I have to write an essay analyzing this poem. I'm having a lot of trouble since i'm not very good at this kind of thing! I'd really appreciate some insight on it, like a more indepth meaning. (and any reason for the wierd indents???) THANKS

I tried to tell her:
This way the twig is bent.
Born of my trunk and strengthened by my roots,
you must stretch newgrown branches
closer to the sun
than I can reach.

I wanted to say:
Extend my self to that far atmosphere
only my dreams allow.

But the twig broke,
and yesterday I saw her
walking down an unfamiliar street,
feet confident
face slanted upward toward a threatening sky,
and
she was smiling
and she was
her very free,
her very individual,
unpliable
own.

I'm only vaguely familar with naomi's work. Be that as it may, the poem alternates between two metaphores: The twig that is bent and the twig that brakes. Also, the "trunk" completes the metaphore of a tree--family tree. The phrase"this way[...]bent" suggests the first twig is a metaphore for the black family in america and the hardships imposed on them. The second twig that brakes suggests that it is naomi's own, who, fed on her dreams and enjoying freedoms not afforded to naomi, goes her own way: "walking down an unfailiar street": unfamiliar to naomi and blacks in general. That phrase is also a tie to the phrase, "this way." I think you can figure out the rest of the metaphores. As for the wierd indents, they may be what is called a "Carmen Figuratum," which is latin for "In the shape of." The indents may be suggestive of the larger portions of the page (the "white" part) bearing down on the words--get it?! In the last portion, the space supports the idea that naomi's branch is truely independant. This poem is ironically ambiguous--both branches come from the same trunk. It's possible that this speaks of the spiritual connection the poet has to her people, and the spiritual aspect of all artist. I think it was Joseph campell who declared that the artists are the new priests and shammans. I hope I was helpful to you. cosmo.

Notice that the two long lines refer to naomi's branch. what does that suggest to you?

What most likely comes to mind when we hear of something breaking? How does naomi subvert that common understanding? See the irony?

There is a proverb,

As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined.

I don't know if it originated with Alexander Pope, but he gets credit for the quote:

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I don't necessarily see any racial overtones in Madgett's poem, but instead it seems to me to be saying that the speaker wanted her daughter to not fall far from her (the mother's) tree, but to continue in the same way, yet reach higher than the mother had achieved.

Instead, the daughter went her own way, and in doing so, accomplished what the mother wanted all the same.

Hugh, you may have a more clear understanding of what is happening in this poem. However, I honestly believe that there are racial over tones in this poem. They are concealed. The black experience in america can be defined as ambiguous: free by not at liberty; emancipated but still in bondage. The twig grows, but grows in a very circumscribed manner by forces so ubiquitous that the very atmosphere is permeated by them to the extent that even they seem ambiguous--even natural. just a thought. cosmo

You said:

What most likely comes to mind when we hear of something breaking? How does naomi subvert that common understanding? See the irony?

need a little help with that!

I tend to agree with Hugh's interpretation. The undertones that you see, cosmo, may be there, but without knowledge of the poet, how would you know to see them?

pam

Naomi was a black woman born in 1923. Her father was a baptist preacher and her mother a homemaker. Very little is known about both parents. The subject of her poetic works centered mostly on the black experience in america. That's about all the biographical info I know about naomi. If any of know more please share; or if anything i stated is in error, please feel free to correct me. thanks. cosmo.



Post Edited (03-23-05 15:59)

Rachael,
I think the irony is that most of the time when something breaks, well, its broken--ceases to be. when the twig breaks in naomi's poem, it thrives, though in a way all to its own. just a thought. I hope this was helpful to you. cosmo.

Thanks for the notes, cosmo. Truth be known, this is the first poem I have ever read by this author, and I realize the racial slant is a universal topic among black poets, so you could very well be correct. It just does not seem necessary for an understanding of this particular work.

To me, the twig breaking could refer to the nursery rhyme "when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, and down will come baby ... " That is, possibly a mixing of metaphors whereby the mother tries to bend the (baby) twig/branch to a particular direction, but she tried too hard and the offshoot broke. No harm done, however, since the resulting growth was all she could have desired.

The moral? Teach your children as best you can, but realize they will eventually choose their own destiny in the end. Doan worra, be hoppy!

Hugh,
In their works, poets rarely state explicitly what is on their minds, so your point is well taken. I could be just chasing ghosts in this poem. I think it was Freud who said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." Thanks, cosmo.

Or as Kipling said "A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke."

It seems clear Ruddie did not know how to heat up his women.

or he tried with matches. Can guess the disappointing outcome.

Does naomi long MAdgett have a certain technique(s) to writing her poetry?
also what is someof her personal history or background as a child? im doing a report on her so any help would be great! THANKS