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What do you think is the meaning of the poem?
This poem shows the feelings of a black man towards a white woman who face the barrier that separates these two from loving each other, which is race.

What situation or issue do you think inspired this poem?
what inspired the author to write this poem were the racial differences that we live today in our countries that discriminate skin color and minimize them without thinking about their feelings.

Do you think the issues presented in the poem might still be relevant today to some people (not necessarily the African diaspora)?
Of course, if it is still relevant, for example, in the United States there are movements against racism (Black Lives Matter), it is one of them. Racism still exists in our communities regardless of whether you are African American, Latino or Asian. Although through time it has dropped, it has not yet been completely eliminated.

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Elsa González
Claudia Gálvez Aguilar
Moises Fiallos
Elsa Martinez

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What type of poem is it? Lyrics, Narrative or Descriptive?

It is a Lyrics poem because Lyric poems regularly have a tendency to be short. Historically, they have been intended to be sung and set to music. Unlike narrative poetry, lyric poetry  does  now no longer narrates a story. But it expresses the private emotions of the poet.

How many stanzas does it have?

This poema has three  stanzas.

Stanzas 1 is Philosophical: He cannot gaze into the white woman’s eyes as a result of it might be inappropriate of him because of their racial divide. Though he's so drawn to the sweetness of this figure, he is aware  of  that it's wrong and resists the urge to look at her.

Stanzas 2 is Philosophical: Every day he is tormented by having to hear his lover's voice while he speaks and he cannot answer because he knows it would be inappropriate.

Stanzas 3 is Philosophical: The barrier separating these two lovers is the difference in their skin color, which is why he says he can't see "the softly glowing spark of love" in her face  because she can never love him, and if he can love her loved, he would. He wouldn't put her  through hell for the length of time that would accompany an interracial relationship.

How many verses are in each stanza?

It is a stanza comprising 4 strains of verse with diverse rhyme patterns.

Does it have rhymes?

Yes, It has rhymes. On Stanza 1 although and go, day and way. On Stanza 2 heed and Reed. On Stanza 3 face and race, spark and dark.

What is the rhyme scheme?

The rhyme scheme of this verse form is ab-ab. This goes with the rhythm of the poem. All of Claude McKay poems tend to possess this kind of rhyme scheme to remain per his themes and his overall meanings.

What is the theme?

Forbidden interracial love: The teller is therefore clearly taken with with the woman, however keeps a distance from her because of the very fact that he is aware of that their relationship would solely lead to bother for the each of them and since she may ne'er love him back properly anyways, for a way of unjustness and shame would forever lurk in their lives and poison their love.

What is the mood?

The verse form superbly mixes unhappiness with passion because the narrator’s words evoke each sympathy and admiration within the reader.

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1.    Gaze: look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought.

2.    Heed: pay attention to; take notice of.

3.    Reed: a tall, slender-leaved plant of the grass family, which grows in water or on marshy ground.

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What do you predict the poem will be about?
We think this poem is dedicated to the love of a suitor for his damsel.
What emotions do you think it will evoke?
This poem evokes feelings alluding to love or simply the rejection that is received when love or admiration is not reciprocated as it should.

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I must not gaze at them although
Your eyes are dawning day;
I must not watch you as you go
Your sun-illumined way;

I hear but I must never heed
The fascinating note,
Which, fluting like a river reed,
Comes from your trembling throat;

I must not see upon your face
Love's softly glowing spark;
For there's the barrier of race,
You're fair and I am dark.