Unspoken Poem Meaning

In Imani Marshall-Stephens novella “Unspoken”, one of the main characters is Nana. In the story, Nana is the matriarch of the family and is the prime caregiver. She is a refuge for the family in times of need and is always dependable. Over her entire lifetime she has sacrificed her own freedom to take care of the ones she loves like many grandmothers do. Throughout the story Nana’s life changes many times, these circumstances impact Nana greatly as a character exemplifies some of her many traits and responsibilities. Nana’s first appearance in the book was in a poem called “Solace”. This title speaks strongly about Nana because it is a symbol of the purpose she serves throughout the story. She is the person who everyone turns to for comfort in a time of distress which, is the true definition for the word solace. She spends her days serving the ones she loves whether that be cooking, cleaning or comforting. This poem specifically tells what Nana’s life has become and even though she loves her family she feels like their servant. The poem emphasizes internal conflict going on inside of Nana. It explains that she wakes up early in the morning to seek solitude by smoking a cigarette alone in the darkness. A line that sparks attention to her desire for freedom states, “I don’t

This poem is very reflective because it shows Nana seeing her daughter following in her footsteps. Throughout this poem, she recognizes the hard work and sacrifices her daughter makes to make ends meet. She considers her daughter a “super hero” and thinks highly of her but also feels remorseful because she knows all to well the feelings that come with being the sacraficer. Ultimately, Nana is proud beyond words to see her daughter being a great mother to her grandchildren and it opens her eyes to be proud of herself. This exemplifies a lot about Nana’s true character, it shows that she is empathetic and very