Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

CROSS THAT LINE, by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"Cross That Line" is a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye, a Palestinian-American poet, novelist, and songwriter. Nye was born in 1952 in St. Louis, Missouri, and has written numerous works that explore themes of identity, heritage, and cultural exchange. "Cross That Line" was first published in 2006 and is considered one of Nye's notable works.

Explanation:

The poem "Cross That Line" is a meditation on the theme of borders and the ways in which they separate and connect people. The speaker describes a group of people standing on opposite sides of a line, with no clear indication of what lies beyond. The poem portrays the line as both a physical and metaphorical boundary, representing the many ways in which people divide themselves from one another. However, the poem also suggests that the line can be crossed, and that doing so can lead to new connections and understandings.

Poetic Elements:

Form: Free verse with no consistent rhyme or meter
Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the people standing on opposite sides of the line
Repetition: Use of repetition in the phrase "cross that line" to emphasize the theme of the poem
Metaphor: Use of the line as a metaphor for the many ways in which people divide themselves from one another

Conclusion:

"Cross That Line" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the theme of borders and the ways in which they separate and connect people. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphor, the poem portrays the line as both a physical and metaphorical boundary, and invites readers to reflect on the many ways in which people divide themselves from one another. The poem also offers the possibility of crossing the line, and suggests that doing so can lead to new connections and understandings.

Poem Snippet:

There’s a girl in a striped shirt and a boy

with a whistle, and a man who thinks

he can tell you what to do but doesn’t.

Cross that line. Mix that sand