'Who Said It Was Simple' by Audre Lorde

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There are so many roots to the tree of angerthat sometimes the branches shatterbefore they bear.
Sitting in Nedicks
the women rally before they marchdiscussing the problematic girlsthey hire to make them free.
An almost white counterman passes
a waiting brother to serve them first
and the ladies neither notice nor rejectthe slighter pleasures of their slavery.
But I who am bound by my mirror
as well as my bedsee causes in coloras well as sexand sit here wondering
which me will surviveall these liberations.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Who Said It Was Simple: A Deeper Look into Audre Lorde's Poetry

As a famous poet, essayist, and activist, Audre Lorde's works have been celebrated for their powerful messages about race, gender, and sexuality. With her lyrical writing style, she tackles complex issues with profound insight and sensitivity. One of her most well-known poems is "Who Said It Was Simple," in which she explores the complexities of love, identity, and social norms. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will take a closer look at Lorde's poem and examine its themes, techniques, and meanings.

Overview

"Who Said It Was Simple" is a short poem composed of fourteen lines. It was first published in 1973 in Lorde's collection of poems, From a Land Where Other People Live. The poem is written in free verse, which means it has no strict meter or rhyme scheme. Instead, Lorde uses a series of images, metaphors, and rhetorical questions to convey her message. The poem appears to be addressed to a lover or a friend, as Lorde uses the second-person point of view throughout.

Themes

One of the main themes of "Who Said It Was Simple" is the complexity of love and relationships. Lorde challenges the idea that love is easy or straightforward. Instead, she argues that love is a messy, complicated process that requires patience, understanding, and hard work. She writes, "you are the one / who has made the garden thrive / beneath your touch, / don't call this love / simplicity." By using the metaphor of a garden, Lorde suggests that love is like a plant that needs constant care and attention to grow and flourish. She also implies that love is not just about the good times, but also about the struggles and challenges that come with it.

Another theme that Lorde explores in the poem is the idea of identity and social norms. She writes, "you thought / because he talked to you / that you must be the same / nationality." Here, Lorde is pointing out the fallacy of assuming that identity is solely based on external factors such as race, ethnicity, or nationality. Instead, she argues that identity is a complex and multifaceted concept that cannot be reduced to a simple label. By questioning the notion of identity, Lorde is challenging the social norms and expectations that dictate how we should think and behave.

Techniques

One of the techniques that Lorde uses in "Who Said It Was Simple" is imagery. She uses vivid and evocative descriptions to create a sense of atmosphere and emotion. For example, she writes, "there are no doors / that can lock out the fears / you carry with you." The image of the doors suggests a sense of confinement and isolation, while the fears are depicted as something that cannot be escaped from. Another example of imagery is when Lorde compares love to a garden. This metaphor creates a visual representation of the complexities of love and relationships.

Another technique that Lorde uses is repetition. She repeats the phrase "who said it was simple" throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and emphasis. By repeating this phrase, Lorde is emphasizing the message that love and identity are not simple or easy concepts. She also uses repetition to create a sense of questioning and skepticism. For example, she writes, "who said / the sun will rise / like a knife between your ribs?" Here, Lorde is questioning the idea that the sun rising is a positive thing, suggesting that it can also be painful or harmful.

Interpretation

"Who Said It Was Simple" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores complex themes and ideas. At its core, the poem is a critique of the simplistic and narrow-minded thinking that pervades our society. Lorde is challenging us to think deeply about the complexities of love and identity, and to reject the simplistic labels and stereotypes that are imposed upon us. She is also urging us to embrace the messiness and challenges of love and relationships, and to work hard to nurture and grow them.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way that Lorde blends the personal with the political. By addressing the poem to a lover or friend, she is making the message more relatable and accessible. At the same time, she is using personal experiences and emotions to comment on larger social issues. By doing so, Lorde is showing us that our individual struggles are connected to larger societal structures and systems.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Who Said It Was Simple" is a powerful and nuanced poem that challenges our assumptions about love, identity, and social norms. Through her use of imagery, repetition, and metaphor, Lorde creates a vivid and emotional portrayal of the complexities of human experience. Ultimately, the poem is a call to action, urging us to reject simplistic thinking and embrace the messiness and challenges of life. As Lorde writes, "love is not a bed of roses / you must weed constantly / hilling up the rows / and burying."

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Who Said It Was Simple: A Deep Dive into Audre Lorde's Classic Poetry

Audre Lorde, a black feminist writer, poet, and activist, is known for her powerful and thought-provoking works that explore themes of identity, race, gender, and sexuality. One of her most famous poems, "Who Said It Was Simple," is a poignant reflection on the complexities of love and relationships, and the societal pressures that often accompany them. In this article, we will take a deep dive into Lorde's classic poem, analyzing its themes, structure, and language to uncover its deeper meanings and messages.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "that sometimes the branches shatter / before they bear." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, hinting at the fragility and unpredictability of love and relationships. Lorde goes on to describe the ways in which society often tries to simplify and categorize love, reducing it to a set of rules and expectations. She writes, "we are never the same / we are always becoming," suggesting that love is a constantly evolving and complex process that cannot be neatly defined or contained.

Throughout the poem, Lorde uses vivid and evocative imagery to convey the emotional intensity of love and relationships. She writes of "the smell of burnt onions / lingering in our clothes," a sensory detail that brings to mind the intimacy and domesticity of a shared meal. She also describes the feeling of being "tangled in each other's arms," a physical sensation that captures the intensity and closeness of a romantic connection.

At the same time, Lorde acknowledges the challenges and difficulties that can arise in relationships. She writes of "the weight of all the conversations / we will never have," suggesting the ways in which unspoken tensions and unaddressed issues can weigh on a relationship. She also describes the pressure to conform to societal expectations, writing, "we were supposed to be / best friends / which meant we were supposed to love each other." This line speaks to the ways in which society often imposes rigid and limiting definitions of love and relationships, forcing individuals to conform to certain roles and expectations.

Despite these challenges, Lorde ultimately celebrates the beauty and complexity of love. She writes, "we are a part of the earth / and it is part of us," suggesting that love is a natural and essential part of the human experience. She also describes the joy and freedom that can come from embracing the complexity of love, writing, "we have been blessed / to taste life in this way." This line speaks to the idea that love, despite its challenges and complexities, is ultimately a source of joy and fulfillment.

In terms of structure, "Who Said It Was Simple" is a free verse poem with no set rhyme or meter. This lack of structure reflects the poem's themes of complexity and unpredictability, as well as Lorde's rejection of societal norms and expectations. The poem is divided into four stanzas of varying lengths, with each stanza exploring a different aspect of love and relationships.

Lorde's use of language is also notable in this poem. She employs a range of sensory details, such as the smell of burnt onions and the feeling of tangled limbs, to create a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. She also uses repetition to emphasize certain phrases and ideas, such as the line "we are never the same / we are always becoming," which appears twice in the poem. This repetition serves to reinforce the idea that love is a constantly evolving and changing process.

In conclusion, "Who Said It Was Simple" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of love and relationships. Through vivid imagery, evocative language, and a lack of structure, Lorde captures the emotional intensity and unpredictability of love, while also acknowledging the societal pressures and challenges that can arise in relationships. Ultimately, the poem celebrates the beauty and joy of love, while also recognizing its complexities and difficulties. As Lorde writes, "we have been blessed / to taste life in this way," reminding us that love, despite its challenges, is ultimately a source of joy and fulfillment.

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