Choices

Choices

By Nikki Giovanni

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
though 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

Summary of Choices

• Popularity of “Choices”: The poem ‘Choices’ was written by Nikki Giovanni, known as Yolande Cornelia Nikki Giovanni Junior. He is an American educator, activist, commentator as well as poet. It is a wonderful poem about freedom of action and freedom of speech. The poem was published in 1982 when her father breathed last in his prime age. She felt the deep impact of this unexpected death of the family head and devoted her life to poetic writing. The popularity of this poem lies in the free expression of freedom and liberty a person has in his life and its exercise in what is considered trivial or petty acts and times of one’s life.
• “Choices” As a Representative of Freedom of Action and Speech: The poet opens the poem with a trivial issue, saying that if she does not do what she wants to do, then it is simply a matter of ers not doing that thing to take the best course of action. The same goes for the place, action, and requirement. Her argument is that if there is something in her power to do and she wants to do that, she should go for it. And if she thinks that she cannot do something though she desires to execute it, then it is also not up to her to go for that. It is inappropriate to do something which is not in her power and not to do what is in her power. The same goes for doing things and speaking. If she thinks that she can express something and that she has the power to do so, she must do it, for both of these things are different, as she says, “and none of it is equal,” for this is the least achieved freedom. The reason is that it is a lateral movement and that even animals learn how to cry first before doing anything. Therefore, the foremost freedom in one’s life is the freedom of expression.
• Major Themes in “Choices”: Freedom of expression, the importance of self-discipline, and the importance of one’s limits are three major themes of the poem. Giovanni has beautifully started the poem with the freedom of action, saying that it is called self-discipline if people know their limits and act upon them. However, it is not the same as limiting one’s voice to raise in a case where it is required. It is a fundamental value that must be protected and exercised, for a person needs to speak as animals also cry when they arrive in this world.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in ‘Choices’

literary devices are tools that poets use to make their writings beautiful and meaningful. The analysis of these devices in the poem is given below.

1. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /aw/ in “then my job is to not”, the sound of /aw/ in “what i want… then” and the sound of /e/ in “that at least there”.
2. Colloquialism: The poem shows the use of colloquialism in almost all the stanzas with no regard for punctuation and capitalization.
3. Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /n/ and /t/ in “what i want … then”, the sound of /d/ in “and be satisfied” and the sound of /n/ and /t/ in “do what I don’t want”.
4. Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example,

If i can’t do
what i want to do
then my job is to not
do what i don’t want
to do.

5. Epistrophe: The poem shows the use of epistrophe as the repetition of “to do” at the end of some verses in the first stanza and “to want” in the second stanza, which occurs at the end of the verses.
6. Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. The poem shows the use of imagery such as “do what I don’t want / to do”, “is something more to want” and “where the signs point.”
7. Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between the objects that are different. The poem shows the use of want, need and practice as metaphors.
8. Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. The poem shows the use of the symbols of need, job, and feelings to show their importance in one’s life.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in ‘Choices’

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

1. Diction and Tone: The poem shows the use of colloquial diction and a serious tone.
2. Free Verse: The poem does not follow any rhyme scheme. Therefore, it is a free-verse poem.
3. Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are four stanzas, with each having a different number of verses.
4. Repetition: The poem shows the use of a rhetorical device of repetition that stresses upon the main idea, such as “to do”, “want to”, “i can’t” or “i can” at different places in the poem.

Quotes to be Used

These lines from ‘Choices’ are relevant to use when teaching about the freedom of expression as a fundamental value.

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