This poem tells so much about how a 14-year old African American girl is having a psychological dilemma; identity versus role confusion. She's dealing with conflicts; internal-given that she's in the teenage phase constructing a sense of self; external-given that she's of a black race and is being subjected to societal pressures.
With the title "Hanging Fire", it seemed that the girl is in a certain point in time wherein she took a halt even just for a while because there are so much uncertainties enveloping her. It's like in that point of delay she is trying to understand the things around her, especially the things that needed consideration given that she's black. It seemed that the girl lived in an era where there is an intense civil rights movement thus increasing her anxiety level and skepticism of what may the future brings.
In dealing with all these changes, these uncertainties, these dilemmas and confusions, would it be easier if you hold on to somebody who would guide you along the way? In the poem, the girl is trying to reach for her mother, who is "in the bedroom with the door closed". That factor is really important in this phase. Perhaps that's why those last 2 lines are stressed and appeared to be incremental.
With the title "Hanging Fire", it seemed that the girl is in a certain point in time wherein she took a halt even just for a while because there are so much uncertainties enveloping her. It's like in that point of delay she is trying to understand the things around her, especially the things that needed consideration given that she's black. It seemed that the girl lived in an era where there is an intense civil rights movement thus increasing her anxiety level and skepticism of what may the future brings.
In dealing with all these changes, these uncertainties, these dilemmas and confusions, would it be easier if you hold on to somebody who would guide you along the way? In the poem, the girl is trying to reach for her mother, who is "in the bedroom with the door closed". That factor is really important in this phase. Perhaps that's why those last 2 lines are stressed and appeared to be incremental.
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