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-   -   What is the meaning of "I Will Keep Broken Things" by Alice Walker? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=639653)

  • Feb 27, 2012, 08:05 PM
    SarahLynn55555
    What is the meaning of "I Will Keep Broken Things" by Alice Walker?
    I have to lead a class discussion on the poem "I Will Keep Broken Things" by Alice Walker. I'm just having trouble figuring out the symbols, the theme, figures of speech, tone, diction, and images of the poem.
    Does anyone know of any websites that might help? Or have ideas of their own?
    Anything will help!
    Thanks :)

    Here is the poem...

    I will keep
    Broken
    Things:
    The big clay
    Pot
    With raised
    Iguanas
    Chasing
    Their
    Tails;
    Two
    Of their
    Wise
    Heads
    Sheared
    Off;

    I will keep
    Broken
    Things:
    The old
    Slave
    Market
    Basket
    Brought
    To my
    Door
    By Mississippi
    A jagged
    Hole
    Gouged
    In its sturdy
    Dark
    Oak
    Side.

    I will keep
    Broken
    Things:
    The memory
    Of
    Those
    Long
    Delicious
    Night
    Swims
    With
    You;

    I will keep
    Broken
    Things:
    In my house
    There
    Remains
    An
    Honored
    Shelf
    On which
    I will
    Keep
    Broken
    Things.

    Their beauty
    Is
    They
    Need
    Not
    Ever
    Be
    “fixed.”

    I will keep
    Your
    Wild
    Free
    Laughter
    Though
    It is now
    Missing
    Its
    Reassuring
    And
    Graceful
    Hinge.

    I will keep
    Broken
    Things:

    Thank you
    So much

    I will keep
    Broken
    Things.

    I will keep
    You:

    Pilgrim
    Of
    Sorrow.

    I will keep
    Myself
  • Feb 27, 2012, 10:16 PM
    Wondergirl
    If you Google the name of the poem with the additional keyword "explain," you will find some information about it, including Alice Walker's own explanation of why she wrote it:

    December 2008 Alice Walker |The Official Website for the American Novelist & Poet

    Otherwise, go to your school or public library and talk with a reference librarian to obtain print and database sources to help you further.

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