"On the Pulse of Morning", Maya Angelou

1) THE POEM

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2) VOCABULARY

3. mastodon: a large, extinct, elephant-like mammal 
5. sojourn: a temporary stay
37. cynicism: behavior of distrusting or disparaging the motives of others
89. yoked: oppressed, subjected to
90. brutishness: cruelness 
97. mendicant: beggar

3) ANALYSIS

(a) This poem is about human nature and behavior. It is about the way that humans have, for hundreds of years, acted poorly towards nature and the Earth. The poem is calling on humans to change their behavior so as to no longer have a negative impact on nature, mankind, and our world. The poem provides hope and strength for the audience to change their behavior and appreciate the world they have been given. 

(b) "On the Pulse of Morning" is about the hope of a new day. The poem is both a warning and an invitation to humans. The speaker is telling us that we do not have to keep acting in this awful way, the way that has been damaging our world and creating ignorance and violence in mankind. The speaker is also warning people that they will no longer be able to find comfort or hide away from the problems in the huge world that we live in. The speaker is saying that people need to start being bold and brave in their actions, and they need to stop trying to find comfort in nature, need to stop using it as a crutch, because they are too scared of what the world might hold. The speaker reassures us that humans are strong and can make a change, saying that humans were "created only a little lower than / The angels". The speaker tells us that the Earth wants humans to end their violent and evil nature, "today I call you to my riverside, If you will study war no more." The poem is telling us that although there are parts of nature that are long lost, like dinosaurs, we can make a change in the way we act that will prevent even more losses. The world is still a welcoming place, no matter how many faults we, as humans, have. We do not have to hide from the world any longer, instead, we need to start embracing it, and finding peace in it. 

4) PERSONAL CONNECTION

"On the Pulse of Morning" is a poem filled with messages of hope and comfort. It makes you feel motivated and hopeful. This poem is a call to us to change our ways, and actually makes you realize how and why we need to change. It gives us hope that, despite how damaging our behavior has been, we can still change it and begin to have positive impacts on our world and other people. This poem makes me feel strong and brave, because it does not sugarcoat anything, but rather uses bold and empowering words to make me re-evaluate how I act and how I can make changes to my life. The poem reminds us that the world is not a safety blanket, and cannot cover up our flaws, rather, it can make us strong. I, like everyone else, have experienced feeling lost and hopeless before, but this poem emits strength and courage to face up to our actions and make the brave changes that are long overdue.