Analysis of Polished Mahogany
Lawrence S. Pertillar 1947 (Connecticut)
So many these days,
Seem consciously limited.
And confined to labels to depict,
The color of 'this' and or 'that'.
With a choosing to pick preferences.
Even today there remains to exist,
Preferences to invite...
And inciting to ignite,
Conflict and racial division.
Over the most foolish,
Of childish nonsense.
That attracts the performance,
Of undeniable witnessed ignorance.
There is no debate or argument,
With me to start over one's skin color.
For those who wish I am kept reminded.
'Yes! I am black. And, I thank you,
For bringing that to my attention.
You must be here on a tour?
The adventure promises to be rewarding.'
Nowhere do I go these days do I see,
No one who is authentically white.
Yellow, brown or black.
But on display they expose a pride to have,
In their colorful ethnicity.
Even though their heritage is mixed.
This is too obvious to ignore.
To notice on a daily basis.
However...
Closely to examine.
I am more a mix of red, brown and black.
Mahogany I call it.
Among others who are also 'mongrel'.
But not identified like that.
The truth to define,
All the time is found traumatic for many.
Yet everyday come what may.
I find a way,
To keep my mind as clear as possible.
Although a challenging task to endure it.
And...
Updated and polished I try to stay.
And admitting quick my blemishes,
With flaws.
Not to necessarily hide them.
But to disguise the finish,
of the appearance...
Aging diminishes!
Scheme | XAXBC XDDEFXGG XHA XEXX IDJXIXXX HXJKLBXI MMLKXMCXXFGC |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 11011 1100100 001110101 01011011 1010111000 1001101101 1000101 0010101 10010010 100110 11010 1010010 1010010100 111011100 1111101110 1111111010 11110111 110111010 1111101 001010011010 111111111 11111001 10111 11011010111 011000100 101110011 111100101 110101010 10 101010 1110111101 0100111 011011101 1101011 01101 10111010110 1101111 1101 1111111100 1010011011 0 0100101111 001011100 11 11010011 1101010 10010 100100 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,376 |
Words | 253 |
Sentences | 36 |
Stanzas | 7 |
Stanza Lengths | 5, 8, 3, 4, 8, 8, 12 |
Lines Amount | 48 |
Letters per line (avg) | 23 |
Words per line (avg) | 5 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 157 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 36 |
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"Polished Mahogany" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/104896/polished-mahogany>.
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