"Ballad of Birmingham" - the familiar refrain of parents everywhere, "No, baby, no you may not go." Despite our protests, mothers always believe they know what is best for us and make decisions they claim are in our best interests.
Although it's not always the case, the "Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall demonstrates a situation where a mother intends to protect her daughter but ends up with an unexpected outcome. The poem employs a powerful tone and incorporates a variety of figurative language to convey its strong theme. The opening of the poem has a cheerful tone as the daughter asks if she can join a freedom march in Birmingham against her mother's wishes.
According to the poem, the protagonist's mother doesn't allow her to go downtown as she believes it's not safe for a young c
...hild. This results in a minor argument, but the mother insists on her going to church instead. Later, tragedy strikes as the mother leaves after dressing up the child, who is smiling at the time. A tragic explosion occurs, and the child's last smile remains frozen on her face. The poem emphasizes how unforeseeable events can change life in an instant, making it essential not to take anything for granted.
The mother is concerned about the safety of her child and believes that downtown is too dangerous. She refuses to let her child go there because she fears gun violence. Instead, she encourages her to attend church and participate in the children's choir. However, when the mother returns to pick up her child, she is upset and crying.
In this poem, the speaker notices a white shoe that belonged to
her child, whom she never got to see. The figurative language used is peculiar but coherent. The line "For the dogs are fierce and wild, and clubs and hoses, guns and jails aren't good for a little child" (lines 6-8) conveys the message that it is hazardous for children to wander around due to the presence of thieves. Additionally, it creates the idea that there might be uncontrolled dangerous dogs that are aggressive towards humans. Similarly, when she mentions jails and guns, there is a possibility of conflict among people resulting in excessive crime leading to imprisonment.
The reason for her insistence that her child attend church is quite comprehensible. Furthermore (Line 10-12), the call for other children to join her daughter in marching the streets of Birmingham for the sake of our nation's freedom seems to indicate a tension between migration and freedom, which motivates children to provide their support.
My main points of analysis for this poem include the shift in tone, the thematic elements, and the use of figurative language. It is important to carefully consider and approach situations from multiple perspectives before taking action, as every decision carries its own set of consequences.
That is the reason behind your genuine thoughts.
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