She even thinks that up in heaven
Her class lies late and snores
While poor black cherubs rise at seven
To do celestial chores.
For A Lady I Know by Countee Cullen • 28 poems by Countee CullenEdit
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Born in 1903 in New York City, Countee Cullen was raised in a Methodist parsonage. He attended De Witt Clinton High School in New York and began writing poetry at the age of fourteen.
An imaginative lyric poet, he wrote in the tradition of Keats and Shelley.
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My interpretation
From guest Gloria (contact)
The author lived during a time when many blacks were employed as servants to upper-class white women. His poem suggests that a woman he knew (or maybe even worked for) believed that this is what God intended and so even in heaven she expects this regal treatment.
- From guest brandon m (contact)
I think that the meaning of this is that the lady he knows thinks that she will be free of social class (her class lies late and snores), but he thinks that when they get up there they will still be doing slave work.(to do celestial chores) poet
From guest sana (contact)
really anice poem by countee cullen the poem teaches me a huge number of lessons such as equality its short but amazing- What a marvellous criticism of the idle rich's attitude to the servant classes.
sniffle
From guest nima (contact)
The poem “for a lady” is a poem in which Cullen criticizes a woman of the upper class. Cullen is criticizing the women because the lady thinks that life after death is no different than life before. “Her class lies late and snores, while poor black cherubs rise at seven to do celestial chores.” Shows that she thinks that even though in heaven the lower class still have to awake early and do chores, while the upper class sleeps in and does nothing. It is a very short poem and he just gets to the point across, that she is racist. I connected this poem to a picture that show slaves reaching for the free white upper class woman as if they are reaching for their freedom.Beautiful
From guest ephi (contact)
This poem has been rattling around in my head for the last four years, reading it now I understand just how well crafted it is.Touchee!
From guest avril (contact)
The word 'She' most likely represent a white woman that Countee once knew who was I would guess high and mighty and thought of herself to be in a higher class. The 'poor black cherubs' would most likely represent poor black people who have to wake up every morning at the crack of dawn to do their chores while 'She' lay up in heaven and snore all day with the likes of her. This is my interpretation. He was a very skilled writer.- From guest +worrrh+ (contact)
This is a really weird poem,heheh. cant understand thoroughly! its too short , isnt it?!lOl none
From guest shayla (contact)
this was a really great poem. it touched my heart in so little words. i wish countee was around to see how much his poem means to people now.- Russell Odell:
If you can locate a copy of the poem you request and if copyright allows I'll post it on this site for you to read and enjoy.
~Vonnie
Oldpoetry Team - Please quote me Cullen's poem IF I SHOULD GO BEFORE YOU i THANKYOU , AND i THANK YOU AGAIN.
- Ilike it alot and it is about how a white woman died and stioll even in haeaven thinks she still have slaves
- i like it
........but its kinda wierd - it is about a balck woman who after she died went to heaven and even there she found ...
- I like this poem because there are so many who don't take advantage of what they have, and then the others who dont and can't have it, long for it.
- Ahhh. I love this. Such a simple poem with great meaning. I looked up Countee Cullen for a history project that I'm doing. Its American Heros for every decade starting in 1900. This guy is awesome and worthy of the title hero.
Kami
Edited on May 04, 8:31 p.m. because ''.
