Gladys+May+Casely+Hayford+4th

=Gladys May Casely Hayford: Harlem Renaissance Poet=

Biography:
Gladys May Casely Hayford was born in Axim, Ghana to Adelaide Smith Casely Hayford and Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford. She was educated in some schools in Ghana and later in England. She was always very expressive and many universities wanted her to learn at their school. She never made it to any university, but she was still one of the best writers of the Harlem Renaissance. Her fun loving and care free attitude influenced a lot of her writings and it fits in the themes of the Harlem Renaissance ("Book Rags").

Gladys May used her energy and kindness to better her poetry. She used her self expression to make a change in the world through her emotion filled writing. Gladys May wasn't part of the talented tenth, but she did write about many subjects that were more controversial than normal. Many of her poems emphasis women freedom and pride. Other poems show the opposite of her personality, but reflect her life. "Dawn" is a good example of this. Gladys May lost her father at a young age and had many trials in her life. "Dawn" and other poems reflect the pains of difficult years living in poverty and worry ("Gladys").

Poem: "Dawn"
> Dawn for the rich, the artistic and the > wise, > Is beauty splashed on canvas of the skies, > The brushes being the clouds that float > the blue, > Dipped in the breeze for paint, and washed > by dew. > > But dawn to those who bathe the night in > tears, > Squeeze sustenance from hard unyielding > years, > Is full of strange imaginings and fears. > The dawn renews the terror of the day > Where harassing uncertainties hold sway; > And pain held in surcease through brief > hours of rest > Roars up its head in its unceasing quest > To wear out body, brain and mind and soul > Till death is a resolve, and death a goal. > For those life holds no beauty, dawn no > light, > For day is hopeless, dawn is struck with > blight.

Analysis:
The poem "Dawn" is surprisingly sad for the Harlem Renaissance time period and for the author. Although the theme of the poem seems to be hopelessness as shown in the line "Till death is a resolve, and death a goal" and in the words like "hopeless" and "pain", there are still other messages in the poem. The speaker is saying that for the rich and wise, the white population, dawn is a symbol of beauty and joy. The dawn is great for those that have a great life and look forward to each day. However, the speaker also shows us the pain and sufferings of those that don't enjoy the dawn, the African Americans, and how they see it as a symbol of sadness because they have to live through another day.

That "living through another day" is the key. The poem has lots of imagery that shows the terrors of the dawn for some, but also that they are still living every day despite the problems. A lot of the connotative meaning that comes with dawn are things like renewal and second chances, and that is what the people that have pains are searching for. It is hopeless, but they know they have to keep fighting.

This theme of continuing to fight even when it seems hopeless is a prominent theme of the Harlem Renaissance. Many people may think that death would be a sweet alternative to the trials of life but even in the poem death doesn't actually happen, it is only a resolve, a goal, that everyone must meet. Also, the African Americans were being mistreated, even the more popular artists and musicians. This poem shows the need for unity and perseverance so that the African American community can look forward to the dawn.

Works Cited:
"Casely Hayford, Gladys May." //Book Rags//. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. .

"Gladys May Casely-Hayford (Aquah LaLuah)." //Welcome to English « Department of English, College of LAS, University of Illinois//. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. .