Africa or a Peach?

In class, we recently read  “Heritage” by Countee Cullen and “The Love Song by J. Alfred Prufrock” by T. S. Eliot.  These two poems are different yet similar. As we discussed in class, Cullen was greatly influenced by his identity as a black man and how others treated him as such. In “Heritage,” he ponders his past and its role in his life. Eliot also does a lot of pondering in "The Love Song by J. Alfred Prufrock.” Eliot asks questions pertaining more to his future and Cullen asks questions reflecting on his past. The poems also differ in structure, particularly their different rhyme schemes. There is a definite rhyme pattern in “Heritage” where every two lines, or couplet, rhyme at the ends (AABBCCDD…). There are some places in “Heritage” where Cullen circles back around and repeats a rhyme sequence. Eliot uses some rhyming couplets throughout his poem but it is not a firm, rigid pattern like Cullen’s. Eliot’s poem appears to be more free verse. Both poems flow as thoughts would. Because Cullen and Eliot both ponder in their poems, free verse segments seem more appropriate than a poem with a rigid meter. This said, “Heritage” does seem to be more rhythmic and predictable than Prufrock. The two poets talk to different audiences. In “The Love Song by J. Alfred Prufrock,” by Eliot, Prufrock seems to be addressing someone other than himself, an elusive “you.” This someone could be a lover, the reader, or it could be Prufrock’s inner conscience. Cullen, on the other hand, seems to be questioning himself. Both are pondering, but Prufrock seems like he is trying to send a message to “you” while Cullen is contemplating his past under the guise of a conversation with himself and trying to send a message to Americans. It is difficult to say which poet is more modern. Eliot seems to be more modern in terms of structure (he experiments with words, different languages) and Cullen seems to be more modern in terms of content. Cullen, under the pretense of looking into the past, reflects on the present and the current political and social condition of America. In this respect, Cullen seems to be the more “American” of the two.  I appreciate both of these poems for different reasons.  Cullen's optimistic tone and reflective questions inspire me to think about the role of my past and family in my life.  Eliot's obsessive questions and minute detail remind me to spend my time and energy thinking about more important and relevant issues.
Heritage by Countee Cullen
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot

 Countee Cullen

T. S. Eliot