Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B

The poems ‘It is the Constant Image of Your Face’ and ‘Dreaming Black Boy’ both address the themes of confessions of hopes and desires.”

Write an essay in which you discuss the theme of hopes and desires that are portrayed in EACH poem. Finally, for EACH poem, discuss ONE device which is used to portray hopes OR desires.

OR

Select TWO poems that deal with the theme of confessions of hopes and desires and discuss the hopes and desires that appear in the poems. In addition, identify and discuss the use of one literary device.

In the poems “It is the Constant Image of Your Face” by Derek Walcott and “Dreaming Black Boy” by James Berry, the speakers express their hopes and desires. Walcott’s poem expresses the speaker’s desire to reunite with a lost love, while Berry’s poem reveals the speaker’s hope for a better future for black people. Both poets use various literary devices to convey their respective messages.

In “It is the Constant Image of Your Face,” the speaker expresses his desire to relive the past with his lost love. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of nature and memories of the past that serve to intensify the speaker’s longing for his lover. Walcott uses imagery to create a powerful picture of the speaker’s surroundings, such as “Rain falls like memory, flooding the city.” This imagery symbolizes the speaker’s longing for his lost love and creates a mood of melancholy and nostalgia.

In contrast, “Dreaming Black Boy” expresses the speaker’s hope for a better future for black people. The poem is filled with images of oppression and discrimination, which highlight the speaker’s hope for a more equitable society. The speaker longs for a world where people are judged by their character and treated with dignity and respect, free from the shackles of racial discrimination. Berry uses repetition of the phrase “I am” throughout the poem to emphasize the speaker’s individuality and to reinforce the idea that his hopes and dreams are universal. This repetition creates a sense of empowerment and reminds readers that every individual has the right to be seen as an individual, not solely based on their race.

Personally, I find “Dreaming Black Boy” more appealing than “It is the Constant Image of Your Face.” The poem’s universal message and emphasis on the individuality of the speaker resonates with me. The poem’s powerful imagery and repetition of “I am” serve to create a sense of empowerment and hope for a more equitable society. It serves as a reminder that we all have the power to make a positive difference in the world.

In conclusion, both poems use literary devices to convey their hopes and desires. “It is the Constant Image of Your Face” expresses the speaker’s desire to relive the past with a lost love, while “Dreaming Black Boy” expresses the speaker’s hope for a better future for black people. Both poems are powerful in their own right, but “Dreaming Black Boy” stands out for its universal message and emphasis on individuality.

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