On The Pulse Of Morning By Maya Angelou Summary

On the Pulse of Morning Analysis
Maya Angelou was a powerful and inspiring woman who had many talents as a writer. Maya was faced with obstacles in her life as an African-American that lead her to experience racial prejudices and discrimination. This allowed her to recite her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s Inauguration in 1993 (Angelou). Angelou’s purpose was to call for hope of equality amongst the nation. She uses several rhetorical techniques such as symbolism, shift of tones, detail and parallelism. Combined, these devices helped convey a powerful speech towards the unity of humans.
The author first lists symbolism in the first line “A Rock, A River, A Tree” (Angelou). The rock, which humankind stands upon.

The river, is a sign of peace and grace. The tree is a symbol of strength and settlement. Despite all obstacles that stood in the way of mankind; they were able to live further along. The pre-historic times where humans did not exist there was only nature and land. She includes how they were there even species that existed before humans. They symbolize what America has offered and observed throughout history. Angelou invites human beings to embrace their human-quality and the high characteristics the world has to offer humans. The symbolism allows the sense of attitude and communication throughout the poem.
In these opening lines, Angelou sets the tone of the poem.

Throughout the poem, there are various shifts of tone. Angelou creates a solemn tone in the first stanza, “Hosts to species long since departed…Any broad alarm of their hastening doom is lost in the gloom of dust and ages” (Angelou). Any trace that was left back in the past is now gone from existence throughout time. Although throughout the poem, the tone shifts implying the audience of the hope that I provided for the country. At the last stanza she shifts into an optimism tone, “Here on the pulse of this new day, You may have the grace to look up and out And into your sister's eyes, And into your brother's face, Your country, And say simply, Very simply, With hope --Good morning” (Angelou). Her tone is simply more concluding of a new day and nation. She concludes her poem with an optimistic outlook for the

audience.
Angelou’s argument that there is still hope for humankind, despite violence that occurs in a nation.

She identifies this by “Each of you, a burdened country Delicate and strangely made proud… My shore, currents of debris upon my breast. Yet today I call you to my riverside, If you will study war no more” (Angelou) This image enlightens a sense of peace. Angelou helps create an appeal to emotion because of the effects war has done to the country. She portrays peace in a different environment--The River. Angelou uses the River as it sings a song, or as a calling to humans to its riverside but only if they let go of violence. If humans come to the River, they will have a “clad in peace.”
Angelou continues her strong hope for equality by acknowledging diversity among the world. She uses parallelism to emphasize the wide diversity of the audience. From different ethnicities to religion:
"The singing River, and the wise Rock. So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew, the African, the Native American, the Sioux, the Catholic, the Muslim, the French , the Greek, the Irish, the Rabbi, the Sheik, the Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, the privileged, the Homeless, the Teacher. They hear. They all hear the speaking of the tree"

(Angelou).
She “highlights” to the audience they are together as one. The tree is what represents to them as their hope and unity. This also relates to ethos, as Angelou was passionate about the civil rights movement and to share the same humanity of all people. This was a call for unity of all people and belief systems. Although they do not realize that since their surroundings are different in appearance and ethics, they are united by one nation. They are united by nation, but different due to culture.
The use of these rhetorical functions allowed Angelou to independently convey a strong rhetorical piece. The overall message Maya wanted to portray was the hope in overcoming problematic issues that may hinder in racial injustice and discrimination. Angelou directs her message towards American citizens, also citizens that are of different cultures stand together as one. The importance of her speech was to inform her audience that humans are created the same. Angelou clearly portrays that hope of equality is still among the nation.