Project 2: Poetry Map (A. Chau) by Anthony Chau

Saturday's Child by Countee Cullen

achau1_1 — 2025-10-14 17:47:41 UTC

Some are teethed on a silver spoon, - A

With the stars strung for a rattle; - B

I cut my teeth as the black raccoon- - A

For implements of battle. - B

Some are swaddled in silk, and down. - C

And heralded by a star; - D

They swathed my limbs in a sackcloth gown - C

On a night that was black as tar. - D

For some, godfather and goddame - E

The opulent fairies be; - F

Dame Poverty gave me my name, - E

And Pain godfathered me. - F

For I was born on Saturday- - G

"Bad time for planting a seed." - H

Was all my father had to say. - G

And. "One mouth more to feed." (My Favorite Line) - H

Death cut the strings that gave me life, - I

And handed me to Sorrow, - J

The only kind of middle wife - I

My folks could be or borrow - J

Vocabulary

achau1_1 — 2025-10-14 17:49:32 UTC

Implements - A tool, utensil, or other pieces of equipment, especially used for a particular purpose

Heralded - A sign that something is about to happen

Swathed - Wrap in several layers of fabric

Opulent - Rich, Luxurious, Lavish

Repetitions

achau1_1 — 2025-10-14 17:49:56 UTC

Alliterate

Some are teethed on a silver spoon
Some & Silver
Spoon & Raccoon
Rattle & Battle
Down & Gown
Star & Tar
Goddame & Name
Be & Me
Saturday & Say
Seed & Feed
Life & Wife
Sorrow & Borrow

Assonance

"Death cut the strings that gave me life, And handed me to Sorrow"
"Some are teethed on a silver spoon"
"Some are swaddled in silk and down"
"For some, godfather and goddame"
"The opulent fairies be;"
"Dame Poverty game me my name"
"I cut my teeth as the black Raccoon"
"And Pain godfathered me."
And. "One mouth more to feed."
"Death cut the strings that have me life,"

Echoes

achau1_1 — 2025-10-14 18:36:20 UTC

Some are teethed on a silver spoon
With the stars strung for a rattle
I cut my teeth as the black raccoon
For implements of battle
Dame Poverty gave me my name
And Pain godfathered me
Bad time for planting a seed
Was all my father had to say
Death cut the strings that gave me life
And handed me to Sorrow

Some, For, And, & Me

Rhyme Scheme

achau1_1 — 2025-10-14 21:42:31 UTC

Spoon & Raccoon
Rattle & Battle
Down & Gown
Star & Tar
Goddame & Name
Be & Me
Seed & Feed
Life & Wife
Sorrow & Borrow

ABAB

CDCD

EFEF

GHGH

IJIJ

The poem provides two lines of verses known as a couplet, and four line stanzas known as quatrains. The poem is not considered a free verse because the poem is written in a traditional structure, providing multiple rhyme schemes, and the common ABAB scheme as seen in other common poems.

Tensions

achau1_1 — 2025-10-14 21:54:21 UTC

Tensions

The poem provides tension when the author provides information about the harsh life of being a poor person growing up in the early 20th century with despair, poverty, and sorrow.
"I cut my teeth as the black raccoon"
"And Pain godfathered me."

Contrasts

The poem contrasts "Some are teethed on a silver spoon" & "With the stars strung for a rattle;" It represents a contrast between the wealthy, and the harsh reality for the poor, and what they have to go through for any form of income.
The poem contrasts fairytale, and the harsh reality of life. "The opulent fairies be;" "Dame Poverty gave me my name", "And Pain godfathered me."

Images

achau1_1 — 2025-10-14 22:00:39 UTC

While reading the poem, what I imagine are scenes of the harsh reality of observing poor families, including their children working long hours trying to sell fruits, vegetables, and newspapers to customers in the streets walking around in shattered clothing, while getting filthy, with some becoming ill. Also, observing sweaty, and exhausted male and female workers at factories moaning in agonizing pain with uncontrollable hands and bony fingers while dreaming about hope, and a rich life like the more privileged families, but most dreams have already sunk, resulting with sorrow, and despair that there is no way other out of a life involving poverty, and lack of opportunities to be able to feed family members, and pay rent. Mothers being forced to sell their belongings and their own flesh and blood for any form of income. Babies pouting as some families can't afford to keep them, selling them, and praying they would live a better life than them. Individuals are looking at a far view of wealthy cities, becoming frustrated with the wealthy, with the injustice, and inequality.

Memories

achau1_1 — 2025-10-14 22:39:31 UTC

When the poem was discussing about fairies in the middle of the poem, I remember as a young child I would read fairytale books, and would draw countless drawings of my future that were full of fairytales, but then as I got older and began to learn more about life, and expectations, I soon learned that life at times can be easy for you, but then you develop responsibilities such as chores, school work, a job, and so on reflecting life as a joyful fairytale from a young boy, to understanding more about how life is when children become older and deal with responsibilities.
When I read, "And, One mouth more to feed", I began to form another memory from my childhood involving how difficult my childhood was with a family who were struggling financially needing to share a room with a few of my siblings living in a small apartment at the time, and then after I was born, It became more difficult, adding one more mouth more to feed, where my parents worked longer shifts, and I was mostly cared by my siblings and aunts.
When I read, "For implements of battle", I remember a memory from my childhood when I visited my Uncle who was serving in the Army in Latin America explaining his stories to me, and my siblings about the specifics of the firearms he used, and tactics while serving, and how serving had changed his perspectives of life, and became inspired by his cadets.

The Speaker

achau1_1 — 2025-10-14 23:12:49 UTC

The speaker is considered a man with feelings of frustration and despair who begins to discuss the issues of living in poverty, observing a life of sorrow while dreaming of the wealthy life. The line "Some are teethed on a silver spoon" represents how the man did not come from a wealthy family, comparing his life to the more privileged. The Speaker's social background provides little connection with his family, but rather get up each day, and work for very little income to support himself, and his family. There is the harsh reality of difficulties related to the lack of income, and food to provide for your family to be able to survive. Farming is an issue where at times crops do not grow due to weather conditions, at times needing to skip a meal during the day becoming malnourished. The history takes place in the early 20th century dealing with countless issues related to income, sanitation, and working conditions. Also, the issues involving racism against African Americans with limited job positions while being disrespected by others for being a different skin color. The emotions that the speaker provides is frustration and despair depicting the harsh reality of life of families who live in poverty.

Value

achau1_1 — 2025-10-14 23:28:58 UTC

The value of the poem provides senses of despair and hardships focusing on low-income families who struggle, and live in poverty, working long hours at factories with poor safety, and sanitation; becoming ill in the process. Male and Female workers suffering from aching hands, fingers, legs, and feet to earn a small amount of money after a hard days work. At times, injuries could become fatal due to heavy machineries and accidents. Young children are forced to work odd jobs such as working at factories, deliver newspapers, and so on while getting their clothes, hands, and feet dirty, with a higher chance of becoming infected, and ill from diseases. The poem provides the injustice of African Americans living in poverty, and are unnoticed by others while the more privileged caucasians live a wealthy lifestyle with multiple job opportunities, unlike African Americans during the early 20th century who were limited with higher education and positions due to segregation, funds, racism and racial inequality, thinking the system was considered unjustified, and demand for changes, as they are all considered people with feelings and human rights same as any other race.

My Best Line

achau1_1 — 2025-10-15 00:12:20 UTC

My best line in the page would be And. "One mouth more to feed." The reason why I consider this specific line to be the best is because the quote represents the main theme, discussing the struggles of poverty, and the injustice of what poor families deal, especially when It comes to providing meals for your family, where It can become a nightmare when there is an extra family member, such as a relative or a new born child where It is one more mouth to feed.

Picture of the Poem

achau1_1 — 2025-10-15 00:16:20 UTC

The drawing provides a black and white themed illustration of a young child who is delivering newspapers who seems disoriented especially with the major conflicts, such as the lack of Human Equality, rise of Racism against African Americans, protests for better education, job positions, and Human rights for African Americans, and support Racial Equality for others to observe their messages, for a need of change. The injuries exposing blood and cries provides an emotional moment of despair, where changes need to occur to provide individuals a better life in an unjustified era of the early 20th century.