'Making Love To Concrete' by Audre Lorde
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The Marvelous Arithmetics of Distance, pub. by W.W. Norton & Co.1993An upright abutment in the mouth
of the Willis Avenue bridge
a beige Honda leaps the divider
like a steel gazelle inescapable
sleek leather boots on the pavement
rat-a-tat-tat best intentions
going down for the third time
stuck in the particularYou cannot make love to concrete
if you care about being
non-essential wrong or worn thin
if you fear ever becoming
diamonds or lard
you cannot make love to concrete
if you cannot pretend
concrete needs your lovingTo make love to concrete
you need an indelible feather
white dresses before you are ten
a confirmation lace veil milk-large bones
and air raid drills in your nightmares
no stars till you go to the country
and one summer when you are twelve
Con Edison pulls the plug
on the street-corner moonsWalpurgisnacht
and there are sudden new lights in the sky
stone chips that forget you need
to become a light rope a hammer
a repeatable bridge
garden-fresh broccoli two dozen dropped eggs
and a hint of you
caught up between my fingers
the lesson of a wooden beam
propped up on barrels
across a mined terrainbetween forgiving too easily
and never giving at all.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Making Love To Concrete: An Intimate Exploration of Self and Society
Audre Lorde's poetry collection Making Love To Concrete is a powerful testament to the way language can be used not only to express oneself but also to transcend boundaries and connect with the world around us. Published in 1978, the collection is a landmark in Lorde's career, showcasing the evolution of her voice and her vision as a poet and an activist. In this essay, I will explore the themes and techniques that make Making Love To Concrete such a significant work of literature, and show how Lorde's words continue to resonate with readers today.
The Voice of a Warrior
One of the most striking aspects of Lorde's poetry is the strength and courage that emanates from every line. Lorde was a fierce advocate for social justice and equality, and her poetry reflects her commitment to speaking truth to power. In Making Love To Concrete, Lorde tackles a wide range of issues, from racism and sexism to homophobia and classism, with a raw and unflinching honesty that can be both intimidating and inspiring.
Consider, for example, the opening lines of "Power":
"The difference between poetry and rhetoric is being ready to kill yourself instead of your children"
Here, Lorde challenges the idea that poetry is merely a decorative art form, arguing that true poetry must be willing to confront the brutal realities of the world we live in. The image of a mother sacrificing herself to protect her children is a powerful one, and it sets the tone for the rest of the collection.
Throughout Making Love To Concrete, Lorde's voice is one of authority and conviction, demanding that readers take notice of the injustices around them and work to make a difference. Her poetry is not merely a form of self-expression; it is a call to action.
Love and Sexuality
Another recurring theme in Making Love To Concrete is the exploration of love and sexuality. Lorde was a self-described "black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet," and her poetry reflects her complex identity and her experiences as a marginalized person in society.
In "Recreation," Lorde writes:
"I am deliberate and afraid of nothing"
This moment of self-affirmation is a powerful one, signaling Lorde's refusal to be defined by society's narrow expectations of what a woman, a black person, or a lesbian should be. Lorde's poetry celebrates the beauty and power of sexuality, while also acknowledging the challenges and dangers that come with living outside of the norm.
In "Need: A Chorale for Black Women's Voices," Lorde writes:
"we have been taught to fear blackness we have been taught to hate ourselves"
This poem speaks to the ways in which black women are often marginalized and erased in society, and it calls for a reclamation of power and self-love. Lorde's poetry is a celebration of the multifaceted nature of human desire, and it challenges readers to embrace their own sexuality and identity.
Form and Technique
Lorde's poetry is not only powerful in its content; it is also innovative in its form and technique. Throughout Making Love To Concrete, Lorde experiments with a variety of poetic structures, from free verse to sonnets to prose poems.
One particularly striking example of Lorde's formal experimentation is "Coal," a poem that consists of a single, unbroken sentence that spans several pages. This poem is a tour de force of rhythm and imagery, using repetition and variation to create a hypnotic effect on the reader.
In "Need: A Chorale for Black Women's Voices," Lorde uses repetition and call-and-response to create a sense of community and solidarity among black women:
"we are the same women who grew tired in the fields while cotton grew into our bones we are the women who did not run when your bullets cut us down we are the women who did not scream when your terror burned us"
The use of "we are" and "who" creates a sense of unity among the black women being addressed, while the repetition of "did not" and "we are the women" reinforces their strength and resilience in the face of oppression.
Conclusion
Making Love To Concrete is a powerful and provocative collection of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today. Lorde's voice is one of strength and courage, challenging readers to confront the injustices of the world and work to make a difference. Her poetry is a celebration of love and sexuality, as well as a call for recognition and equality for marginalized communities.
Lorde's formal experimentation in Making Love To Concrete is also notable, showcasing her mastery of rhythm, imagery, and structure. Whether using repetition, call-and-response, or unbroken sentences, Lorde's poetry is always innovative and engaging.
In short, Making Love To Concrete is a tour de force of poetic expression that deserves to be celebrated and studied for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Making Love To Concrete: An Ode to the Power of Words
Audre Lorde's Poetry Making Love To Concrete is a masterpiece that celebrates the transformative power of language and the resilience of the human spirit. In this poem, Lorde uses concrete as a metaphor for the obstacles that we face in life, and poetry as a tool to break through them. With her powerful imagery and evocative language, Lorde invites us to explore the depths of our own experiences and find the courage to overcome the challenges that we encounter.
The poem begins with the lines, "Sometimes it is necessary / to reteach a thing its loveliness." Here, Lorde is reminding us that we often forget the beauty and value of the things that surround us. We become so accustomed to the harshness and ugliness of the world that we forget to appreciate the simple pleasures of life. Lorde is urging us to take a step back and rediscover the loveliness of the world around us, to find the beauty in the concrete that surrounds us.
Lorde then goes on to describe the process of making love to concrete, which is a metaphor for the act of creating poetry. She writes, "At night, in the warm glow of lamplight, / concrete quivers, / becoming a monument / to my own hands." Here, Lorde is describing the intimate relationship between the poet and the words that she creates. She is showing us that poetry is not just a collection of words on a page, but a living, breathing entity that is created through the poet's own hands.
As the poem progresses, Lorde explores the idea of transformation. She writes, "I have scraped and twisted / the bones of this place / into my own resurrection." Here, Lorde is showing us that poetry has the power to transform even the most desolate and barren places into something beautiful and meaningful. She is reminding us that we have the power to shape our own lives and create something new and beautiful out of the rubble of our past.
Lorde also touches on the theme of identity in this poem. She writes, "I am a woman / and we are not supposed to make / our bodies look like / these concrete streets." Here, Lorde is highlighting the societal expectations that are placed on women and the pressure to conform to certain standards of beauty. She is showing us that poetry can be a tool for breaking free from these expectations and embracing our own unique identities.
Throughout the poem, Lorde uses vivid imagery and sensory language to bring her words to life. She writes, "I have kissed / the scars on these streets / until they whispered / secrets of their own survival." Here, Lorde is using the sense of touch to convey the intimacy and connection that she feels with the concrete. She is showing us that poetry is not just about words, but about the emotions and experiences that those words evoke.
In the final lines of the poem, Lorde writes, "I have made / love / to the concrete / because I believe / it is easier / to heal myself / than to change you." Here, Lorde is acknowledging the difficulty of changing the world around us and the importance of focusing on our own personal growth and healing. She is showing us that poetry can be a tool for self-discovery and self-care, and that by healing ourselves, we can create a ripple effect of positive change in the world.
In conclusion, Audre Lorde's Poetry Making Love To Concrete is a powerful ode to the transformative power of language and the resilience of the human spirit. Through her vivid imagery and evocative language, Lorde invites us to explore the depths of our own experiences and find the courage to overcome the challenges that we encounter. She shows us that poetry is not just a collection of words on a page, but a living, breathing entity that has the power to transform even the most desolate and barren places into something beautiful and meaningful. With her words, Lorde reminds us that we have the power to shape our own lives and create something new and beautiful out of the rubble of our past.
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