Nikki Giovanni's "You are There"

Paper Summary:

This paper describes Giovanni's "You Are There" as an example of a poem which is better understood by the reader through the language contained within it. This paper states that Nikki Giovanni's poem is about love and the presence of that lover's memory throughout old age. The author points out the writer's use in the poem of tools such as word choice, extended simile, pathetic fallacy and patterns of imagery.

From the Paper:

"One aspect of Giovanni's poem in which the word choice is immensely important is the title. The title of the poem, "You Are There," suggests to the reader that the person to whom the speaker is referring has a very close, personal relationship with the speaker. It shows that the person being spoken of is, or was at one point, a lover with significant meaning to the speaker. This is, in itself, a vital aspect of the poem, for it forms the basis of its meaning. The poem perpetuates the phrase "you'll be there," showing a sense of optimism and hope that the speaker's lover/desired mate will always be present in mind, even in old age. It shows a closeness between the speaker and the speaker's lover that strengthens through each stanza."

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