For Selma

Poetry.......it seems as if this type of writing has actually begun to grow on me. Every time I search for a different poem to incorporate into one of my blogs, I end up coming across a new poet who's words leave a lasting impact on my mental state while at the same time dazzle my thoughts with the way these rhythmic pieces of writing are filled with hidden, memorable messages. Poems, though instrument less and beat less, are like songs whose "lyrics” simply cannot be ignored. These short little snippets of speech seem to always leave me with a lifted mental state; the majestic formation of every stanza is something that I, for one, cannot get a complete grasp on, yet, the way various beloved poets repeatedly spur fourth words of wisdom continues to amaze me. Seeing how I’m personally unfamiliar with the majority of the poets out there, finding the perfect poem to blog about never comes easy. Yet, when I find one that I particularly like, it sticks. These poems stick to my memory not just for the reason that they are short, sweet, and to the point (I can’t even help it, excess wording usually has me losing interest within the first three seconds of reading a poem) but also because the messages they secretly portray seem to always jump out at me. One poem specifically whose message happens to grab my attention, within the first few lines, is "For Selma", by Langston Hughes; this piece of poetry goes a little something like this:

“In places like

Selma, Alabama

Kids say,

In places like

Chicago and New York….

In places like

Chicago and New York

Kids say,

In places like

London and Paris….

In places like

London and Paris

Kids say,

In places like

Chicago and New York….”

So this poem is pretty repetitive, not going to lie, but the message within it always seems to grab my attention. I’ve read the poem over and over again and it seems as if every time the message it speaks becomes clearer. “For Selma” sheds light on the fact that people, no matter where they are in the world, no matter how beautiful the city in which they live is, always want more. From a young age, people begin to dream big, continuously imagining themselves in various locations throughout the world meeting new people, learning new things, and making a name for themselves. Unsatisfied within the place in which they live, people always strive to move from location to location in the hopes that changing their environment will spark a sudden life changing movement for them to take hold of. “In places like Chicago and New York……”; the repetitive notion of these lines allowed Langston Hughes to accurately depict the way people of his specific time period we’re feeling at that time. America has faced various downfalls, and when the reality that some people were living became too much to bear, the idea of going off into another country and starting from scratch seemed more tempting than ever. People are constantly moving; our emotions repeatedly impact our decisions, impulses, and internal state of mind. Humans, being the complex figures that we are, let passions run wild and steer the direction of our hearts desires/future doings. The urge to constantly fill our lives with excitement and spontaneity is what draws people towards the question of what is out there for them in “places like Chicago and New York”. Ya feel me?