Poetry Analysis Assignment: Claude McKay The Citys Love (Article Sample)

Poetry Analysis
Name
Institutional Analysis
Claude McKay The Citys Love
Claude McKay was a Jamaican-born citizen, but residing in New York, in the United States of America. At the time when he wrote his poem, The City’s Love, race differences were getting quite extensive. Black people were not free to live and move around as they wished; life was made hard for them. They were not accepted by Americans. Claude believes he was utterly taken in America, for a short time he dubbed golden moment. He was not alienated, or cast out for being black; he even began to forget he was not like them. The city is blind to his race. This was a rare occurrence; racism was deeply rooted. He gathered delight from this since he must be unique and respected to bring a change of opinion of Americans, even for just a moment.
According to Claude, he felt like his life was sun rising or sun setting, hence the name golden moment. He imagines a light in motion across the city, flushing all the differences and discrimination against black people, both physically and mentally. Then abruptly, the city’s affiliation with white and black people is equaled. And it finally down on him, it was just a moment, a time that the city loved and respected him. He likens this to the way a woman would beseech a man, and bring him to her bosom, only to later cast him out. The temporary nature of the moment does not matter much to the man, but just that during the golden time; he was wanted despite all his shortcomings.
William Carlos William - Love
William Carlos Williams’s Love poem was written in between the years 1883 and 1963. His was to address a lover who does not return the love of her partner. According to William, love does not just happen but is a result of an endless effort by both parties. He insists that it takes two different people from varying backgrounds, who come and merge as one. He likens this to silver and gold joining to form one solid substance. William also recognizes that love does not last forever. He notes that it can be all rosy at one moment, and entirely different to the next, even the possibility of death.
His audience must have been people who are struggling with unremitted love. It is a common issue in the society, both in William’s time and in recent times. The world today, would make much more use of this kind of art, given the prevalent marital and relationship problems evident. On a personal level, though, he is not happy wit...