The Second Coming Analysis

            This poem is meant to be an interpretation of the end of civilization, and with it, the promised Second Coming. When the event doesn’t occur, the narrator is drawn towards the description of the Sphinx, another supposed savior of an ancient civilization that was lost to history. The Sphinx, in turn, leads him to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ.

            There appears to be no discernable rhyme scheme. The poem is in extremely difficult to discern iambic pentameter (blank verse), but is almost at the point of freeverse.

“The ceremony of innocence is drowned”

~ Implies it didn’t exist in the first place.

~ Dark tone conveyed, specific death “drowned”

“Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world”

  

~ Sole use of anarchy, implies brute force

~ Loosed implies left off its leash

Still I Rise Analysis

This poem appears to be about the defiance of a person in the face of an oppressor. As the narrator develops the story, more and more defiant language is introduced, enforcing this concept of defiance. The ending also makes a passing reference to slavery at the end, and how the narrator is the culmination of their struggle, or at least another torchbearer along the route. (Reconciling struggles as an African American and as a woman)

The rhyme scheme is an interesting one, as the first and third line do not rhyme, but the second and fourth do. (ABCB) However, in the last verse, there is a change so that every pair of lines rhymes (minus "I rise," however). This is an example of a lyric (ballad) poem. (Ending is person rising up against natural progression)

"You may write me down in history/With your bitter, twisted lies."

~ Conveys deep meaning to intended target of poem
~ Harsh words, conveys lots of emotions

"I am the dream and the hope of the slave"

~ Hopeful passage, lots of weight behind it
~ Well worded and placed within the poem

(Use of material objects to outline self esteem. Oil, diamonds, gold conflicting items? Acts richer through her self esteem)