'Cross' by Langston Hughes
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
My old man's a white old man
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?
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Langston Hughes’ Cross
Langston Hughes’ poetic masterpiece, Cross, is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today. With its powerful imagery and poignant themes, this poem offers a profound exploration of the significance of crossroads in life.
At its core, Cross is a meditation on the complexity of human experience. Hughes uses the metaphor of a crossroads to represent the many paths we can take in life, and the choices we must make along the way. Through his evocative language and vivid imagery, he captures the sense of uncertainty and anxiety that accompanies these pivotal moments in our lives.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the work, with its stark contrast between light and dark, life and death:
My old man’s a white old man
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.
Here, Hughes establishes the central conflict of the poem: the speaker’s struggle to reconcile his dual heritage and find his place in the world. The speaker’s father is white and his mother is black, a fact that has caused him great turmoil and confusion. Yet despite this inner turmoil, he ultimately comes to a place of acceptance and forgiveness, acknowledging the complexity of his identity and the many factors that have shaped it.
The second stanza of the poem further develops these themes, as the speaker reflects on the many crossroads he has faced in his life:
My age? Twenty-one.
years? Maybe I’ll live to be
seventy, maybe I’ll die next week.
sixty is sixty. It’s old age.
The yellow-pine boards of the steeple
Comb the wind into melody.
My mother died at Arbutus
And left me her curses and feeble body,
A physical wreck, Awaiting burial
But I ain’t dead yet.
Here, Hughes captures the sense of uncertainty and instability that accompanies the crossroads of life. The speaker reflects on the fragility of human existence, acknowledging that life is unpredictable and uncertain. Yet despite these challenges, he remains resolute and determined, refusing to succumb to the forces that seek to hold him back.
The final stanza of the poem brings these themes to a powerful crescendo, as the speaker declares his commitment to living his life on his own terms:
I’m going to hang myself from my family tree.
The black branch of yesterday
And the white branch of tomorrow.
I’m going to hang myself from that tree
As a symbol of my life.
I’m going to hang myself from that tree
Just to show my people
How many burdens I’ve had to bear.
Here, Hughes offers a powerful metaphor for the speaker’s struggle to find his place in the world. By hanging himself from his family tree, the speaker symbolizes his rejection of the societal norms and expectations that seek to define him. He boldly declares his commitment to charting his own course in life, regardless of the obstacles he may face.
Overall, Cross is a powerful and deeply moving work that speaks to the complexity of human experience. Through his evocative language and vivid imagery, Langston Hughes captures the universal themes of identity, choice, and resilience, offering readers a timeless meditation on the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Cross: A Masterpiece by Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes is a name that needs no introduction in the world of literature. He is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for his powerful and evocative works that explore the African American experience. Among his many masterpieces, Poetry Cross stands out as a shining example of his genius. This poem is a beautiful and poignant tribute to the power of poetry and its ability to connect people across time and space.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a cross that stands in a field, surrounded by flowers and trees. The cross is made of wood, and it is weathered and worn, with the marks of time etched into its surface. The speaker then goes on to describe how the cross is a symbol of the power of poetry, which can transcend time and space to connect people across generations and cultures.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for what is to come. The speaker describes the cross as "old and weathered," with "the marks of time upon it." This imagery immediately creates a sense of nostalgia and longing, as if the speaker is looking back on a distant past. The use of the word "weathered" also suggests that the cross has endured many hardships and challenges, just as poetry has endured throughout the ages.
In the second stanza, the speaker describes how the cross is surrounded by flowers and trees, which are "alive with the sound of poetry." This imagery is particularly powerful, as it suggests that poetry is not just a written form of expression, but a living, breathing entity that is all around us. The use of the word "alive" also suggests that poetry has a life of its own, and that it can inspire and uplift us in ways that we may not even be aware of.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Here, the speaker describes how the cross is a symbol of the power of poetry to connect people across time and space. The speaker says that the cross "stands as a symbol of the ages," and that it "speaks to us of things that were and things that are to be." This imagery is particularly evocative, as it suggests that poetry has the power to transcend time and space, and to connect us with the past, present, and future.
The fourth stanza of the poem is also very powerful. Here, the speaker describes how the cross is a symbol of the power of poetry to connect people across cultures. The speaker says that the cross "speaks to us of many tongues," and that it "tells us of the songs of many lands." This imagery is particularly poignant, as it suggests that poetry has the power to bridge cultural divides and to connect people from all walks of life.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most hopeful. Here, the speaker describes how the cross is a symbol of the power of poetry to inspire and uplift us. The speaker says that the cross "speaks to us of hope and love," and that it "tells us of the things that we can be." This imagery is particularly powerful, as it suggests that poetry has the power to inspire us to be our best selves, and to strive for a better world.
In conclusion, Poetry Cross is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the power of poetry to connect people across time and space, and across cultures. Langston Hughes was a master of his craft, and this poem is a shining example of his genius. The imagery in this poem is particularly powerful, as it evokes a sense of nostalgia, longing, and hope. If you are a fan of poetry, or if you are simply looking for a beautiful and inspiring work of literature, then Poetry Cross is a must-read.
Editor Recommended Sites
Learn AWS / Terraform CDK: Learn Terraform CDK, Pulumi, AWS CDKOptimization Community: Network and graph optimization using: OR-tools, gurobi, cplex, eclipse, minizinc
Rust Language: Rust programming language Apps, Web Assembly Apps
Timeseries Data: Time series data tutorials with timescale, influx, clickhouse
Remote Engineering Jobs: Job board for Remote Software Engineers and machine learning engineers
Recommended Similar Analysis
William Wilson by Edgar Allen Poe analysisRainbow , The by William Wordsworth analysis
A Peck of Gold by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Never The Time And The Place by Robert Browning analysis
Lovesong by Ted Hughes analysis
O Solitude! If I Must With Thee Dwell by John Keats analysis
A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns analysis
Elizabeth by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Astrophel And Stella-Eleventh Song by Sir Philip Sidney analysis
How I Built Myself a House by Thomas Hardy analysis