Knoxville TennesseeNikki GiovanniBy Helena Kurpaska

About the Poet Born in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1943, but

grew up in Lincoln Heights, Ohio Received her bachelors degree from Fisk

University (Nashville TN) in 1967. She recorded poems, and in 1971 she

had a best selling spoken record that year "Truth is on its way"

Influenced by a creative work shop at Fisk, taught by novelist John Oliver Killens

I always like summerBest

you can eat fresh cornFrom daddy's garden

And okraAnd greens

And cabbageAnd lots ofBarbeque

And buttermilkAnd homemade ice-cream

At the church picnicAnd listen toGospel music

OutsideAt the churchHomecoming

And go to the mountains withYour grandmotherAnd go barefooted

And be warmAll the time

Not only when you go to bedAnd sleep

Poetic Device 1 “You can eat fresh corn from daddys

garden and okra and greens….”In the stanza, Nikki uses imagery

about food

Poetic Device 2“And listen to Gospel music outside……”In this part, she again uses imagery about her religious upbringing

Poetic Device 3 “....Your grandmother and go

barefooted and be warm all the time….”Finally, Nikki uses imagery and how her family is comforting to her.

Theme The theme of the poem is about Nikki

remembering her childhood, and how happy it made her. In the poem, she uses imagery throughout the whole poem to help the reader picture what her background was.

Workscited "Knoxville, Tennessee." Poetry for

Students. Ed. David A. Galens. Vol. 17. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 130-143. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 29 May 2014