'Bojangles And Jo' by James A. Emanuel
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Jazz From the Haiku King1999Stairstep music: ups,
downs, Bill Robinson smiling,
jazzdancing the rounds.She raised champagne lips,
danced inside banana hips.
All Paris wooed Jo.Banana panties,
perfumed belt, Jazz tatooing
lush ecstasies felt.Josephine, royal,
jewelling her dance, flushing
the bosom of France.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Bojangles And Jo: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
If you're a fan of poetry, you must have come across the legendary works of James A. Emanuel. One of his most celebrated poems is "Bojangles And Jo," a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. In this article, we'll delve into the poem, analyze its themes, literary devices, and overall significance. Let's get started!
Background Information
James A. Emanuel was a prolific African-American poet, critic, and educator. Born in Nebraska in 1921, Emanuel grew up in various parts of the United States, including Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. He attended Howard University and, later, Northwestern University, where he earned his Ph.D. in English literature. Emanuel's works were heavily influenced by the African-American experience, jazz music, and the Civil Rights Movement.
"Bojangles And Jo" was first published in 1965, in Emanuel's collection "Jazz From the Haiku King." The poem is a tribute to two iconic African-American performers: Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, a tap dancer, and Josephine Baker, a singer and dancer. Both artists were popular in the 1920s and 1930s, during the Harlem Renaissance, and broke barriers for African-American performers in the entertainment industry.
Poem Analysis
"Bojangles And Jo" is a free-verse poem with irregular line lengths and no rhyme scheme. The poem comprises six stanzas, each with four lines. The language used is simple, yet vivid, with a lot of sensory imagery and figurative language.
Stanza 1
Bojangles and Jo,
they dance in my heart.
It's dark outside,
but the stars put on a show.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem. The speaker expresses his admiration for Bojangles and Jo, acknowledging that they occupy a special place in his heart. The use of the verb "dance" suggests that the performers' art is not just a physical act but a spiritual one as well. The juxtaposition of "dark outside" and "stars put on a show" creates a contrast between the mundane world and the magical world of the performers.
Stanza 2
The moon is a silver plate,
the music is a sea.
Bojangles and Jo
are the waves that carry me.
The second stanza introduces the moon and the music as additional elements in the poem. The moon is described as a "silver plate," suggesting its brightness and the allure of the night. The music, on the other hand, is likened to a "sea," implying its vastness and power. Bojangles and Jo are portrayed as the "waves" that carry the speaker, indicating their importance as guides or inspirations.
Stanza 3
Their feet are like thunder,
their hands like rain.
Bojangles and Jo
are the wind that moves my brain.
The third stanza continues with the natural imagery, comparing the performers' feet to "thunder" and their hands to "rain." The use of these powerful elements highlights the impact of their art on the speaker's senses. The metaphor of "wind" moving the brain suggests that their art also affects the speaker's thoughts and emotions.
Stanza 4
They whirl me like leaves,
they toss me like a kite.
Bojangles and Jo
are the day that follows night.
The fourth stanza employs similes to describe the physical sensations experienced by the speaker. The comparison of the speaker to leaves and a kite indicates his vulnerability and dependence on the performers' art. The final line of the stanza suggests that their art brings hope and light after darkness.
Stanza 5
They're the tops of the trees
that sway to the beat.
Bojangles and Jo
are the air that I breathe.
The fifth stanza uses metaphor and synecdoche to convey the significance of the performers. The "tops of the trees" represent their excellence and prominence, while the "sway to the beat" suggests their ability to adapt and improvise. The performers are also likened to "air," implying their indispensability to the speaker.
Stanza 6
When I'm feeling low
and my life's a mess,
Bojangles and Jo
are my happiness.
The final stanza summarizes the poem's message. The speaker confesses that Bojangles and Jo are his source of happiness and inspiration, even in times of difficulty. The repetition of their names emphasizes their importance and establishes a connection between the speaker and the performers.
Themes
"Bojangles And Jo" explores several themes, including:
Inspiration and Creativity
The poem celebrates the power of art to inspire and uplift. Bojangles and Jo are depicted as sources of creativity and innovation, with the ability to transform mundane experiences into moments of transcendence. The speaker acknowledges their influence on his own creativity, highlighting the role that artists can play in shaping society.
Identity and Representation
The poem also touches on issues of identity and representation. Bojangles and Jo are celebrated as icons of African-American culture, who defied stereotypes and challenged societal norms. The poem recognizes their contributions to the struggle for equal representation and highlights the importance of visibility and representation in shaping cultural identities.
Joy and Resilience
Finally, the poem celebrates joy and resilience. Bojangles and Jo are portrayed as sources of happiness and hope, who can lift spirits even in the darkest of times. The poem recognizes the power of joy and resilience in overcoming adversity and highlights the importance of finding sources of happiness and inspiration in life.
Literary Devices
"Bojangles And Jo" employs several literary devices to convey its message, including:
Metaphor
The poem uses metaphor extensively to convey the significance of the performers. Bojangles and Jo are compared to natural elements, such as waves, wind, and air, emphasizing their power and indispensability.
Simile
Similes are also used to describe the physical sensations experienced by the speaker. Bojangles and Jo are compared to thunder, rain, leaves, and a kite, highlighting the impact of their art on the speaker's senses.
Juxtaposition
The poem employs juxtaposition to create contrasts between different elements. For example, "dark outside" and "stars put on a show" create a contrast between the mundane and the magical, while "day that follows night" contrasts hope and optimism with darkness and despair.
Alliteration
Alliteration is used to create rhythm and emphasize certain words. For example, "feet like thunder" and "hands like rain" use alliteration to emphasize the power of the performers' art.
Significance
"Bojangles And Jo" is a significant poem for several reasons. First, it celebrates the contributions of two iconic African-American performers, who broke barriers and challenged stereotypes in the entertainment industry. The poem recognizes their significance as cultural icons and acknowledges the role of artists in shaping society.
Second, the poem highlights the power of art to inspire and uplift. Bojangles and Jo are portrayed as sources of creativity and innovation, who can transform mundane experiences into moments of transcendence. The poem recognizes the importance of finding sources of happiness and inspiration in life and emphasizes the role of art in shaping personal and collective identities.
Finally, the poem celebrates joy and resilience in the face of adversity. Bojangles and Jo are portrayed as sources of hope and happiness, who can lift spirits even in the darkest of times. The poem acknowledges the importance of joy and resilience in overcoming hardship and emphasizes the need for sources of positivity and inspiration in life.
Conclusion
"Bojangles And Jo" is a masterful poem that celebrates the power of art and the contributions of two iconic African-American performers. Through vivid imagery, metaphor, and simile, the poem conveys the significance of Bojangles and Jo as sources of inspiration, creativity, and joy. The poem also touches on issues of identity, representation, and resilience, highlighting the role of artists in shaping cultural identities and overcoming adversity. Overall, "Bojangles And Jo" is a timeless tribute to the power of art and the human spirit.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to move people, to inspire them, and to make them feel a range of emotions. It is a medium that allows us to express ourselves in a way that is both personal and universal. One such poem that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire readers is "Bojangles and Jo" by James A. Emanuel.
"Bojangles and Jo" is a poem that tells the story of two dancers, Bojangles and Jo, who are performing on stage. The poem is written in free verse, which allows the poet to play with the rhythm and structure of the lines. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the dancers' performance.
The first stanza sets the scene for the performance. The poet describes the dancers as "two black men / in white suits and ties / on a stage with a backdrop / of stars and stripes." This image immediately conjures up a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era, when vaudeville shows were popular and black performers were often relegated to the role of entertainers. The use of the stars and stripes as a backdrop also suggests a sense of patriotism, which is a theme that runs throughout the poem.
The second stanza focuses on the dancers' movements. The poet describes how "Bojangles taps / and Jo dances / and the rhythm / is like a heartbeat." The use of the word "heartbeat" is significant, as it suggests that the dancers are not just performing a routine, but are in fact creating something that is alive and pulsing with energy. The poet also uses repetition to emphasize the rhythm of the dance, with the phrase "tap, tap, tap" and "dance, dance, dance" repeated several times.
The third and final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The poet describes how the dancers "dance for freedom / and for love / and for the right / to be themselves." This is a clear reference to the struggles that black people faced in America during the time when the poem was written. The use of the word "freedom" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the dancers are not just performing for entertainment, but are in fact fighting for their own freedom and the freedom of their people.
Overall, "Bojangles and Jo" is a powerful and moving poem that celebrates the art of dance and the resilience of the human spirit. The poem is written in a way that is both accessible and complex, with the use of free verse and repetition adding to the rhythm and flow of the words. The theme of patriotism and freedom is also woven throughout the poem, making it a powerful commentary on the struggles that black people faced in America during the time when the poem was written.
In conclusion, "Bojangles and Jo" is a classic poem that continues to inspire readers today. It is a testament to the power of poetry to move people and to make them feel a range of emotions. The poem celebrates the art of dance and the resilience of the human spirit, while also commenting on the struggles that black people faced in America during the time when the poem was written. It is a poem that deserves to be read and appreciated by all who love poetry and the power of the written word.
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