Lewis+Alexander+by+Jordan+Risley

By Jordan Risley
//Oppurtunity// I Life goes by moving, Up and down a chain of moods II. My soul is the wind Dashing down fields of Autumn: O, too swift to sing. I shall spend my moods Like a rose discards leaves And die without moods. IV My ears burn for speech And you lie cold and silent. Supinely cruel: V Look at the white moon The sphinx does not question more. Turn away your eyes. VI The poetry of life? NO, the picture of my dreams Flashing on my heart Lewis Alexander was born in Washington D.C. on the July 4th 1900. As a child there is ot much writte about Lewis, though he started writing poetry at 17 years old. His first poems were strictly in japanese forms such as haiku and the tanka. He once stated in an article that there are not enough English forms to satisfy him. Published in many different magazines and new papers, Lewis Alexander was a big part in the Harlem Rennaisance. Even though he lived in Philadelphia Alexander often associated himself with black literature. Writing poems in the literary magazine called the "Black Opals" being published many time for his poems.While in the University of North Carolina, he was the honorary editor of a student founded group called the "Negro Number". In April of 1929 the "Negro Poetry Number" was dedicated to him for being " The man who made it possible'. After college Lewis Alexander goes on to achieve many outstanding things. This poem shows lots of similies, symbolism and metaphors. The poem is called oppurtunity, yet I see a poem Wanting what’s nothing. about the hardships of life. He tells of how he will die without mood, possibly saying that he will not let his reactions be controlled by others. He will let nothing stop him from achieving his dreams. The poem refers to the sphinx which may point towards africa in some way. It also shows lots a couple of personal things. The use of human parts may point to him talking about a specific person."And you lie cold and silent Supinely cruel", this might be hinting at Alexander talking about a person or group of people.he states that his ears burn for speech possibly meaning that he wants to hear someone talking to him. " The poetry of life? NO the picture of my dreams Flashing on my heart". This might mean that he wishes for the poem to be real life, when it is only a dream. []