The speaker in Audre Lorde’s poem “Hanging Fire” feels alone and confused about coming of age, because she believes that her innocence is being stripped away from her with no one by her side to ease the transition. The reality of this young girl's innocence being stripped away is explained as her “skin has betrayed her.” She is now entering her teenage years, the diction of the word “skin” shows he ashamed views on herself and how hormones are on the rise and there is no one there to help her look past they way her skin looks. The connotation of the word “betrayed” means to be left alone. This portrays a negative tone towards the speaker's view of coming to age. She states, “suppose I die before graduation/ they will sing sad melodies.” The
