By: Frankie Kennedy

ABOUT JAMES BALDWIN  Was born August 2, 1924  Moved to Harlem when he was young  He was adopted  Preacher at age of 14  He was a homosexual  Adventured to Paris and France seeking equality  Returned from France in 192 and joined the CORE(Congress Of Racial Equality) and the SNCC(Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee)  Died December 1, 1987  He was a writer, novelist, playwright, poet, and activist

CONTENT What I got out of the poem is some days are better than others, but you have to learn to keep moving ahead. I feel like he makes this poem to maybe motivate you and give you hope that no matter what situation you’re in, you just keep your head up and keep moving forward. There isn’t many poetic devices to this poem. I feel like this way because he was a bisexual african american and in those times that type of sexuality was frowned upon and on top of that he was black so times may have been hard for him but he had to look past all the negativity in society and keep moving ahead with his head up.

Some days worry some days glad some days more than make you mad. Some days, some days, more than shine: when you see what's coming on down the line! Some days you say, oh, not me never - ! Some days you say bless God forever. Some days, you say, curse God, and die and the day comes when you wrestle with that lie. Some days tussle then some days groan and some days don't even leave a bone. Some days you hassle all alone. Some days you say, oh, not me never - ! Some days you say bless God forever. Some days, you say, curse God, and die and the day comes when you wrestle with that lie. Some days tussle then some days groan and some days don't even leave a bone. Some days you hassle all alone. I know that love is the only answer and the tight-rope lover the only dancer. When the lover come off the rope today, the net which holds him is how we pray, and not to God's unknown, but to each other - : the falling mortal is our brother! Some days leave some days grieve some days you almost don't believe. Some days believe you, some days don't, some days believe you and you won't. Some days worry some days mad some days more than make you glad. Some days, some days, more than shine, witnesses, coming on down the line! I know that love is the only answer and the tight-rope lover the only dancer. When the lover come off the rope today, the net which holds him is how we pray, and not to God's unknown, but to each other - : the falling mortal is our brother! Some days leave some days grieve some days you almost don't believe. Some days believe you, some days don't, some days believe you and you won't. Some days worry some days mad some days more than make you glad. Some days, some days, more than shine, witnesses, coming on down the line! I know that love is the only answer and the tight-rope lover the only dancer. When the lover come off the rope today, the net which holds him is how we pray, and not to God's unknown, but to each other - : the falling mortal is our brother! Some days leave some days grieve some days you almost don't believe. Some days believe you, some days don't, some days believe you and you won't. Some days worry some days mad some days more than make you glad. Some days, some days, more than shine, witnesses, coming on down the line!

MEANING OF THE POEM This poem seems to be about all the different things that can happen in life. Good things, bad things, and things that make you angry and many other things. Baldwin first writes this poem as if there is no answer or solution to your problems, but as he hears the end of the poem he writes what makes things better. What can comfort you when you are in a time of need. This poem seems like the perfect thing for the Harlem Renaissance because it shows that however hard the times might be, there will always be a solution to your problems and someone is there in your time of need.0

POETIC DEVICES Repetition- “some days” Alliteration- “…more than make you mad” Rhyme- “Some days worry, some days glad, some days more than make you mad” Personification- “…and the day comes when you wrestle with that lie”