Thursday, March 15, 2012
They Were My People By: Grace Nichols
They Were My People
by Grace Nichols
They were those who cut cane
to the rhythm of the sunbeat
They were those who carried cane
to the rhythm of the sunbeat
They were those who crushed cane
to the rhythm of the sunbeat
They were women weeding, carrying babies
to the rhythm of the sunbeat
They were my people, working so hard
to the rhythm of the sunbeat - - long ago
to the rhythm of the sunbeat.
Questions to think about:
1. Who were "my people"?
2. What is the historical context?
3. Who is Grace Nichols?
4. What is this poem about?
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Grace Nichols is Guyanese poet. She was born in 1950 in Georgetown Guyana. My people are the olden Caribbeans. The poem is about working in the cane fields.
ReplyDeleteP.S.: FIRST POSTER!
Wow James, that was really cool. How did you find all that out? I know that she got the name of the poem, They Were My People from her home town so that means she was inspired by them :)
ReplyDeleteGrace Nichols is a Guyanese poet. She was born in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1950. After working in Guyana as a teacher and journalist, she emigrated to the UK in 1977.[1] Much of her poetry is characterised by Caribbean rhythms and culture, and influenced by Guyanese and Amerindian folklore.Grace Nichols also challenges us to think about where home really lies. Is it
ReplyDeletethe place we dream about,
the place where we, our friends and family live, or
the place where we do our work?
from,the unicorn eating rainbow cupcakes queen