Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Under the Edge of February" by Jayne Cortez is a poignant and evocative poem that delves deep into the heart of urban decay, social neglect, and the enduring spirit of Harlem. Through a series of powerful and often harrowing images, Cortez crafts a narrative that is both a lament and a celebration, capturing the complexity of Harlem's identity amidst adversity.

The poem opens with the metaphor "Under the edge of February / in hawk of a throat," immediately setting a tone of harshness and survival, evoking the cold, bleak landscape of late winter and the predatory survival instincts it necessitates. The "ravines of sweet oil" and "temples of switchblades" introduce the urban environment as one of hidden dangers and beauty, juxtaposing the natural and the man-made in a landscape marked by violence and resilience.

Cortez's repetition of "beautiful" in describing the various aspects of this environment—its "sound of fertility," "turban of funeral crepe," and "camouflage of grief"—underscores a profound appreciation for the inherent dignity and strength found within the community's struggle. The beauty she identifies is not conventional but is found in the act of survival, in the assertion of life amidst "its solitude of bruises" and "its arson of alert."

The call to "enter its beautiful calligraphy of blood" is an invitation to recognize and confront the pain, loss, and violence that have left their mark on Harlem. The "beautiful mask" described in a litany of everyday objects—fish nets, hubcaps, ice picks, watermelon rinds, and umbilical cords—symbolizes the layers of identity, history, and memory that compose the community's collective face, continuously changing and adapting.

"Compound of Hearts" serves as a refrain, echoing the complexity and interconnectedness of human experiences within Harlem. The search for "the lucky number for this shy love" amidst a landscape "bathed with charcoal water" and littered with "broken bottles, broken locks, broken pipes, broken bloods" reflects the fragile hope for redemption and love in a place burdened by brokenness and betrayal.

Cortez does not shy away from naming the forces of "Landlords, Junkies, Thieves" that exploit and desecrate Harlem, contributing to its cycle of destruction and despair. Yet, even in the face of this desolation, she asserts Harlem's beauty, reaffirming its fertility, its mourning, its grief, and its vigilance as sources of strength.

"Under the Edge of February" is a powerful testament to the resilience of Harlem and its inhabitants, finding beauty in adversity and perseverance in the face of systemic neglect. Cortez's poem is both a critique and a celebration, a call to witness and honor the complex tapestry of life in one of America's most iconic neighborhoods. Through her vivid imagery and passionate verse, Cortez challenges readers to see beyond the surface, to recognize the dignity and beauty that persists in the struggle for survival and justice.

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/90802/under-the-edge-of-february

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