The power of literature cannot be disputed. For centuries, humanity has relied on such forms of literature to communicate complex ideas and emotions. Poems possess the power to present a wide range of meanings to a wide range of individuals. Through poems, one is able to derive the meaning that they find to be relevant to their situation. Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes are just two of the poets who have excited audiences with their creations. Still I Rise is one of Angelou’s most important works while Hughes is credited with penning Mother to Son. These two poems explore interesting and grand themes by relying on different styles and formats. These poems explore important life experiences and offer valuable lessons. While they are similar in some respects, the two poems stand apart from one another. In this essay, a comparison of the poems is offered.
As one reads the two poems, they are able to realize that they share some similarities. The first similarity lies in the themes that the poems explore. One of the common themes in the two poems is pride and strength. In both poems, the personas adopt a defiant and proud voice in expressing their pride in their situations. In Still I Rise, the persona makes it clear that they are proud of their situation. The following lines from the poem make this clear:
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‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
… ‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines (Angelou, 1978).
From the two lines above, it is clear that the persona makes no apologies for behaving as though they have oil wells and gold mines. This is the very essence of personal pride and fulfillment. The personal pride can also be seen in the voice of the person in Mother to Son. The persona is a mother who speaks to her son about her struggles. The mother urges the son to keep striving even in the face of difficulty. She states “So, boy, don’t you turn back” (Hughes, 1925). This mother has clearly risen above the challenges that she has faced. Her ability to defy the challenges and remain positive signals that she is a proud woman who wishes to raise up a strong man who will stand up to life’s challenges.
In addition to the common themes and tone of voice, the two poems are also similar in their use of certain devices. One of these devices is repetition. There are a number of instances where certain words are used repeatedly in the poems. ‘I rise’ is repeated a number of times in But Still I Rise. It could be that Angelou wished to highlight the ability of the persona to rise above the stumbling blocks that hinder their progress. Repetition is used more prominently in Angelou’s poem than in Mother to Son. ‘And’ is the only word that appears in multiple instances in Hughes’ poem. This word is used in those instances where the persona outlines the challenges that she has overcome. It can be argued that the repeated use of the word was intended to highlight the success that the persona has achieved in her quest for freedom from her struggles.
As noted earlier, the two poems share similarities and are also different. One of the most noticeable differences is in their structure and the use of white space. Still I Rise assumes the standard structure of poems. The lines are grouped into stanzas that are almost of equal size. On the other hand, Hughes’ poem makes no use of white spaces at all. This poem is basically a single stanza that conveys the entire message that Hughes intended to communicate. The unconventional structure of Hughes poem does not take away from its effectiveness. Hughes still manages to effectively communicate and excite readers.
The structure of the poems is not the only feature that sets them apart. They are also distinguished by the themes that they shed light on. In an earlier discussion, it was mentioned that both poems explore some similar themes. However, on the grander scale, the themes that they address are very different. On one hand, Angelou focuses her attention on slave pride. Through the poem, she makes it clear that slaves can still embrace their identity and defy their masters. There are many instances where the persona wonders why the person being addressed wonders why they (persona) acts as though they are rich. The persona also makes it clear that she will still rise even when roadblocks are erected to hamper their progress. This can be seen in the following lines:
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise. (Angelou, 1978).
The lines above serve as evidence that Angelou set out to shed light on the strength and resilience of slaves. On the other hand, the main theme that Mother to Son focuses on is resilience. In this poem, the mother reminds the son that she has faced challenges but has managed to rise above them. She goes on to encourage the son to never fall even when life presents him with challenges. The mother states “Cause you find its kinder hard. Don’t you fall now” (Hughes, 1925). It is quite clear that Hughes wished to offer encouragement to all those who are grappling with challenges. She needed to remind them that resilience is needed to face these challenges.
In conclusion, Hughes and Angelou remain two of the most respected poets. Their poems have retained their relevance and power. Angelou speaks for all those who endure injustice. She makes it clear that it is possible to stand up against unfairness and to celebrate life despite the many challenges that individuals face. On the other hand, Hughes clearly wished to appeal to the younger generation that may be discouraged by the challenges that they face. She desired to assure them that these challenges build character and resilience.
References
Angelou, M. (1978). Still I Rise. New York City: Random House.
Hughes, L. (1925). Mother to Son. In The Weary Blues. Urban League Magazine.
