Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

June Jordan’s poem "If You Saw a Negro Lady" is a poignant and vivid exploration of the life of an elderly Black woman, observing her through a lens of empathy and profound understanding. The poem delves into the quiet dignity and resilience of this woman, highlighting her solitary presence and the unspoken history that has shaped her existence.

The poem begins with a direct address to the reader, placing them in a specific moment and setting: "If you saw a Negro lady sitting on a Tuesday near the whirl-sludge doors of Horn & Hardart on the main drag of downtown Brooklyn." This opening line immediately situates the reader in a busy, urban environment, suggesting the woman’s conspicuousness amidst the hustle and bustle. Her solitude is emphasized, making her stand out as a figure of quiet resilience.

Jordan’s use of detailed imagery paints a vivid picture of the woman: "solitary and conspicuous as plain and neat as walls impossible to fresco." This simile suggests the woman's unadorned, straightforward nature, akin to walls that cannot be embellished. Her self-consciousness is evident in the way her "features shape about a Horn & Hardart teaspoon with a pucker from a cartoon," a moment that captures both her presence and the mundane action she is engaged in.

The poem then shifts to describe the woman's physical appearance and demeanor: "with spine as straight and solid as her years of bending over floors allowed." This line speaks to the physical toll of a lifetime of labor, yet also to the strength and resilience she has maintained. Her "skin cleared of interest by a ruthless soap" and "nails square and yellowclean from metal files" indicate a life of hard work and scrupulous cleanliness, devoid of indulgence or self-pampering.

Jordan’s attention to the woman’s attire and the way it feels against her skin — "in a forty-year-old-flush of solitude and prickling from the new white cotton blouse" — evokes a sense of both the passage of time and the small, personal discomforts she endures. The blouse, "concealing nothing she had ever noticed even when she bathed and never hummed a bathtub tune nor knew one," suggests a life marked by utilitarian necessity rather than personal enjoyment or self-expression.

The poem’s observational stance deepens as it considers the woman’s posture and mannerisms: "little finger broad and stiff in heavy emulation of a cockney mannerism." This small gesture of elegance or affectation stands out against the backdrop of her unadorned life, hinting at a complex inner world and a desire for some semblance of refinement or grace.

The concluding lines — "would you turn her treat into surprise observing happy birthday" — invite the reader to consider their own response to witnessing this woman’s quiet celebration. There is a subtle plea for recognition and acknowledgment of her existence and her moments of joy, however small and solitary they might be.

Jordan’s poem is a meditation on visibility, dignity, and the often-overlooked lives of elderly Black women. Through careful observation and rich, evocative language, she brings to light the inner strength, resilience, and quiet moments of joy that define this woman’s experience. The poem challenges the reader to see and honor the individual humanity of those who might otherwise be invisible in the crowded streets of a city.

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