Some are teethed on a silver spoon,
With the stars strung for a rattle;
I cut my teeth as the black racoon—
For implements of battle.
Some are swaddled in silk and down,
And heralded by a star;
They swathed my limbs in a sackcloth gown
On a night that was black as tar.
For some, godfather and goddame
The opulent fairies be;
Dame Poverty gave me my name,
And Pain godfathered me.
For I was born on Saturday—
"Bad time for planting a seed,"
Was all my father had to say,
And, "One mouth more to feed."
Death cut the strings that gave me life,
And handed me to Sorrow,
The only kind of middle wife
My folks could beg or borrow.
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Poem's Connection to the Slave Trade
From guest Barbara Henry (contact)
I just got the connection of this poem's first line to the slave trade that took place between Africa and the U.S. The first line was quoted in the excellent movie "The Great Debaters"but not until I saw the documentary,'The Middle Passage'with the Writer Walter Moseley,did I get the meaning of the first line. In the documentary, the narrator toward the end,could only use his teeth to bite one of the slave carriers because both his hands and feet were bound. I saw the documentary a few days ago,and immediately made the connection with the first four lines of Cullen's poem,"Saturday's Child". Both movies,The Great Debaters and The Middle Passage are awe inspiring,and they both let us know the painful history we should never forget. -
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Quoted on movie "The Great Debaters"
From guest Gwendolyn Soper (contact)
What a beautiful poem about disparity. -
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Title
From guest Steven (contact)
For the reason as to why this poem is titled such, please reference the popular rhyme: "Monday's Child". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monday%27s_Child -
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I thought it was really interesting that this is the way that people felt. I truly touched by the hate and the feeling of rejection that were shown in this poem. it has definetly changed my outlook.
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why is it called saturday's child???
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i like it!
It has such a deep meaning in such a short poem. It helps to think of others lives from a different point of view. -
it\'s great
It is a short poem but I love it -
great
i loved it...it tells u so much in such a short poem -
Luv it
I have to say this poem is tite. It really shows the contrast between peoples lives .. I loved it
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