What is the poem orchids about by Hazel Simmons McDonald?
LITERAL MEANING She has sent her belongings to her future home, but one item remains in her old space, an orchid. The persona clarifies that she was given the orchid as a gift, but implies that it holds no value because the gifting of orchids is habitual for the person who gave her.
How does the persona’s tone shift throughout the poem orchids?
The poet’s use of blank verse (lacks rhyming pattern) effectively captures the persona’s struggle between hope and despair as she narrates (tells her life-story) with a tone that similarly and occasionally shifts between feelings of optimism and pessimism, adding to a mood that varies between contemplative serenity and …
When was Hazel Simmons McDonald born?
1947 (age 75 years)
Hazel Simmons-McDonald/Date of birth
Hazel Simmons-McDonald (born 1947) is a St. Lucian writer and linguist. She is known for her work as a professor and administrator at the University of the West Indies, as well as her poetry, which has been published in periodicals, anthologies, and the 2004 collection Silk Cotton and Other Trees.
What is the poem ol Higue about?
This is about the Caribbean folklore figure, a woman who changes into a ball of fire at night, and flies around, seeking out babies and sucking their blood.
What is the poem West Indies USA about?
The poet also seems to making a connection between the USA’s acquisition of Puerto Rico in 1898 and the USA’s annexing of Texas from Mexico in 1845. He therefore establishes a relation between the prosperity of both the state and the island.
Who is the persona in the poem dreaming black boy?
The persona dreams of having Paul Robeson’s voice as his own. This alludes to Paul Robeson, an African American icon known for his deep, distinctive voice.
What is the poem once upon a time by Gabriel Okara about?
‘Once Upon a Time’ is a free verse poem that focuses on a father’s attitude to cultural change and times past, before the incoming Western culture affected the native African way of life. In the poem, the man (presumably a father) addresses the son, telling him in a rather nostalgic manner, how things used to be.
What is the poem orchids about?
This conveys the indifference of the persona; the orchids are simply a passing gift, which, to her, are only worth a single watering and nothing more. The poet utilizes an alliteration encapsulated within a simile to relate the blossoms to poems in ‘when the blossoms were full blown like polished poems.
Why is OL Higue attracted to baby’s blood?
The pure, untainted scent of babies’ blood tempts her- she finds their aroma irresistible. The alliteration in “singing the sweet song of life” conveys the attractive quality of these infants’ blood to the Ole Higue. The blood of the children represent new life- life which she has been trying to hold on to for years.
What complaint does ol Higue make in stanza one quote the expressions which support your answer?
– Stanza 1, lines 6-8: The Ol’ Higue is emphasizing the fact that regular people ingest blood too, just in a more palatable manner. She would not mind if she could ingest it in the same manner as well.
Who is the persona in the poem West Indies USA?
These ‘desperate blacks’ to whom the persona is referring are the poor people of the Caribbean. If they converge on the glistening San Juan, sucking up its resources, then it might become re-enslaved by poverty. A backyard means one of two things for people.
What does not sink to lick boots mean?
‘not sink to lick boots’ This refers to the concept of being subservient. To have no choice but to kowtow to people in order to get ahead.
What is the meaning of the poem orchids by Hazel Simmons McDonald?
The Poem titled Orchids composed by Hazel Simmons McDonald, focuses on the authors contemplation on a brief five weeks life on a single orchid plant and although the orchids had very little value to the author, The orchid is the symbol of her reaction to brief five week life.
Why does the orchid hold no value to the persona?
She has sent her belongings to her future home, but one item remains in her old space, an orchid. The persona clarifies that she was given the orchid as a gift, but implies that it holds no value because the gifting of orchids is habitual for the person who gave her. She describes the flower as odourless, but attractive.
What can the beauty of the orchids be likened to?
The beauty of the orchids can be likened to the beauty of well-written poetry. The persona anticipates the fading beauty of the orchids—their message/meaningfulness/value—the allegory here may be true of poetry as well, however, they outlived his expectations.