Nikki+Giovanni

​ Nikki Giovanni  __Biography __

Nikki Giovanni is known as a world poet, educator, activist, and commentator. She is one of the most widely-read American poets. Though she was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1943, she grew up in the little all-black suburb in Cincinnati, Ohio, called Lincoln Heights. From Fisk University, she earned her Honor’s Degree, then attended University of Pennsylvania and Columbia publishing her first poetry book, Feeling the Black Talk. It was published in 1968. Only a year, she published her second book, which launched her writing career. Her books won many honors and awards, as she was once a finalist for the Grammy Awards. __Poems __

CHOICES  If i can't do what i want to do then my job is to not do what i don't want to do  It's not the same thing but it's the best i can do If i can't have what i want. . . then my job is to want what i've got and be satisfied that at least there is something more to want Since i can't go where i need to go. . . then i must. . . go where the signs point through always understanding parallel movement isn't lateral

When i can't express what i really feel i practice feeling what i can express and none of it is equal

I know but that's why mankind alone among the animals learns to cry **//PERSONAL REACTION: //** I like this poem because life is all about choices. Your life is made depending on the choices you make. It makes who you are. When there is a fork in the road you have to choose between the two paths. The right one, or the wrong one. No matter which one you choose, it will change your life forever. **//THEME: //** Choices. METAPHOR.IMAGERY.SYMBOLISM.FREE VERSE.

<span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Sky Diving <span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: 'Haettenschweiler','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I hang on the edge of this universe singing off-key talking too loud embracing myself to cushion the fall

I shall tumble into deep space never in this form or with this feeling to return to earth It is not tragic

I will spiral through that Black hole losing skin limbs internal organs searing my naked soul

Landing in the next galaxy with only my essence embracing myself as I dream of you **//PERSONAL REACTION://** I chose to recite this poem because it expresses the way I look at life. I try to live life at the fullest not letting anyone or anything hold me back. I try to live on the edge. You only have one chance at life, so take the chances while you can. Take risks. Don’t be afraid. You can’t go through life not taking chances and always being worried. If you do that, you aren’t living.
 * //THEME://** Nikki Giovanni expresses her feelings because she is going through life thinking of someone in her past, but she doesn’t let them hold her back from living. She keeps going.
 * <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">**<span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">**<span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">HYPERBOLE. IMAGERY . SYMBOLISM . FREE VERSE. ** ** **

<span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Harlow Solid Italic'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; msothemecolor: accent6;">You came too <span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: 'Harlow Solid Italic'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I came to the crowd seeking friends I came to the crowd seeking love I came to the crowd for understanding

I found you I came to the crowd to weep I came to the crowd to laugh

You dried my tears You shared my happiness

I went from the crowd seeking you I went from the crowd seeking me I went from the crowd forever

You came, too **//PERSONAL REACTION://** I like this poem because Giovanni is talking about someone who she loves always being there for her. No matter where she went, that someone was always there for you, nit giving up. **//THEME://** She found the person she was looking for in the crowd. <span style="color: #003399; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">FREE VERSE. <span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">SYMBOLISM.<span style="color: #660066; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">IMAGERY.