What is the interpretation of Lines 1-8 of: On the Pulse of Morning? I honestly don't know what the author wants the reader to understand in this poem. It seems like an unsolvable question.. Anyone know at least a little about how to interpretate this poem?

Answer 1

Is this the poem?

from On the Pulse of Morning

BY MAYA ANGELOU

A Rock, A River, A Tree
Hosts to species long since departed,
Marked the mastodon,
The dinosaur, who left dried tokens
Of their sojourn here
On our planet floor,
Any broad alarm of their hastening doom
Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.

But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully,
Come, you may stand upon my
Back and face your distant destiny,
But seek no haven in my shadow,
I will give you no hiding place down here.

You, created only a little lower than
The angels, have crouched too long in
The bruising darkness
Have lain too long
Facedown in ignorance,
Your mouths spilling words
Armed for slaughter.

The Rock cries out to us today,
You may stand upon me,
But do not hide your face.

Answer 2

What does that sentence (lines 1-8) say? That a lot of species of animals have come and gone through the ages? As the poem goes on, Ms. Angelou points out that we are now the species that is hosted by the Earth (the rock, river, and tree). What do we do about it? She hopes that we have the courage and grace to look up and out to our fellow man, our country, our rock and river and tree, with hope, and say, "good morning" on this new day. Morning is not the end of the day, it is the beginning. A new day. Face it with hope.

Answer 3

Thanks! I understand now.