Background Information
Marilyn Nelson is one of the most acclaimed and celebrated African-American poets. She has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Poetry Society of America’s Robert Frost Medal, a MacArthur Fellowship and two elective memberships to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Nelson is the author of over fourteen volumes of poetry, four books of translations of the ancient Chinese book of poems, the “Odes of Shang”, and four books of prose, including the award-winning memoir, “How I Discovered Poetry”.
Poetics and Language
Nelson wrote poetry in a variety of forms; her poetry explores issues around race, gender, and identity as they manifest in personal and political contexts. Her poetry often combines traditional or classical forms of poetry with autobiographical or confessional language. She often employs alliteration and repetition, in addition to lines of varying length and meter. Of her use of language and poetics, Nelson has said that she “often times like to use the language of the people I’m writing about, so with my Caribbean material, I will use the language of the Caribbean diaspora, and with some of my African-American poetic material I will use African-American English/vernacular English, which I find very powerful.”
Analysis of “How I Discovered Poetry”
“How I Discovered Poetry” is an autobiographical narrative poem in which Nelson describes her journey of self-discovery through language, literature and her love of poetry. The poem is divided into two parts. The first part is titled “Questions” and is made up of two sestets. In the first sestet, Nelson struggles to answer the questions posed to her by those around her about her purpose and place in the world. She voices her dissatisfaction with being limited by the expectations of others. In the second sestet, she rejects the limited definitions of her identity and discovers the power of poetry to define herself.
The second part of the poem is titled “Answers” and consists of a single sestet that Nelson uses to recount the moment she discovered the power of poetry to define her own identity. The sestet is composed of three separate statements. The first statement is a declaration of self-labeling, “I am the chosen poet, with a bag of promises hung round my neck.” The second statement is a description of the experiences of discovery, “I heard the secrets whispered in my speech/Saw them spelled out on billboards and matchbooks/Felt them shining through my eyes.”
The third statement is a declaration of understanding, “I understood it was not the pages of a book/But the vision of a future/That shone in its words.” Nelson uses her experiences and her language to defy external definitions and the limited place she has been assigned. By searching for language and words that express her true self she discovers the power of poetry and reclaims her identity.
Historical Context
Nelson’s poem is not only a declaration of self-discovery but also a critique of the limited definitions of black identity, particularly in American society that have been imposed upon African Americans and other minorities. In the poem, Nelson refuses to accept the limited ways of being that have been assigned to her and discovers the power of language and creativity to define her own identity.
In the 1960s and 70s, many African American writers and poets began to challenge the dominant white, Eurocentric narrative and create literature that reflects their own experiences. This movement of “black aesthetics” sought to create works that explored the experiences of specifically African American communities. Nelson’s poem is an example of this effort to reclaim and redefine black identity through the power of language and poetry.
Modern Applications
Nelson’s poem “How I Discovered Poetry” is often used in classrooms to demonstrate the power of poetry to express and reclaim personal identity. The poem can be seen as a call to action for readers to seek out their own language and words to define themselves. It also serves as an example of the creative power of language and how poetry can be used to explore issues of identity and to challenge and redefine societal stereotypes.
In language classrooms, Nelson’s poem can be an inspiration to students to explore language more deeply and to use words to express their own identities. By introducing students to the power of language and creativity, the poem can be a vehicle for students to explore their own unique voices and thoughts.
Audience Engagement
Marilyn Nelson’s poem “How I Discovered Poetry” speaks to a wide range of audiences as it can be seen as both a statement about black identity and a reflection on the power of creativity. Through the poem, Nelson speaks directly to her readers and encourages them to explore the power of language and poetry to redefine themselves. By providing an intimate view of her own journey of self-discovery, Nelson allows her readers to understand their own experiences and to feel validated in their own stories and identities.
Political Implications
Nelson’s poem “How I Discovered Poetry” speaks to the power of language and poetry to challenge political systems and to redefine societal stereotypes. The poem is a testimony to the power of language and of self-expression and can be seen as an act of resistance against oppressive regimes that attempt to limit the voices and stories of minority groups.
In the poem, Nelson rejects the limited definitions of her identity that have been imposed upon her. By reclaiming her own language and vision, Nelson shows how poetry can be used as an act of resistance and a tool of empowerment. Her poem is a call to action for readers to recognize the power of words and language and to take control of their own identities and narratives.
Retrospective Impact
Marilyn Nelson’s poem “How I Discovered Poetry” is an important example of how literature and poetry can be used as a tool for self-expression and for challenging oppressive regimes. In writing about her own journey of self-discovery, Nelson speaks directly to her audience and encourages them to explore the power of language to express themselves and their experiences.
The poem speaks to the power of stories to shape identity and to reclaim the voices of marginalized communities. It serves as an example of the creative power of language and the impact it can have on its readers. By introducing her readers to the power of language and poetry, Nelson shows how literature can be used to challenge oppressive systems and stereotypes and to redefine personal identities.
Societal Value
Marilyn Nelson’s poem “How I Discovered Poetry” speaks to the societal value of literature and of the power of self-expression. Through her use of language and poetics, Nelson shows how literature can be used to challenge oppressive systems and stereotypes and to reclaim a sense of individual agency.
By declaring her own identity and sharing her own journey of self-discovery, Nelson speaks to the power of story and of language to shape individual identity and to challenge the limited definitions of identity that are imposed upon minority communities. By recognizing the value of literature and storytelling, Nelson encourages her readers to find their own unique voices and narratives and to reclaim their own identities.
Heritage Inspiration
Marilyn Nelson’s poem “How I Discovered Poetry” speaks to the importance of heritage and of using literature to explore one’s own history and culture. Nelson draws upon her own heritage and experience to craft a narrative of self-discovery that speaks to the importance of creativity and of understanding one’s own history.
Throughout the poem, Nelson utilizes references to ancient literature and to her own Caribbean and African-American heritage to explore her own identity and to reclaim her own language and story. By writing about her own experiences and connecting them to the past and to heritage, Nelson demonstrates the value of literature and of exploring one’s history and heritage in order to better understand the present.
Creative Representation
Marilyn Nelson’s poem “How I Discovered Poetry” speaks to the power of literature and of poetry to represent the experiences of minority communities. Through her use of language and references to her own heritage, Nelson redefines her own identity and speaks to the power of story and of creativity to provide a unique representation of one’s sense of self.
Nelson’s poem offers an intimate portrait of her own journey of self-discovery and of the power of language and creativity to create a representation of identity that is not limited by oppressive systems or stereotypes. By crafting a narrative of self-discovery, Nelson shows the importance of literature and of creative representation in exploring individual identity and in challenging oppressive systems.
