Classic English Literature
&
Incident
Zimmer in Grade School
Zimmer was just a simple boy who is currently at his elementary level of education. My impression of him is that he is rather humble child than a child with very poor self-esteem or self-confidence. Most of the children these days tend to feel shy about what people think of them anyway and that could be counted as a good thing because it reinforces them to behave and act more appropriately. Therefore, the poem “Zimmer in Grade School” is all about Zimmer and his perception towards everything relating to his school.
I could say that Zimmer may not have a regular or enough time spent with his parents; a reason for him to feel slightly humiliated. Actually, I could see that this kid has potential. He knows how not to bully people and what’s good about this kid is that he focuses on himself more rather than wasting his time for others.
Incident
My understanding of the poem by Countee Cullen led me to assume that the persona was travelling when he coincidentally met a Baltimorean stranger who was able to address him as “Nigger”. Being an eight year old at that time, maybe he didn’t know how to react or perhaps he didn’t have the opportunity to react at all.
The poem was actually enjoying because it made me remember the times when I was a child, travelling with either my father or mother into faraway places, meeting several strangers along the way. I can somewhat relate to the plot of the poem because when I was young back then, I also didn’t know how to react whenever I come across strangers, especially if they were actually talking to me and calling me names.
