Written by Himself
By Gregory Pardlo
I was born in minutes in a roadside kitchen, a skillet whispering my name.
I was born to rainwater and lye.
I was born across the river, carried with clothespins and a harrow tooth, broadsides sewn into my shoes.
I returned, though it pleased you, through no fault of my own, pockets filled with coffee grounds and eggshells.
I was born still and superstitious; I bore an unexpected burden.
I gave birth, I gave blessings, I gave rise to suspicion.
I was born abandoned outdoors, in heat shaped air drifting like spirits and old windows.
I was born as a fraction, a cipher, a ledger entry; I was an index of first lines at my birth.
I was born waist deep, stubborn in the water, crying, “Ain’t I a woman?” A brother I was born to this hall of mirrors, a horror story.
I was born with a prologue of references, pursued by mosquitoes and thieves, and I carried the problems of the twentieth century.
I read minds before I could read fishes and loaves.
I walked a piece of the way alone before I was born.
Summary of Written by Himself
- The Poem’s Core: “Written by Himself” is a powerfully evocative poem by Gregory Pardlo, published in 2015. It is not a narrative of a joyous arrival, but rather a fragmented exploration of identity, origin, and the burdens carried even before birth.
- Central Idea: The poem presents a speaker seemingly born into a world already steeped in hardship, abandonment, and a sense of being defined by external forces. The repeated declaration of “I was born” is less a celebration of life and more an acknowledgement of a predetermined existence, shaped by history, race, and circumstance.
- Key to Understanding: The poem’s power lies in its ambiguity and layering of meaning. It is not a straightforward autobiography, but a poetic rendering of a fragmented self grappling with its origins, and the weight of inherited experiences. The “birth” becomes a metaphor for the ongoing process of becoming, and the struggle for self definition.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Written by Himself
Gregory Pardlo masterfully employs a range of literary devices to create the poem’s haunting and fragmented effect. These aren’t just ornamental; they are integral to the poem’s meaning.
- Anaphora: The most striking device is the relentless repetition of “I was born.” This isn’t merely a grammatical structure; it becomes a rhythmic incantation, emphasizing the speaker’s insistence on acknowledging the conditions of their arrival. Look at how it builds: “I was born in minutes… I was born to rainwater… I was born across the river.” Each repetition adds another layer to the portrait of a difficult beginning.
- Imagery: Pardlo’s use of striking imagery creates a vivid, almost surreal, atmosphere. Consider phrases like “rainwater and lye,” “clothespins, a harrow tooth,” and “heat shaped air.” These aren’t idyllic images of nature; they are harsh, unsettling, and contribute to the feeling of a precarious existence.
- Metaphor: The poem is rich in extended metaphor. The very concept of “birth” is extended beyond the physical act to represent a broader arrival into a complex and often hostile world. The speaker isn’t just born into a family; they are born into a history, a social structure, and a legacy of struggle.
- Symbolism: Several elements carry symbolic weight. “Coffee grounds and eggshells” in the pockets suggest remnants of a basic, perhaps impoverished, existence. The “hall of mirrors” represents a distorted perception of self and reality, a place where identity is fractured and uncertain.
- Irony: The line “I read minds before I could read fishes and loaves” is powerfully ironic. It suggests a precocious awareness of the world’s complexities, but also a deprivation of simple, nurturing experiences. The speaker is burdened with knowledge and insight before they have the opportunity to experience basic comforts.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Written by Himself
Beyond the literary devices, Pardlo’s choices regarding poetic form and technique further enhance the poem’s impact.
- Free Verse: The poem is written in free verse, meaning it doesn’t adhere to a regular rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This allows Pardlo to prioritize natural speech rhythms and create a sense of fragmentation and unrest. The lack of conventional structure mirrors the speaker’s sense of being adrift and unmoored.
- Enjambment: The frequent use of enjambment—the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next—creates a sense of momentum and urgency. It also disrupts the reader’s expectations and forces them to linger on individual words and phrases. For example, the opening lines, “I was born in minutes in a roadside kitchen a skillet / whispering my name,” flow seamlessly from one line to the next, creating a sense of immediacy.
- Repetition (Refrain): While the entire poem revolves around the repeated phrase “I was born”, this acts as a refrain, emphasizing the speaker’s relentless need to define their origin. Each iteration is slightly altered by the context, adding nuance and complexity to the idea of “birth.”
- Diction: Pardlo’s word choice is deliberate and precise. He employs a mix of concrete and abstract language, creating a vivid and often unsettling effect. Words like “borrowed,” “harrow,” and “cipher” contribute to the poem’s sense of hardship and alienation.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from “Written by Himself” are particularly resonant and can be used to explore themes of identity, origin, and the weight of the past.
“I read minds before I could read fishes and loaves; I walked a piece of the way alone before I was born.”
This final couplet is especially powerful. It suggests a preordained destiny, a sense of being burdened with knowledge and experience even before entering the world. It’s a haunting meditation on the complex interplay between fate and free will.