I am really enjoying reading the poems by Countee Cullen. I like how he uses more traditional writing. He uses rhyme schemes that most of the other poets did not use. This makes it easier for the audience to read. I find it very ironic that Cullen uses a lot of refrence to the bible and also confuses his audience on homosexual concepts.
I particullary liked two of the poems that were included in the reading. I liked "Tableau" and " A song of Sour Grapes."
"A Song of Sour Grapes" I liked because it is a little different than his other writings. It has a traditional flow, but the feeling is more of hatered. If you compare it to his "A Song of Praise" where you get a sort of happy in love feeling.
"Tableau" was another favorite. I liked it because you can sense some confusion in the poem. The lines "From lowered blinds the dark folk stare, and here the fair folk talk. Indiognant that these two should dare in unison to walk.
These lines were great. You do not know if the people are staring because of the color line of because they are two men walking arm in arm. This poem reminds me a lot of Nella Larsen's "Passing." It seems as though Cullen is trying to pass as a straight man, but yet his writing has some sort of homosexual theme.
Like Clare, he is trying to pass in both societies. Clare is portraying to her husband that she is white when in reality she is black. In a sense Clare is not being truly honest in society or truly honest in her marriage.
In this poem Cullen seems to be portraying the same thing. He is also lying in his marriage. It isn't that he is trying to pass as a white man, he is trying to pass for a straight man. This poem may have some subtle look into his life. Maybe he had a white male signifaigant other, and it came out in his poetry. Perhaps we will never know!
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The poem, Tableau also reminded me of Larsen’s novel, Passing. Both pieces of writing obviously deal with the idea of race and the crossing of the color line. However, like Larsen, Cullen seems to be exploring the idea of same-sex relationships in a discreet way. Many of those who read this poem and Larsen’s novel may not pick up on the subtle homosexuality that is hinted but that may have been done purposely. I think that this possible exploration of homosexuality through writing during this time is very interesting.
He definitely seems angry in “song of Sour Grapes”, but I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe he was making a comment on the way people hold grudges. A lot of the other poems comment on “having to turn the other check”, or being taught to forgive. Maybe in this way, he was saying it is more important to forgive than to childishly let anger eat away at you. Then again, maybe he was just really anger at someone.
I thought your comparison between these poems and Larsen's novel, Passing was interesting. It really wasn't something I thought about until reading your post and having our class discussion today. The poem that talked about a man not wanting to find another love could be taking as having this homosexual theme. I wouldn't have thought about that at all if it wasn't for the class discussion. It really makes me want to learn more about Cullen and how he is.
The rhyme scheme in Cullen's poems are a lot easier to understand than some of the other poetry that we have seen this year. Your comparison of both of these poems and Larsen's novel was intriguing. I never looked at the poems from this view before.
I agree that "Tableau" was just a GREAT poem. I felt so proud of the two men, proudly walking down the street together. Regardless of whether they were motivated by race or by sexual orientation, they were standing up for what they believed in, even without the support of their community. I think "Tableau" is a real testament to the change that race activists worked so hard for.
I don't necessarily agree with the homosexuality aspect. The teacher said that it is only speculation and has never been proven. Also, the poem never says how old these two people were in the poem. If they are young it wouldn't mean anything for them to walk arm in arm or whatever they were doing down the road. To us yes it does sound weird and could mean they were gay but who knows what was acceptable back then. I went to Bolivia and people there would greet everyone with a hug, kiss on the cheeck or hand shake. It doesn't mean that they are gay its just their way of life and how they greet one another.
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