Warning: The poem contains profanity and graphic descriptions of violence and may not be suitable for all readers.
Power
by Audre Lorde
The difference between poetry and rhetoric
is being ready to kill
yourself
instead of your children.I am trapped on a desert of raw gunshot wounds
and a dead child dragging his shattered black
face off the edge of my sleep
blood from his punctured cheeks and shoulders
is the only liquid for miles
and my stomach
churns at the imagined taste while
my mouth splits into dry lips
without loyalty or reason
thirsting for the wetness of his blood
as it sinks into the whiteness
of the desert where I am lost
without imagery or magic
trying to make power out of hatred and destruction
trying to heal my dying son with kisses
only the sun will bleach his bones quicker.A policeman who shot down a ten year old in Queens
stood over the boy with his cop shoes in childish blood
and a voice said “Die you little ******” and
there are tapes to prove it. At his trial
this policeman said in his own defense
“I didn’t notice the size nor anything else, only the color.” And
there are tapes to prove that, too.Today that 37 year old white man
with 13 years of police forcing
was set free
by eleven white men who said they were satisfied
justice had been done
and one Black Woman who said
“They convinced me” meaning
they had dragged her 4’10’’ black Woman’s frame
over the hot coals
of four centuries of white male approval
until she let go
the first real power she ever had
and lined her own womb with cement
to make a graveyard for our children.I have not been able to touch the destruction
within me.
But unless I learn to use
the difference between poetry and rhetoric
my power too will run corrupt as poisonous mold
or lie limp and useless as an unconnected wire
and one day I will take my teenaged plug
and connect it to the nearest socket
and I would strike an 85 year old white woman
who is somebody’s mother
and as I beat her senseless and set a torch to her bed
a Greek chorus will be singing in 3/4 time
“Poor thing. She never hurt a soul. What beasts they are.”
Summary of “Power”
- Understanding the Poem: Audre Lorde’s “The Power” is a searing exploration of racial injustice, police brutality, and the internalized rage that stems from systemic oppression. First published in 1978, it responds to the real‑life case of a police officer who fatally shot a ten‑year‑old boy in Queens, New York, and was acquitted by an all‑white jury.
- Central Idea: The poem powerfully contrasts the destructive nature of rhetoric—empty words used to justify violence—with the potential of poetry to bear witness to truth and transform pain into a force for change. Lorde argues that unless one confronts and utilizes this poetic power, it risks becoming corrupted, leading to a cycle of violence and revenge.
- Key Themes: The poem grapples with powerlessness, racism, grief, and the urgent need for self‑preservation in the face of systemic oppression. It is a visceral, emotionally charged work that challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about race, justice, and the cost of silence.
In‑Depth Analysis of “Power”
The Opening Contrast: Poetry vs. Rhetoric
The poem immediately establishes a crucial distinction between poetry and rhetoric. Lorde asserts, “The difference between poetry and rhetoric / is being ready to kill / yourself / instead of your children.” This isn’t a simple aesthetic preference; it’s a statement about survival. Rhetoric, in this context, represents the manipulative language used to justify injustice. It’s about convincing others of a narrative that allows for violence and oppression. Poetry, on the other hand, demands a different kind of courage: the willingness to confront the deepest pain, even at the cost of self‑destruction, rather than perpetuating a cycle of violence onto future generations.
Imagery of Trauma and Desolation
The second stanza plunges the reader into a nightmarish landscape of trauma. The speaker is “trapped on a desert of raw gunshot wounds,” a stark image evoking both physical and emotional devastation. The graphic description of the dead child – “dragging his shattered black / face off the edge of my sleep” – is deliberately unsettling. The blood is not merely a physical substance but the “only liquid for miles,” highlighting the pervasive, suffocating nature of violence. The speaker’s thirst for the child’s blood, though disturbing, isn’t a literal desire but a metaphorical expression of the consuming rage and grief that threaten to overwhelm her. The line “trying to make power out of hatred and destruction” reveals the desperate attempt to transform pain into something constructive, a struggle against succumbing to despair.
The Injustice of the Legal System
The poem then turns to the specific incident that sparked its creation: the shooting of a ten‑year‑old boy by a police officer. The starkly recounted testimony – “I didn’t notice the size nor anything else, only the color” – exposes the blatant racism at the heart of the injustice. The phrase “there are tapes to prove it” underscores the evidence ignored by the legal system. The acquittal of the officer by eleven white jurors highlights the systemic bias that protects perpetrators of racial violence. The betrayal of the Black woman juror – who claims “They convinced me” – is particularly poignant, representing the internal damage inflicted by centuries of oppression. She has sacrificed her own power, “lined her own womb with cement / to make a graveyard for our children,” perpetuating the cycle of trauma.
The Threat of Retaliation and the Cycle of Violence
The final stanza is perhaps the most unsettling. The speaker confesses, “I have not been able to touch the destruction / within me.” This internal struggle – the temptation to succumb to rage and seek revenge – is a central theme. The speaker imagines a violent act against an elderly white woman, a chilling vision of retaliation. The imagined Greek chorus, singing “Poor thing. She never hurt a soul. What beasts they are,” is ironic and disturbing. It exposes the hypocrisy of societal norms that condemn individual acts of violence while simultaneously tolerating systemic injustice. The poem does not endorse violence; it acknowledges the destructive potential of unchecked rage and the urgent need to find alternative pathways to healing and liberation.
Literary and Poetic Devices in “Power”
Imagery and Symbolism
Lorde masterfully employs imagery and symbolism throughout the poem. The “desert of raw gunshot wounds” symbolizes the emotional and psychological wasteland created by violence. Blood serves as a potent symbol of loss, pain, and the enduring wounds of racism. The “cement” lining the woman’s womb symbolizes the suppression of life and the perpetuation of trauma. The use of color – particularly the emphasis on “black” and “white” – reinforces the racial dynamics at play.
Metaphor and Personification
The poem is rich in metaphorical language. The contrast between poetry and rhetoric is a central metaphor, representing the power of truth versus the manipulation of language. Personification is evident in lines like “my stomach / churns,” giving human qualities to the speaker’s emotional state. The poem’s use of metaphor and personification adds depth and complexity to its meaning.
Repetition and Refrain
The repetition of “there are tapes to prove it” functions as a refrain, emphasizing the undeniable evidence of the officer’s guilt. This repetition underscores the injustice of the legal system and the dismissal of truth in the face of racial bias. Repetition adds emphasis and emotional resonance to the poem.
Enjambment
Lorde utilizes enjambment – the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next – to create a sense of urgency and momentum. This technique mimics the flow of thought and emotion, drawing the reader deeper into the poem’s narrative. For example, the opening lines demonstrate this technique, allowing the idea to build over multiple lines.
Structure and Form
The poem’s free verse form reflects the raw and unconstrained nature of the speaker’s emotions. The lack of a traditional rhyme scheme or meter creates a sense of immediacy and authenticity. The fragmented structure of certain stanzas mirrors the fragmented nature of trauma and the struggle to make sense of overwhelming pain.
Quotes for Discussion and Analysis
“The difference between poetry and rhetoric / is being ready to kill / yourself / instead of your children.”
This quote encapsulates the poem’s central argument about the power of truth and the responsibility to confront injustice.
“I am trapped on a desert of raw gunshot wounds.”
This line evokes the poem’s bleak and harrowing imagery, illustrating the emotional and psychological impact of violence.
“They convinced me” – This short quote highlights the devastating consequences of systemic oppression and the internal damage it inflicts.