American Literature

In analyzing Audre Lordes poem Coal, it is important to look at the context to which it is written. Audre Lorde is a respectable black and lesbian poet who writes about themes centering on race and women. In Coal, the theme on race, specifically about being Black, is being addressed. It is safe to assume that the persona may have been Lorde herself or a similar woman of color. It is also common knowledge that for a long time, being Black or colored in a world dominated by people with white skin makes the former a less desirable race, at least to people who think this is so.

The first line, word and letter of the poem already carry with it a lot of weight. I (1) suggests taking a stand and acknowledging the self. The line break after I further emphasizes the fact that I can and will indeed stand alone, both in paper as it is written and figuratively as the persona undergoes a process of self-discovery. This is followed by the lines the total black, being spoken from the earths inside (2-3) which not only states matter-of-factly the absolute being of the persona as one who is black but also positions the persona as one who is still inside or constrained by the demands of what can be called the outside.

The poem moves on to discuss the many kinds of open (4). Given what is provided in the first three lines, the personas decision to talk about the kinds of open (4) gives the idea that there is a struggle in the inside to break free and go to the outside through the open. It can be further implied that the persona is looking for a medium of self-expression. It is here that the use of symbols takes into action. The open can be how a diamond comes into a knot of flame (5) or how sound comes into a words, coloured by who pays what for speaking (6-7). The line break after coloured (6) again gives weight to the theme of the poem.

In the following line, the image of the diamond and the words are again mentioned but this time the words are likened to a diamond on glass windows (8-9). Furthermore, the words are also likened to stapled wagers in a perforated book (11-12). We see in these two symbols how great the impact of words is, especially of the first where the diamond breaks through the glass. The lines Some words live in my throat breeding like adders (16-17) highlight the inner struggle of the persona, whose medium of self-expression is words that need to be spoken or written. She finds that these words will explode through my lips like young sparrows bursting from shell (19-20).

At this point there are already many words and situations that symbolize the binary of lightness and darkness. From coal, black and inside, the poem moves on to describe the sun, diamond, and a young sparrow being born. To liken this to the persona, the poem becomes a way of being reborn, and more aptly so for the rebirth is happening through words. In the lines Some words bedevil me (21-22) and Love is a word, another kind of open (23) one can see the variety of emotions a word or a string of words can bring about. And so, the persona uses words to free her self from the earths inside (3). It is through her usage of words and experiences with words that the persona comes to terms with who she truly is.

And so, when the persona says that Love is a word (23), readers know that she is choosing the emotion of love rather than how one is bedeviled (22) by words. It is more of an acceptance of who one is, loving ones self, and perceiving ones self as worthy of being loved that makes the journey to the outside less of a daunting task. The newfound confidence of the persona is evident as it closes with I am Black because I come from the earths inside Now take my word for jewel in the open light (25-26). The word Black is now capitalized, emphasizing that the transformation of the persona from coal to the jewel did not change her being black. It in fact embraces her color and views it with grandeur, as one would do to a jewel. These symbols make this poem more compelling.