On the Pulse of Morning
by Maya Angelou
A Rock, A River, A Tree
Hosts to species long since departed,
Marked the mastodon.The dinosaur, who left dry tokens
Of their sojourn here
On our planet floor,
Any broad alarm of their hastening doom
Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully,
Come, you may stand upon my
Back and face your distant destiny,
But seek no haven in my shadow.I will give you no hiding place down here.
You, created only a little lower than
The angels, have crouched too long in
The bruising darkness,
Have lain too long
Face down in ignorance.Your mouths spilling words
Armed for slaughter.The Rock cries out to us today, you may stand upon me,
But do not hide your face.Across the wall of the world,
A River sings a beautiful song,
It says come rest here by my side.Each of you a bordered country,
Delicate and strangely made proud,
Yet thrusting perpetually under siege.Your armed struggles for profit
Have left collars of waste upon
My shore, currents of debris upon my breast.Yet, today I call you to my riverside,
If you will study war no more. Come,Clad in peace and I will sing the songs
The Creator gave to me when I and the
Tree and the rock were one.Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your
Brow and when you yet knew you still
Knew nothing.The River sang and sings on.
There is a true yearning to respond to
The singing River and the wise Rock.So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew
The African, the Native American, the Sioux,
The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek
The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh,
The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher,
The privileged, the homeless, the Teacher.
They all hear
The speaking of the Tree.They hear the first and last of every Tree
Speak to humankind today. Come to me, here beside the River.Plant yourself beside the River.
Each of you, descendant of some passed
On traveller, has been paid for.You, who gave me my first name, you
Pawnee, Apache, Seneca, you
Cherokee Nation, who rested with me, then
Forced on bloody feet, left me to the employment of
Other seekers—desperate for gain,
Starving for gold.You, the Turk, the Arab, the Swede, the German, the Eskimo, the Scot …
You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, bought
Sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare
Praying for a dream.Here, root yourselves beside me.
I am that Tree planted by the River,
Which will not be moved.I, the Rock, I the River, I the Tree
I am yours—your Passages have been paid.Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need
For this bright morning dawning for you.History, despite its wrenching pain,
Cannot be unlived, but if faced
With courage, need not be lived again.Lift up your eyes upon
This day breaking for you.Give birth again
To the dream.Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out and upon me, the
Rock, the River, the Tree, your country.No less to Midas than the mendicant.
No less to you now than the mastodon then.
Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister’s eyes, and into
Your brother’s face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.
Summary of On the Pulse of Morning
- Popularity of “On the Pulse of Morning”: This poem was first delivered by Maya Angelou at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration on January 20, 1993. It is celebrated for its powerful themes of hope and renewal and continues to inspire audiences worldwide.
- “On the Pulse of Morning” as a Representative of Hope: The poem serves as a call for unity, faith, and determination. The natural landmarks—rock, river, and tree—serve as witnesses to millennia and invite humanity to stand tall, shed the shadows of the past, and embrace a hopeful destiny. The river’s song acts as a welcoming invitation, while the poem acknowledges ancestral struggles and emphasizes resilience. The diverse listing of cultures, races, and beliefs underscores the need for collective progress and shared commitment to building a better nation.
- Major Themes in “On the Pulse of Morning”: Unity, hope, courage, and change are the central themes that resonate throughout the poem. Angelou asserts the potential for new beginnings at each dawn and advocates rejecting fear and brutality. By using nature imagery, she traces historical echoes, provides insight into the present, and offers a vision for the future.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “On the Pulse of Morning”
Literary devices enrich the texture of a text, deepening its meaning and enhancing reader engagement. Maya Angelou skillfully employs a range of these devices to convey her message of hope and unity. The following explores some key examples.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within closely positioned words. For example, the repeated /o/ sound in “rock” and the repeated /e/ sound in “river” create a musical quality.
- Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds. The repeated /r/ sound in “rock,” “river,” and “tree” provides subtle musicality.
- Metaphor: An implied comparison between dissimilar things. The rock, river, and tree themselves serve as extended metaphors, representing enduring strength, life-giving sustenance, and rooted history, respectively.
- Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds. The repeated /r/ sound in “river” and “rock” illustrates alliteration.
- Imagery: Vivid language appealing to the five senses. Examples include “rock, river, tree” and “I am that tree planted by the river.”
- Enjambment: The continuation of a thought or phrase from one line to the next, creating a flowing rhythm and emphasizing certain words.
Clad in peace and I will sing the songs
The Creator gave to me when I and the
Tree and the rock were one. - Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects. The most striking example is “But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully.” The river is also personified in the line “the singing River and the wise Rock.”
- Symbolism: Using objects or concepts to represent something else. The wise rock, the singing river, and the tree symbolize hope, resilience, and connection to the past.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “On the Pulse of Morning”
Poetic devices are the tools that poets use to craft their work, manipulating language to create specific effects. Here is an examination of some prominent devices within the poem.
- Stanza: A grouping of lines forming a unit. The poem is a long, free-verse work comprised of thirty-five stanzas of varying length.
- Quatrain: A stanza of four lines. Some stanzas within the poem adhere to this structure.
- Free Verse: Poetry that does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. The poem exemplifies free verse, allowing Angelou to prioritize natural rhythm and expressive language.
- Repetition: The intentional repeating of words or phrases. The line “the Rock cries out to us” appears multiple times, creating a musical quality and emphasizing its importance.
- Refrain: A repeated line or phrase that appears at intervals throughout the poem. The repeated phrase “the Rock cries out to us” functions as a refrain, reinforcing the poem’s central message.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines, drawn from the poem, can serve as powerful inspiration in motivational speeches, encouraging listeners to embrace hope and a new beginning.
“The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out and upon me, the
Rock, the River, the Tree, your country.”