SongsBy Gwendolyn Bennett

Her lifeBorn in Giddings, Texas July 8, 1902Spent her early childhood in Wadsworth,

Nevada on the Paiute Indian ReservationKidnapped by father and hid in the EastWas awarded a scholarship to Sorbonne,

Paris December,1924

SongI am weaving a song of waters,Shaken from firm, brown limbs,Or heads thrown back in irreverent mirth.My song has the ush sweetnessOf moist, dark lipsWhere hymns keep companyWith old forgotten banjo songs.Abandon tells youThat I sing the heart of raceWhile sadness whispersThat I am the cry of a soul. . . .

A-shoutin' in de ole camp-meeting-place,A-strummin' o' de ole banjo.Singin' in de moonlight,Sobbin' in de dark.Singin', sobbin', strummin' slow . . .Singin' slow, sobbin' low.Strummin', strummin', strummin' slow . . .Words are bright bugles

That make the shining for my song,And mothers hold down babiesTo dark, warm breastsTo make my singing sad.A dancing girl with swaying hipsSets mad the queen in the harlot's eye.        Praying slave        Jazz-band after        Breaking heart        To the time of laughter . . .Clinking chains and minstrelsyAre wedged fast with melody.        A praying slave        With a jazz-band after . . .         Singin' slow, sobbin' low.Sun-baked lips will kiss the earth.Throats of bronze will burst with mirth.        Sing a little faster,        Sing a little faster,        Sing!

Paraphrase I am making a song of forgotten things about

a people that is sweetly reminds you of the bittersweet moments and things may be bad now, but sing with me and things will get better.

Poetic Devices MetaphorWhile sadness whispersWords are bright bugles

Alliteration Singin', sobbin', strummin'

slow . .

Repetition Sing a little faster,

        Sing a little faster,

Imagery Sun-baked lips will kiss the

earth.Throats of bronze will burst

with mirth

The Rhyme scheme is in prose so there is no meter.

Sourceshttp://

www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/bennett/poems.htm

http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/bennett.html