Nikki-Rosa is a matured black woman who is reminiscing on her childhood. She identifies that not many people are going to understand that the poverty did not worry her or "no inside toilet" (4) but the fact that "white biographers" are not going to capture the essence of her childhood and the happiness that she felt while "living in Woodlawn" (3).
There is no prevalent rhyme in this poem; it is more of an ongoing thought, something that has been building up inside of her for years and she is suddenly able to exhale and get every last word out before she loses it.
"Nikki-Rosa" has a soulful style to it, breaking into shorter and longer sentences that make it have smooth manner and almost give it a beat in the reader's head.
Nikki Giovanni did an amazing job letting readers see another side of being poor and a minority, that it is not this insurmountable hardship, but it is full of plenty of happiness. And if you look anywhere long enough, you will be capable of seeing that beauty.
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1 comment:
Mary Nikki Giovanni is a favorite of mine .... the poem "Nikki Rosa" is not about Nikki Giovanni's childhood or life. Nikki Giovanni was raised in a middle class family both of her parents were social workers and college educated. She learned about being poor from listening to her parents relate the case histories of their clients
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