from Portable Legacies (page405)
1. What is the mood of the speaker in the opening lines? What images suggest his feelings?
The opening lines suggests melancholy and depression of the persona. "Lately," shows how the persona reflect on his days, and how he became "accustomed", suggesting how life became mundane and boring to him and how "The ground opens up and envelopes me", suggests how he's thinking of death, "The ground", in relations to a grave.
2. What is the significance of the daughter's gesture of peeking into "her own clasped hands"?
His daughter's gesture, "on her knees" and peeking into "her own clasped hands" depicts a form for prayer. Her gesture probably shines some hope on her father as prayers are often related to wants, thanksgiving, or praise and worship. We normally have our night prayers with a appreciative heart and full of thanksgiving. The daughter's gesture might cause the father to re-ponder on the meaning of life, the cause of his depression and the reason of his suicidal thoughts.
His daughter's gesture, "on her knees" and peeking into "her own clasped hands" depicts a form for prayer. Her gesture probably shines some hope on her father as prayers are often related to wants, thanksgiving, or praise and worship. We normally have our night prayers with a appreciative heart and full of thanksgiving. The daughter's gesture might cause the father to re-ponder on the meaning of life, the cause of his depression and the reason of his suicidal thoughts.
3. What does this title mean? How does it explain the closing line?
A preface comes before the story starts (if in the case of a novel), yet a "Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note" shows that probably, there is something that caused him to postpone again and again (the "Twenty Volumes), and keeping back the act of suicide. The closing line, "Her own clasped hands." shows a very pure image where a young girl (presumably), kneeling to prayer, hands "clasped", in conversation with God. Such image often caused people to reevaluate themselves, their connection with God.
A preface comes before the story starts (if in the case of a novel), yet a "Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note" shows that probably, there is something that caused him to postpone again and again (the "Twenty Volumes), and keeping back the act of suicide. The closing line, "Her own clasped hands." shows a very pure image where a young girl (presumably), kneeling to prayer, hands "clasped", in conversation with God. Such image often caused people to reevaluate themselves, their connection with God.
4. Why does Baraka have three short lines, separated as stanzas? How do they convey the message of the poem?
The first two short lines shows the persona's feeling towards life-meaningless and pathetic. His lines "Things have come to that." suggests how he had become so bored with living, how nothing gives him joy anymore. "Nobody sings anymore" suggests how people had become so clockwork, busy in their lives, "sings" is often related to happiness, or emotions. Yet, the last short line, "Her own clasped hands." after all the negativity he felt alone, the presence of his daughter, in such a pure form, probably ignite the fire of hope and belief that there's still something worth waiting and living for in this world.
The first two short lines shows the persona's feeling towards life-meaningless and pathetic. His lines "Things have come to that." suggests how he had become so bored with living, how nothing gives him joy anymore. "Nobody sings anymore" suggests how people had become so clockwork, busy in their lives, "sings" is often related to happiness, or emotions. Yet, the last short line, "Her own clasped hands." after all the negativity he felt alone, the presence of his daughter, in such a pure form, probably ignite the fire of hope and belief that there's still something worth waiting and living for in this world.
5. Why does Baraka begin stanzas with "Lately," "And now," and "And then"? What do these transition words accomplish?
6. How does the speaker feel about his daughter? What does she represent to him?
The daughter symbolizes hope and the reason he is still alive. Her faith in God might have him to reconsider his suicidal thoughts as taking ones life (even own) is against the commandments of God in many religion (I believe). His obligation towards her as a father, to raise her up, is probably another factor, although less beautiful (to live on for an obligation), he needs to provide her with the basic needs of human living. His love towards her as a father is also a considerable reason.
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