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.
Understanding “Written by Himself”: A Journey of Identity and Origin
Gregory Pardlo’s compelling poem, “Written by Himself,” published in 2015, invites readers on a profound exploration of identity, origin, and the complex tapestry of inherited experiences. This powerful piece is far from a simple birth announcement; it is a layered meditation on what it means to come into existence, not just physically, but historically and socially.
What “Written by Himself” is About: A Concise Summary
“Written by Himself” presents a speaker whose birth is not a singular, joyous event, but a fragmented, ongoing process steeped in hardship, historical context, and a sense of predetermined existence. The poem’s central idea revolves around the speaker’s struggle to define a self that seems to have been shaped by external forces, societal burdens, and a legacy of struggle even before physical arrival. Each declaration of “I was born” adds another layer to this intricate portrait, revealing a life marked by abandonment, resilience, and a deep, almost ancient, awareness.
The Central Idea: Birth as a Metaphor for Inherited Experience
The core message of “Written by Himself” is that identity is not solely self-created but profoundly influenced by the circumstances of one’s birth, including historical legacies, societal expectations, and the burdens passed down through generations. The act of “being born” transcends a mere physical event; it becomes a powerful metaphor for inheriting a complex past and navigating a world already shaped by struggle and injustice. The poem suggests that the speaker carries the weight of history, race, and circumstance, making their existence a continuous process of becoming and self-definition against formidable odds.
An In-Depth Analysis of Literary Devices in “Written by Himself”
Gregory Pardlo masterfully employs a rich array of literary devices to craft the haunting and deeply resonant experience of “Written by Himself.” These techniques are not merely decorative; they are fundamental to conveying the poem’s intricate themes and emotional depth.
Anaphora: The Echo of Existence
The most striking literary device in “Written by Himself” is the relentless use of anaphora, the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines. The phrase “I was born” acts as a powerful, rhythmic incantation, anchoring the poem and emphasizing the speaker’s insistence on acknowledging the multifaceted conditions of their arrival. Observe its cumulative effect:
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.
Each repetition adds a new, often challenging, detail to the speaker’s origin story, building a complex picture of a life shaped by diverse and often difficult circumstances. This anaphora creates a sense of inevitability and a relentless pursuit of self-definition, highlighting how the past continuously informs the present.
Imagery: Painting a World of Hardship and Resilience
Pardlo’s use of vivid and often stark imagery creates a palpable atmosphere, allowing readers to visualize and feel the speaker’s experiences. The images are rarely idyllic; instead, they evoke a sense of struggle and a connection to a challenging environment:
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 was born abandoned outdoors, in heat shaped air drifting like spirits and old windows.
Phrases like “rainwater and lye” suggest a harsh, purifying, or even dangerous beginning. “Clothespins and a harrow tooth” evoke utilitarian objects, hinting at labor and survival rather than comfort. The “heat shaped air drifting like spirits and old windows” paints a picture of desolation and a lingering, almost spectral, presence of the past. These images collectively contribute to the feeling of a precarious and historically burdened existence.
Metaphor: Birth as a Broader Awakening
The entire concept of “birth” in the poem functions as an extended metaphor. It transcends the literal act of being born to represent a broader arrival into a complex, often hostile, world. The speaker is not merely born into a family but into a history, a social structure, and a legacy of struggle. Consider these lines:
I was born as a fraction, a cipher, a ledger entry; I was an index of first lines at my birth.
I was born with a prologue of references, pursued by mosquitoes and thieves, and I carried the problems of the twentieth century.
Here, birth is equated with being an incomplete part (“a fraction”), an unknown quantity (“a cipher”), or a record (“a ledger entry”). These metaphors suggest that the speaker’s identity is initially defined by external systems and historical records, rather than inherent selfhood. The “prologue of references” and carrying “the problems of the twentieth century” metaphorically burden the speaker with a collective history, implying that their individual existence is inextricably linked to broader societal narratives and challenges.
Symbolism: Objects Laden with Meaning
Several elements in “Written by Himself” carry significant symbolic weight, enriching the poem’s themes:
I returned, though it pleased you, through no fault of my own, pockets filled with coffee grounds and eggshells.
The “coffee grounds and eggshells” in the speaker’s pockets symbolize the remnants of a basic, perhaps impoverished, existence. They are the discarded, the leftovers, suggesting a life lived on the margins or with limited resources. They also evoke a sense of carrying the past, the mundane details of survival, as a fundamental part of one’s being.
A brother I was born to this hall of mirrors, a horror story.
The “hall of mirrors” powerfully symbolizes a distorted perception of self and reality. It represents a place where identity is fractured, reflected endlessly, and perhaps misunderstood or misrepresented by external gazes. This image conveys the unsettling experience of navigating a world where one’s true self is obscured or fragmented, turning the journey of self-discovery into a “horror story.”
Irony: A Burden of Premature Wisdom
Pardlo employs irony to highlight the speaker’s unusual and challenging existence, particularly in the poem’s poignant conclusion:
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 profoundly ironic. “Fishes and loaves” alludes to biblical miracles, symbolizing basic sustenance and spiritual nourishment. The speaker’s ability to “read minds” before these fundamental experiences suggests a precocious, almost burdensome, awareness of the world’s complexities and human nature, even before having the opportunity for simple, nurturing experiences. The idea of walking “alone before I was born” is a temporal paradox, emphasizing a preordained destiny and a sense of being burdened with knowledge and experience even prior to entering the world. This irony underscores the speaker’s unique, challenging, and perhaps lonely journey.
Exploring Poetic Devices in “Written by Himself”
Beyond its literary depth, “Written by Himself” showcases Gregory Pardlo’s skillful command of poetic form and technique, which further amplify the poem’s impact and meaning.
Free Verse: Unfettered Expression
The poem is written in free verse, meaning it does not adhere to a regular rhyme scheme or a strict metrical pattern. This deliberate choice allows Pardlo immense flexibility in rhythm and line breaks, mirroring the fragmented and unconventional nature of the speaker’s identity and origin. The absence of traditional constraints enables a more natural, conversational tone, yet one imbued with profound gravity. This freedom in structure reflects the speaker’s unmoored existence, where conventional paths are not followed, and identity is constantly being redefined.
Enjambment: Flow and Disruption
Pardlo frequently uses enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause. This technique creates a sense of momentum and urgency, propelling the reader forward while also disrupting expectations and forcing a lingering consideration of individual words and phrases. For instance, the opening lines demonstrate this fluid movement:
I was born in minutes in a roadside kitchen, a skillet whispering my name.
I was born to rainwater and lye.
The thought flows seamlessly, creating a natural speech rhythm that draws the reader into the speaker’s narrative. Enjambment can also create subtle tension or surprise, as the meaning unfolds across line breaks, reflecting the complex and often unpredictable unfolding of the speaker’s life story.
Diction: Precise and Evocative Word Choice
Pardlo’s word choice, or diction, is deliberate and precise, contributing significantly to the poem’s tone and thematic resonance. He employs a blend of concrete and abstract language, creating a vivid and often unsettling effect. Words like “skillet,” “clothespins,” and “harrow tooth” are concrete, grounding the poem in tangible, often humble, realities. Conversely, words such as “fraction,” “cipher,” “burden,” and “suspicion” introduce abstract concepts that speak to the speaker’s existential state and societal perception.
I was born still and superstitious; I bore an unexpected burden.
I gave birth, I gave blessings, I gave rise to suspicion.
The word “superstitious” hints at a deep-seated cultural or ancestral belief system, while “burden” clearly articulates the weight carried by the speaker. The verb “gave rise to suspicion” is particularly potent, suggesting that the speaker’s very existence or actions are met with distrust, further emphasizing the challenging environment into which they were born.
Tone and Mood: A Blend of Resignation and Resilience
The tone of “Written by Himself” is complex, oscillating between a sense of resignation to predetermined circumstances and an underlying current of resilience and defiant self-assertion. The repeated “I was born” could suggest a passive acceptance, yet the specific, often challenging, details that follow each declaration imbue it with a powerful, almost confrontational, honesty. The mood is often somber and reflective, tinged with a sense of historical weight and personal struggle, yet it avoids despair, instead fostering a contemplative atmosphere about the enduring nature of identity.
The Enduring Significance of “Written by Himself”
“Written by Himself” stands as a profound exploration of identity, origin, and the indelible marks of history. Gregory Pardlo’s masterful use of literary and poetic devices crafts a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. The poem challenges readers to consider how much of who we are is “written by” our circumstances, our ancestors, and the societal narratives that precede us, and how much we truly write ourselves.
This poem is a testament to the power of language to articulate the complexities of existence, inviting a deeper understanding of the burdens and blessings that shape every individual journey. It encourages reflection on the invisible threads that connect us to the past and the ongoing process of defining oneself in a world that often tries to define us first.