Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Waldman is an American poet and performer associated with the Beat Generation literary movement. "Fast Speaking Woman" was published in 1975, during a time of intense social and political change in America. The poem reflects on feminist themes and celebrates the power and strength of women.

Content: 

"Fast Speaking Woman" is a powerful and energetic poem that celebrates the power and strength of women. The poem begins with the speaker celebrating the power and creativity of women, and their ability to transform the world around them. The speaker then reflects on the struggles and challenges faced by women, particularly in a patriarchal society that seeks to silence and suppress their voices. The poem ends with a call to action, urging women to embrace their power and use their voices to effect change in the world.

Form: 

The poem is structured in a series of short, punchy lines, and features Waldman's signature "fast speaking" style. It is also characterized by its short, punchy lines and fast-paced rhythm, which create a sense of energy and urgency in the poem. In "Fast Speaking Woman," the poem employs an irregular rhyme scheme, with occasional slant rhymes and repetitions, which contribute to the poem's fast-paced rhythm and energetic tone. The use of rhyme helps to create a sense of unity and coherence within the poem, while also adding a musical quality to the language. The use of repetition, such as the repeated phrase "fast speaking woman", helps to emphasize the poem's central theme.

Poetic Elements: 

The poem employs several poetic devices, including repetition, allusion, and imagery. The repeated phrase "fast speaking woman" creates a sense of strength and empowerment, while the allusion to the Greek myth of Cassandra underscores the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society.

Summary:

 "Fast Speaking Woman" is a powerful and passionate celebration of the power and strength of women. The poem's use of repetition and fast-paced rhythm helps to convey the sense of energy and urgency that characterizes the feminist movement, while also highlighting the challenges and obstacles that women face. The poem's call to action is particularly powerful, urging women to embrace their power and use their voices to effect change in the world. Overall, the poem is a testament to the enduring spirit of the feminist movement and its ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

Poem Excerpt:

Fast speaking woman

hear me roar

I am the Earthquake Woman

rattling your complacency

shaking your foundations

as I scream

scream

scream

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