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Cross Analysis
Author: Poetry of Langston Hughes Type: Poetry Views: 6152
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And my old mother's black.
If ever I cursed my white old man
I take my curses back.
If ever I cursed my black old mother
And wished she were in hell,
I'm sorry for that evil wish
And now I wish her well
My old man died in a fine big house.
My ma died in a shack.
I wonder were I'm going to die,
Being neither white nor black?
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.: :.
This poem is clearly about the struggles between Batman and Two-Face.
Batman is good while Two-Face is bad. However Two-Face also represents
what Batman could've turned into had he not made the right decisions.
The threat of succumbing to the evil thoughts in his own mind are at a
constant war with his will. Two-Face even physically shows the
struggles between Luke and Darth Vader and how that battle itself is
symbolic of the Light Side and Dark Side. Moreover, Terminator and
Rambo show the struggles between man and machine skdjgf
wrkj.gnbfhjkmfdBLARG!
| Posted on 2013-05-23 | by a guest
This poem is clearly about the struggles between Batman and Two-Face.
Batman is good while Two-Face is bad. However Two-Face also represents
what Batman could've turned into had he not made the right decisions.
The threat of succumbing to the evil thoughts in his own mind are at a
constant war with his will. Two-Face even physically shows the
struggles between Luke and Darth Vader and how that battle itself is
symbolic of the Light Side and Dark Side. Moreover, Terminator and
Rambo show the struggles between man and machine skdjgf
wrkj.gnbfhjkmfdBLARG!
| Posted on 2013-05-23 | by a guest
.: :.
Cross:
This poem isn\'t about Langston Hughes at all. It talks about slavery, and a time period that African Americans didn\'t have a say in any aspect of life at all. The speaker of this poem isn\'t happy about his heritage either. The speaker is angry and confused, because he identifies himself as being a nobody. By the tone of the poem, I\'d say that he was much closer to his mother than his father, because when he said \"I\'d take my curses back\" it almost sounded like he was saying it out of fear instead of respect. However when he said rude things to his mother, it almost seems as though he didn\'t mean what he said, but at the same time he knew that his mother still loved him and would never leave him.
| Posted on 2012-03-31 | by a guest
Cross:
This poem isn\'t about Langston Hughes at all. It talks about slavery, and a time period that African Americans didn\'t have a say in any aspect of life at all. The speaker of this poem isn\'t happy about his heritage either. The speaker is angry and confused, because he identifies himself as being a nobody. By the tone of the poem, I\'d say that he was much closer to his mother than his father, because when he said \"I\'d take my curses back\" it almost sounded like he was saying it out of fear instead of respect. However when he said rude things to his mother, it almost seems as though he didn\'t mean what he said, but at the same time he knew that his mother still loved him and would never leave him.
| Posted on 2012-03-31 | by a guest
.: :.
This poem is about his ethnic roots. At that time period Caucasions had all the rights and money while African Americans had nothing. That is why his mom died where she did and his father died where he died. He doesnt know where he will end up because he\'s mixed(biracial) not one race fully. So that is where his confusion is he wonders how he will end up walthy, rich or poor.
| Posted on 2011-10-25 | by a guest
This poem is about his ethnic roots. At that time period Caucasions had all the rights and money while African Americans had nothing. That is why his mom died where she did and his father died where he died. He doesnt know where he will end up because he\'s mixed(biracial) not one race fully. So that is where his confusion is he wonders how he will end up walthy, rich or poor.
| Posted on 2011-10-25 | by a guest
.: :.
The poem \"Cross\" by Langston Hughes is about the speaker\'s life. However, it is not about Hughes himself but could also reflect to his own life. Hughes made this poem sound like the speaker sometimes regretted the things he/she has ever said to his/her parents when they were alive. Even though he/she always took it back whenever he/she cursed or has said something that might have offended his/her parents, he always felt terrible that he/she ever said it to them now that they are no longer with him/her. So, moral of the story I guess is to always think first before you speak.
| Posted on 2011-06-12 | by a guest
The poem \"Cross\" by Langston Hughes is about the speaker\'s life. However, it is not about Hughes himself but could also reflect to his own life. Hughes made this poem sound like the speaker sometimes regretted the things he/she has ever said to his/her parents when they were alive. Even though he/she always took it back whenever he/she cursed or has said something that might have offended his/her parents, he always felt terrible that he/she ever said it to them now that they are no longer with him/her. So, moral of the story I guess is to always think first before you speak.
| Posted on 2011-06-12 | by a guest
.: :.
The poem \"Cross\" by Langston Hughes is about the speaker\'s life. However, it is not about Hughes himself but could also reflect to his own life. Hughes made this poem sound like the speaker sometimes regretted the things he/she has ever said to his/her parents when they were alive. Even though he/she always took it back whenever he/she cursed or has said something that might have offended his/her parents, he always felt terrible that he/she ever said it to them now that they are no longer with him/her. So, moral of the story I guess is to always think first before you speak.
| Posted on 2011-06-12 | by a guest
The poem \"Cross\" by Langston Hughes is about the speaker\'s life. However, it is not about Hughes himself but could also reflect to his own life. Hughes made this poem sound like the speaker sometimes regretted the things he/she has ever said to his/her parents when they were alive. Even though he/she always took it back whenever he/she cursed or has said something that might have offended his/her parents, he always felt terrible that he/she ever said it to them now that they are no longer with him/her. So, moral of the story I guess is to always think first before you speak.
| Posted on 2011-06-12 | by a guest
.: :.
For the record, hughes is the poet but not the speaker. Both huges\' parent were african american. He\'s just relating to someone in that scenario.
| Posted on 2011-05-31 | by a guest
For the record, hughes is the poet but not the speaker. Both huges\' parent were african american. He\'s just relating to someone in that scenario.
| Posted on 2011-05-31 | by a guest
.: :.
The speaker in the poem talks about a regretful man who is despondant about sinister aims towards his/her parents. That is to say his parents have a different races. And the speaker wishes them well wherever they are such as being in the hell. Then,He says that when he hexes them it takes him back. Eventually he comes to a conclusion that everyone dies and it does not how matter he is a black or white.
written by: Iman-T
| Posted on 2011-05-12 | by a guest
The speaker in the poem talks about a regretful man who is despondant about sinister aims towards his/her parents. That is to say his parents have a different races. And the speaker wishes them well wherever they are such as being in the hell. Then,He says that when he hexes them it takes him back. Eventually he comes to a conclusion that everyone dies and it does not how matter he is a black or white.
written by: Iman-T
| Posted on 2011-05-12 | by a guest
.: :.
In this poem, Langston Hughes reflected the idea of slavery in America that happened a long time ago. Langston shows this by comparing his mother and his father. Both parents have a different race and treatment by others.
| Posted on 2011-02-15 | by a guest
In this poem, Langston Hughes reflected the idea of slavery in America that happened a long time ago. Langston shows this by comparing his mother and his father. Both parents have a different race and treatment by others.
| Posted on 2011-02-15 | by a guest
.: :.
Evidently, Langston Hughes married an Asian woman and had white kids. How odd...
| Posted on 2011-01-24 | by a guest
Evidently, Langston Hughes married an Asian woman and had white kids. How odd...
| Posted on 2011-01-24 | by a guest
.: :.
This poem is clearly about the struggles between Batman and Two-Face. Batman is good while Two-Face is bad. However Two-Face also represents what Batman could\'ve turned into had he not made the right decisions. The threat of succumbing to the evil thoughts in his own mind are at a constant war with his will. Two-Face even physically shows the struggles between Luke and Darth Vader and how that battle itself is symbolic of the Light Side and Dark Side. Moreover, Terminator and Rambo show the struggles between man and machine skdjgf wrkj.gnbfhjkmfdBLARG!
| Posted on 2010-11-09 | by a guest
This poem is clearly about the struggles between Batman and Two-Face. Batman is good while Two-Face is bad. However Two-Face also represents what Batman could\'ve turned into had he not made the right decisions. The threat of succumbing to the evil thoughts in his own mind are at a constant war with his will. Two-Face even physically shows the struggles between Luke and Darth Vader and how that battle itself is symbolic of the Light Side and Dark Side. Moreover, Terminator and Rambo show the struggles between man and machine skdjgf wrkj.gnbfhjkmfdBLARG!
| Posted on 2010-11-09 | by a guest
.: :.
I think this poem had a lot of meaning. Hughes is confused about his race but I believe he is going to take it as it comes. As life goes on he will fill in the blanks of his life and heritage
| Posted on 2010-04-12 | by a guest
I think this poem had a lot of meaning. Hughes is confused about his race but I believe he is going to take it as it comes. As life goes on he will fill in the blanks of his life and heritage
| Posted on 2010-04-12 | by a guest
.: :.
I think this poem had a lot of meaning. Hughes is confused about his race but I believe he is going to take it as it comes. As life goes on he will fill in the blanks of his life and heritage
| Posted on 2010-04-12 | by a guest
I think this poem had a lot of meaning. Hughes is confused about his race but I believe he is going to take it as it comes. As life goes on he will fill in the blanks of his life and heritage
| Posted on 2010-04-12 | by a guest
.: :.
Langston Huges was not bi-racial. Both parents, although light skinned were considered Black by all American standards, though in their lineage there was White & Mexican. Langston, like most poets (writers) wrote from what he saw, and life-experiences. I am a Clevelander, and in the archives at Karamu House Theatre, where many of his works were performed, and he lived in an apartment fo a time, is a transcript of his analysis of this poem
| Posted on 2010-01-24 | by a guest
Langston Huges was not bi-racial. Both parents, although light skinned were considered Black by all American standards, though in their lineage there was White & Mexican. Langston, like most poets (writers) wrote from what he saw, and life-experiences. I am a Clevelander, and in the archives at Karamu House Theatre, where many of his works were performed, and he lived in an apartment fo a time, is a transcript of his analysis of this poem
| Posted on 2010-01-24 | by a guest
.: :.
I found, while this poem is a reflection on Huges' own biracial herritage, it also carries an underlining tone of huges being displaced in a society that demands a "lable" (even for the many that do not fall under one particular group) due to a discomfort with catagoryless individuals.
D.Bradley
| Posted on 2009-09-25 | by a guest
I found, while this poem is a reflection on Huges' own biracial herritage, it also carries an underlining tone of huges being displaced in a society that demands a "lable" (even for the many that do not fall under one particular group) due to a discomfort with catagoryless individuals.
D.Bradley
| Posted on 2009-09-25 | by a guest
.: :.
I found, while this poem is a reflection on Huges' own biracial herritage, it also carries an underlining tone of huges being displaced in a society that demands a "lable" (even for the many that do not fall under one particular group) due to a discomfort with catagoryless individuals.
D.Bradley
| Posted on 2009-09-25 | by a guest
I found, while this poem is a reflection on Huges' own biracial herritage, it also carries an underlining tone of huges being displaced in a society that demands a "lable" (even for the many that do not fall under one particular group) due to a discomfort with catagoryless individuals.
D.Bradley
| Posted on 2009-09-25 | by a guest
.: :.
this poem clearly refers to john f newtonraptors statement regarding the sulfite found in the potatoes of ethiopia. to further analyze, i would like to interject that it is inadvisable to expose your lightbulb to nitrous oxide on wednesdays. this poem is most obviously in parallel reference with the long tale of hubert the lamp who went swimming in the waters of finland never to line dance again. in summary, turtle.
thank you and have a good thurday.
| Posted on 2009-05-06 | by a guest
this poem clearly refers to john f newtonraptors statement regarding the sulfite found in the potatoes of ethiopia. to further analyze, i would like to interject that it is inadvisable to expose your lightbulb to nitrous oxide on wednesdays. this poem is most obviously in parallel reference with the long tale of hubert the lamp who went swimming in the waters of finland never to line dance again. in summary, turtle.
thank you and have a good thurday.
| Posted on 2009-05-06 | by a guest
.: :.
I don't think this poem is difficult to understand at all. He pretty much says exactly what he means, no analysis necessary. He is a child of multiracial decent. Like many other blacks in his time, he battled with identity, blaming his parents. When he matured, he realized he was wrong to blame others, because he was truly proud of his heritage, regardless of the difficulties it caused him. He expressed the difference between the death of a white man and the death of a black woman, one of privilege, one of poverty. This may not actually be how his parents died, but in those times, many rich white men had children with African American women, yet they kept separate lives, and often kept it a secret. This poem is representative of the mindset and segregation of races during Hughes's adolescence and even adulthood.
| Posted on 2009-02-23 | by a guest
I don't think this poem is difficult to understand at all. He pretty much says exactly what he means, no analysis necessary. He is a child of multiracial decent. Like many other blacks in his time, he battled with identity, blaming his parents. When he matured, he realized he was wrong to blame others, because he was truly proud of his heritage, regardless of the difficulties it caused him. He expressed the difference between the death of a white man and the death of a black woman, one of privilege, one of poverty. This may not actually be how his parents died, but in those times, many rich white men had children with African American women, yet they kept separate lives, and often kept it a secret. This poem is representative of the mindset and segregation of races during Hughes's adolescence and even adulthood.
| Posted on 2009-02-23 | by a guest
.: :.
I don't think this poem is difficult to understand at all. He pretty much says exactly what he means, no analysis necessary. He is a child of multiracial decent. Like many other blacks in his time, he battled with identity, blaming his parents. When he matured, he realized he was wrong to blame others, because he was truly proud of his heritage, regardless of the difficulties it caused him. He expressed the difference between the death of a white man and the death of a black woman, one of privilege, one of poverty. This may not actually be how his parents died, but in those times, many rich white men had children with African American women, yet they kept separate lives, and often kept it a secret. This poem is representative of the mindset and segregation of races during Hughes's adolescence and even adulthood.
| Posted on 2009-02-23 | by a guest
I don't think this poem is difficult to understand at all. He pretty much says exactly what he means, no analysis necessary. He is a child of multiracial decent. Like many other blacks in his time, he battled with identity, blaming his parents. When he matured, he realized he was wrong to blame others, because he was truly proud of his heritage, regardless of the difficulties it caused him. He expressed the difference between the death of a white man and the death of a black woman, one of privilege, one of poverty. This may not actually be how his parents died, but in those times, many rich white men had children with African American women, yet they kept separate lives, and often kept it a secret. This poem is representative of the mindset and segregation of races during Hughes's adolescence and even adulthood.
| Posted on 2009-02-23 | by a guest
.: :.
I believe what Hughes is trying to convey is a state of racial ambiguity that mixed race people feel. They are not white nor are they black and therefore do not fit into a defined racial category.
| Posted on 2009-02-17 | by a guest
I believe what Hughes is trying to convey is a state of racial ambiguity that mixed race people feel. They are not white nor are they black and therefore do not fit into a defined racial category.
| Posted on 2009-02-17 | by a guest
.: :.
this was hard to undderstand except that he thanks god every day for his life and parents and wants to end up as a good man.
| Posted on 2008-11-07 | by a guest
this was hard to undderstand except that he thanks god every day for his life and parents and wants to end up as a good man.
| Posted on 2008-11-07 | by a guest
.: :.
This shows how to live your life and it was difficult to understand the concept of the learning in the process of undivided indinviduals-a mix between his parents and him and the poverty that was going on due to slavery.
| Posted on 2008-11-07 | by a guest
This shows how to live your life and it was difficult to understand the concept of the learning in the process of undivided indinviduals-a mix between his parents and him and the poverty that was going on due to slavery.
| Posted on 2008-11-07 | by a guest
.: :.
I think the definition of “crossbred; hybrid” works best in this poem because what Langston Hughes is saying is that he is a mixed breed between his mother and father; one is black and poor, the other is white and rich. He is also showing how the blacks were unequivalent to the whites during that time period and he doesn’t know where his life is going to take him. The whites were more respected and the blacks were neglected due to the slavery during that time. I think that Hughes wrote this right after his parents died because he has found out where their lives ended and now he takes all his “curses” back because he wants to live a respected life. He cannot blame his parents from what he turned out to be and he it is undecided if he will turn out to be respected and accepted or neglected and rejected by the society.
| Posted on 2008-11-07 | by a guest
I think the definition of “crossbred; hybrid” works best in this poem because what Langston Hughes is saying is that he is a mixed breed between his mother and father; one is black and poor, the other is white and rich. He is also showing how the blacks were unequivalent to the whites during that time period and he doesn’t know where his life is going to take him. The whites were more respected and the blacks were neglected due to the slavery during that time. I think that Hughes wrote this right after his parents died because he has found out where their lives ended and now he takes all his “curses” back because he wants to live a respected life. He cannot blame his parents from what he turned out to be and he it is undecided if he will turn out to be respected and accepted or neglected and rejected by the society.
| Posted on 2008-11-07 | by a guest
.: :.
This poem was difficult to understand and I didn't really understand the purpose of it. To me it was a complete waste of time. Thank you Langston Hughes. Those are five minutes that I will never get back!!!!
| Posted on 2008-10-28 | by a guest
This poem was difficult to understand and I didn't really understand the purpose of it. To me it was a complete waste of time. Thank you Langston Hughes. Those are five minutes that I will never get back!!!!
| Posted on 2008-10-28 | by a guest
.: Cross :.
this poem to me says that he doesnt respect his mother the same as he does his father. i see it as he is ashamed and is not accepted by society. in time he comes to accept the fact that he can not help where he comes from so he wishes his mother well. he is not sure weather he will die a respected white or a neglected black.
| Posted on 2008-04-10 | by a guest
this poem to me says that he doesnt respect his mother the same as he does his father. i see it as he is ashamed and is not accepted by society. in time he comes to accept the fact that he can not help where he comes from so he wishes his mother well. he is not sure weather he will die a respected white or a neglected black.
| Posted on 2008-04-10 | by a guest
.: :.
I made the connection of Christ dieing on the cross for our sins, and he is trying to get forgiveness from his parents. And also, Christ died on a right side up cross, while St. Peter was buried on an upside down cross, trying to help exemplify the differences between the mother and the father.
| Posted on 2008-02-03 | by a guest
I made the connection of Christ dieing on the cross for our sins, and he is trying to get forgiveness from his parents. And also, Christ died on a right side up cross, while St. Peter was buried on an upside down cross, trying to help exemplify the differences between the mother and the father.
| Posted on 2008-02-03 | by a guest
.: Cross :.
Is it necessary to perpetuate errors from one website to another? In this version of Hughes thoughtful poem, the second to the last line reads: I wonder were I'm going to die. This error appears in many online postings of the poem because people merely copy and paste without thought a human trait that the poem seems to address: prejudices copied and pasted from one generation to the next. The line in question should read: I wonder where I'm going to die. The stanza breaks are also incorrect. Poets make conscious decisions about the wording *and* visual presentations of their poems. To disregard both is an insult to the poem and the poet; and this poem and poet deserve better.
| Posted on 2007-10-24 | by a guest
Is it necessary to perpetuate errors from one website to another? In this version of Hughes thoughtful poem, the second to the last line reads: I wonder were I'm going to die. This error appears in many online postings of the poem because people merely copy and paste without thought a human trait that the poem seems to address: prejudices copied and pasted from one generation to the next. The line in question should read: I wonder where I'm going to die. The stanza breaks are also incorrect. Poets make conscious decisions about the wording *and* visual presentations of their poems. To disregard both is an insult to the poem and the poet; and this poem and poet deserve better.
| Posted on 2007-10-24 | by a guest
.: Cross :.
When I read this poem it made me think of the cross between black and white and how he's unsure of where he stands in america's view because he seems to not have a race. He has denied he is black or white so he cannot possibly be at the same social status as his parents. He is not taken in by the african culture because he is part white and he isn't taken by the whites because he is black. He is taking his curses back from his mother and father because he realizes that this is all he has left of his heritages and without them he is no longer part of either society.
| Posted on 2005-12-08 | by Approved Guest
When I read this poem it made me think of the cross between black and white and how he's unsure of where he stands in america's view because he seems to not have a race. He has denied he is black or white so he cannot possibly be at the same social status as his parents. He is not taken in by the african culture because he is part white and he isn't taken by the whites because he is black. He is taking his curses back from his mother and father because he realizes that this is all he has left of his heritages and without them he is no longer part of either society.
| Posted on 2005-12-08 | by Approved Guest
.: personal :.
this has always been such a personal piece for myself. the depths of confusion can be tricky to one of mixed race as i well know. to me i see this as being a poem for one "crossed" nearing the end of thier own life. it would appear to be the reflection on their own life and the poor judgement that he cast on others. His mortality is questioned once he realized that complete differences that both parents faced in their lives. it seemes that the speaker is now facing his own, knowing that he is indeed neither the class status that his parents held. the confusion and the pain is evident if you can comprehend where he is coming from.
| Posted on 2005-03-08 | by stolie77
this has always been such a personal piece for myself. the depths of confusion can be tricky to one of mixed race as i well know. to me i see this as being a poem for one "crossed" nearing the end of thier own life. it would appear to be the reflection on their own life and the poor judgement that he cast on others. His mortality is questioned once he realized that complete differences that both parents faced in their lives. it seemes that the speaker is now facing his own, knowing that he is indeed neither the class status that his parents held. the confusion and the pain is evident if you can comprehend where he is coming from.
| Posted on 2005-03-08 | by stolie77