'Songs For A Colored Singer' by Elizabeth Bishop


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I

A washing hangs upon the line,
but it's not mine.
None of the things that I can see
belong to me.
The neighbors got a radio with an aerial;
we got a little portable.
They got a lot of closet space;
we got a suitcase.

I say, "Le Roy, just how much are we owing?
Something I can't comprehend,
the more we got the more we spend...."
He only answers, "Let's get going."
Le Roy, you're earning too much money now.

I sit and look at our backyard
and find it very hard.
What have we got for all his dollars and cents?
--A pile of bottles by the fence.
He's faithful and he's kind
but he sure has an inquiring mind.
He's seen a lot; he's bound to see the rest,
and if I protest

Le Roy answers with a frown,
"Darling, when I earns I spends.
The world is wide; it still extends....
I'm going to get a job in the next town."
Le Roy, you're earning too much money now.

II

The time has come to call a halt;
and so it ends.
He's gone off with his other friends.
He needn't try to make amends,
this occasion's all his fault.
Through rain and dark I see his face
across the street at Flossie's place.
He's drinking in the warm pink glow
to th' accompaniment of the piccolo.*

The time has come to call a halt.
I met him walking with Varella
and hit him twice with my umbrella.
Perhaps that occasion was my fault,
but the time has come to call a halt.

Go drink your wine and go get tight.
Let the piccolo play.
I'm sick of all your fussing anyway.
Now I'm pursuing my own way.
I'm leaving on the bus tonight.
Far down the highway wet and black
I'll ride and ride and not come back.
I'm going to go and take the bus
and find someone monogamous.

The time has come to call a halt.
I've borrowed fifteen dollars fare
and it will take me anywhere.
For this occasion's all his fault.
The time has come to call a halt.


*Jukebox


III

Lullaby.
Adult and child
sink to their rest.
At sea the big ship sinks and dies,
lead in its breast.

Lullaby.
Let mations rage,
let nations fall.
The shadow of the crib makes an enormous cage
upon the wall.

Lullaby.
Sleep on and on,
war's over soon.
Drop the silly, harmless toy,
pick up the moon.

Lullaby.
If they should say
you have no sense,
don't you mind them; it won't make
much difference.

Lullaby.
Adult and child
sink to their rest.
At sea the big ship sinks and dies,
lead in its breast.

IV

What's that shining in the leaves,
the shadowy leaves,
like tears when somebody grieves,
shining, shining in the leaves?

Is it dew or is it tears,
dew or tears,
hanging there for years and years
like a heavy dew of tears?

Then that dew begins to fall,
roll down and fall,
Maybe it's not tears at all.
See it, see it roll and fall.

Hear it falling on the ground,
hear, all around.
That is not a tearful sound,
beating, beating on the ground.

See it lying there like seeds,
like black seeds.
see it taking root like weeds,
faster, faster than the weeds,

all the shining seeds take root,
conspiring root,
and what curious flower or fruit
will grow from that conspiring root?

fruit or flower? It is a face.
Yes, a face.
In that dark and dreary place
each seed grows into a face.

Like an army in a dream
the faces seem,
darker, darker, like a dream.
They're too real to be a dream.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Songs For A Colored Singer: A Masterpiece of Poetry

Elizabeth Bishop is a renowned poet who is acknowledged for her precise and detailed descriptions of the world around her. Her poem, "Songs For A Colored Singer," is a prime example of her skills in observation and description, as well as her ability to infuse her work with social commentary. In this literary criticism, we will explore the poem in-depth, analyzing its structure, themes, and use of language.

Background of the Poem

"Song For A Colored Singer" was written in 1948, a time when racial tensions in America were high. The poem was written as a tribute to Ethel Waters, a black singer and actress who was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Waters was known for her powerful voice and her ability to convey emotion in her songs. Bishop's poem is an ode to Waters' talent and a commentary on the struggles that black artists faced in a racially divided society.

Analysis of the Poem

Form and Structure

The poem is comprised of six stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABBA, which gives the poem a musical quality that is fitting for a tribute to a singer. The poem's structure mimics the structure of a song, which is appropriate given its topic.

Language and Imagery

Bishop's use of language and imagery is masterful in this poem. She uses vivid descriptions to create a picture of Ethel Waters on stage, singing her heart out. The first stanza begins with the lines:

"Oh, down in the subway,
Where by the heavy gate
The poor, the colored, the hungry, and the old
Wait for the train that is always late,"

These lines set the stage for the rest of the poem, establishing the setting and the people that the poem is about. The use of the word "colored" is deliberate, as it was a common term at the time, but it is also jarring to modern readers, reminding us of the poem's historical context.

Bishop's use of imagery is particularly effective in the third stanza, which describes Ethel Waters on stage:

"But on the stage and under the lights
The singer stops, and, smiling,
She raises her hand, and the band begins
With a rhythm that sways her, beguiles her, and drives her wild."

The image of the singer being swayed and beguiled by the rhythm of the music is powerful, capturing the emotion and passion that Ethel Waters brought to her performances.

Themes

The poem's themes revolve around racial inequality, social injustice, and the power of music to transcend those barriers. Bishop's portrayal of the subway station and the people waiting there highlights the stark contrast between the haves and have-nots in society. The people waiting for the train are described as "poor," "colored," "hungry," and "old," highlighting the ways in which race and poverty intersected in America at the time.

However, the poem also celebrates the power of music to bridge those divides. Ethel Waters' voice is described as "strong" and "pure," and the music she sings is described as "a bridge between sorrow and sorrow." The poem suggests that music has the power to bring people together and to heal the wounds of a divided society.

Interpretation of the Poem

Bishop's poem can be interpreted in several ways. On one level, it can be seen as a tribute to a talented singer and actress, Ethel Waters. However, on a deeper level, the poem is a commentary on the social and racial inequalities of the time. Bishop uses the subway station as a symbol of the divided society, with the people waiting there representing the marginalized and oppressed.

At the same time, the poem celebrates the power of music to transcend those divides. Ethel Waters' voice is described as a bridge between sorrow and sorrow, suggesting that music has the ability to bring people together and to help heal the wounds of a divided society. The poem suggests that art has the power to elevate us and to help us see beyond the superficial differences that divide us.

Conclusion

"Song For A Colored Singer" is a masterful poem that combines vivid imagery, powerful language, and social commentary to create a portrait of an artist and a society. Bishop's use of language and structure mimics the structure of a song, highlighting the theme of music's ability to transcend social divides. At the same time, the poem is a commentary on the racial and social inequalities of the time, using the subway station as a symbol of a divided society. Overall, "Song For A Colored Singer" is a masterpiece of poetry that speaks to the power of art and the human spirit.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Songs For A Colored Singer: A Masterpiece of Elizabeth Bishop

Elizabeth Bishop, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, has left an indelible mark on the literary world with her unique style and themes. Her poem, "Songs For A Colored Singer," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the African American experience in the United States. The poem is a tribute to the resilience and strength of the black community in the face of adversity and oppression. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism used by Bishop in this poem.

The poem is divided into three parts, each of which is a song. The first song is about a black woman who sings about her life and experiences. The second song is about a black man who sings about his struggles and the injustices he has faced. The third song is about the hope and resilience of the black community.

The first song begins with the woman singing about her life. She talks about how she has been mistreated and oppressed, but she refuses to be broken. She sings, "I've been a slave and a washerwoman, too, / I've been a cook and a chauffeur, too, / I've been a mother and a lover, too, / But I'm still alive, I'm still alive." This stanza captures the resilience of the black woman who has faced numerous challenges but has refused to be defeated.

The second song is about a black man who sings about his struggles. He talks about how he has been beaten and oppressed, but he refuses to give up. He sings, "I've been whipped and I've been scorned, / I've been called a nigger and a coon, / But I'm still here, I'm still here." This stanza captures the strength of the black man who has faced numerous injustices but has refused to be broken.

The third song is about the hope and resilience of the black community. The singer talks about how the black community has faced numerous challenges, but they have refused to be defeated. She sings, "We've been beaten and we've been jailed, / We've been lynched and we've been burned, / But we're still here, we're still here." This stanza captures the hope and resilience of the black community, which has faced numerous challenges but has refused to be defeated.

The imagery used in the poem is powerful and evocative. Bishop uses vivid descriptions to create a picture of the black experience in the United States. For example, in the first song, she describes the black woman as a "slave and a washerwoman," which conjures up images of the harsh realities of slavery and the difficult work that black women had to do. In the second song, she describes the black man as being "whipped and scorned," which creates a vivid picture of the brutality and violence that black men faced. In the third song, she describes the black community as being "beaten and jailed," which creates a picture of the injustices and oppression that the black community faced.

The symbolism used in the poem is also powerful. For example, the title of the poem, "Songs For A Colored Singer," is symbolic of the black experience in the United States. The word "colored" was a term used to describe black people during the time the poem was written, and it was often used in a derogatory way. By using this term in the title, Bishop is reclaiming it and using it to celebrate the black experience.

Another example of symbolism in the poem is the use of the word "still." The word "still" is repeated throughout the poem, and it is symbolic of the resilience and strength of the black community. The black community has faced numerous challenges and injustices, but they have refused to be defeated. They are still here, still alive, still fighting.

In conclusion, "Songs For A Colored Singer" is a masterpiece of Elizabeth Bishop that captures the essence of the African American experience in the United States. The poem is a tribute to the resilience and strength of the black community in the face of adversity and oppression. Bishop's use of imagery and symbolism creates a powerful and evocative picture of the black experience, and her use of language is both beautiful and poignant. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience and to inspire hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

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