Hanging Fire by Audre Lorde 1 I am fourteen 2 and my skin has ...

Hanging Fireby Audre Lorde1 I am fourteen2 and my skin has betrayed me3 the boy I cannot live without4 still sucks his thumb5 in secret6 how come my knees are7 always so ashy8 what if I die9 before morning10 and momma's in the bedroom11 with the door closed.12 I have to learn how to dance13 in time for the next party14 my room is too small for me15 suppose I die before graduation16 they will sing sad melodies17 but finally18 tell the truth about me19 There is nothing I want to do20 and too much21 that has to be done24 Nobody even stops to think25 about my side of it26 I should have been on Math Team27 my marks were better than his28 why do I have to be29 the one30 wearing braces31 I have nothing to wear tomorrow32 will I live long enough33 to grow up34 and momma's in the bedroom35 with the door closed.

3. AudienceThe audience for this poem is the readers. Even though it’s written in first person, the readersget the impression that the speaker is sharing about her life.4. MessageThe poem points out five things about how the period of adolescence can affect teenagers.●●●●●Wanting to fit in.○ Enjambment■ “I have to learn how to dance / in time for the next party” [line 12 ­ 13]■ “Why do I have to be / the one / wearing braces” [line 26 ­ 28]Deceitful and competitive.○ Alliteration■ “suppose I die before graduation / they will sing sad melodies / but finally /tell the truth about me” [line 15 ­ 18]○ Enjambment■ “suppose I die before graduation / they will sing sad melodies / but finally /tell the truth about me” [line 15 ­ 18]○ Amplification and diction■ “I should have been on Math Team / my marks were better than his” [line25]Judged○ Enjambment■ “the boy I cannot live without / still sucks his thumb / in secret” [line 3 ­ 5]○ Amplification and diction■ “how come my knees are / always so ashy” [line 6 ­ 7]■ “I have to learn how to dance / in time for the next party” [line 12 ­13]■ “I have nothing to wear tomorrow” [line 29]Pressured○ Enjambment, paradox and diction■ “there’s nothing I want to do / and too much / that has to be done”Neglected○ Motif■ “and momma’s in the bedroom / with the door closed”○ Enjambment■ “Nobody even stops to think / about my side of it”

5. Tone and RhythmThe tone of the whole poem is gloomy; it sounds like the speaker is sulking about her lifeas a teenager. The poem’s tone works nicely with the rhythm of the poem. Since thereare quite a lot of words with s’s, r’s and t’s, readers are forced to read the poem in a slowand deliberate manner. All in all, the slow pace and dragged tone of the poem supportsthe message of the poem, that adolescents is a tough time for adolescents becausethey’re trying to find their place in society.6. ConclusionOverall, “Hanging Fire” communicates that adolescence is a period full of struggle andinsecurities to its audience, the readers. Although Audre Lorde admitted to have writtenthe poem from the perspective of an African­American teenage girl, I feel that this poemgeneralizes the adolescent experience for every adolescent. This is because the desireto belong, fear of other people’s judgements, and feeling neglected from time to time aremundane feelings that are not foreign to adolescents. I believe that through the poem,Audre Lorde has managed to transport its readers into the shoes of an adolescent, andthis is interesting considering that Lorde was a 50­year­old woman when she wrote thepoem. Lorde found a way of thinking like a 14­year­old in a 50­year­old body.To conclude, although having “hanging fire” as the title of the poem might seem uncanny,“hanging fire” is actually an idiom that means to delay or wait. In the context of attitude, itmeans to adopt the “wait and see” attitude when handling a problem. This title fits thepoem nicely because that’s exactly what the speaker is doing, she’s waiting to seewhat’s in store for her after adolescence.“what if I die / before morning” [line 8 ­ 9]“suppose I die before graduation” [line 15]“will I live long enough / to grow up” [line 30 ­ 31]“my room is too small for me” [line 14]