has the power to challenge and transform the status quo. She also uses the metaphor of a heartbeat to convey the sense of unity and connection that the dancers feel, as they move together in sync.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its emphasis on the body as a site of resistance and empowerment. Lorde, who was a black lesbian feminist, often wrote about the ways in which marginalized groups are denied control over their own bodies, and how this can be a form of oppression. In The Electric Slide Boogie, she celebrates the act of dancing as a way of reclaiming one's body and asserting one's identity. She writes:
"we are all moving to the rhythm of our own bodies and the beat of our own hearts we are all reclaiming what was taken from us our bodies our voices our lives"
Here, Lorde suggests that dancing is a way of taking back control over one's body and expressing oneself freely. She also implies that this act of self-expression is a form of resistance against the forces that seek to silence and marginalize certain groups.
Overall, The Electric Slide Boogie is a powerful and inspiring poem that celebrates the power of dance as a form of resistance and liberation. Through its use of language and imagery, it evokes the energy and vitality of the dance floor, and celebrates the diversity and uniqueness of each individual. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of collective action and solidarity in the struggle for freedom and equality. As Lorde writes:
"we are all dancing together in this electric slide boogie and we will not be stopped we will not be silenced we will keep moving until we are free"
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