Poet laureate Tracy K. Smith develops the themes of hatred, discrimination, and injustice through her collection of poetry, “Life on Mars,” and more specifically through her poem, “They May Love All That He Has Chosen and Hate All That He Has Rejected.” In this poem specifically, Smith “addresses issues in popular culture and current events, drawing attention to the helplessness she feels toward violence in the world” (Malone). The author enlightens her readers about social injustice and provides an insight for the notion. Smith conveys the “American problem” of social injustice through the themes of hatred, discrimination and injustice in hopes of changing mankind’s view of others.
Throughout her poem, “They May Love All That He Has Chosen …show more content…
With her poem, “They May Love All That He Has Chosen and Hate All That He Has Rejected,” she reveals multiple themes such as hatred, discrimination, and injustice. The author points out, “[T]he doctor’s away, / That doesn’t treat their kind” (9-10). She does not hesitate to reveal that the doctor is away and does not treat “their” kind. Throughout the poem, Smith’s usage of “they” and “their” refers to the discrimination of black people by many white people, or vice versa depending on the situation. In part four of the poem, the “victims of violence write letters back to their assailants” (Ford 165). Not only does the idea of deceased victims sending letters to their assailants relate to an elegiac, but it also contributes to the overall theme of injustice. The assailants targeted and attacked innocent victims unjustly, and regardless of whether or not they experienced the consequences, it was an offense not worth following suit. This poem supports the author’s reflection on “The earth ticking with mines” from “Life on Mars” itself. She believes, “We’ve been riddled with bullets, shot through like ducks / Everyday. To ourselves and one another.” With continuous terror reining the earth, Smith questions what sends the unnecessary violence. Although violence is prominent, the injustice of the victims of discrimination is far more
Throughout her poem, “They May Love All That He Has Chosen …show more content…
With her poem, “They May Love All That He Has Chosen and Hate All That He Has Rejected,” she reveals multiple themes such as hatred, discrimination, and injustice. The author points out, “[T]he doctor’s away, / That doesn’t treat their kind” (9-10). She does not hesitate to reveal that the doctor is away and does not treat “their” kind. Throughout the poem, Smith’s usage of “they” and “their” refers to the discrimination of black people by many white people, or vice versa depending on the situation. In part four of the poem, the “victims of violence write letters back to their assailants” (Ford 165). Not only does the idea of deceased victims sending letters to their assailants relate to an elegiac, but it also contributes to the overall theme of injustice. The assailants targeted and attacked innocent victims unjustly, and regardless of whether or not they experienced the consequences, it was an offense not worth following suit. This poem supports the author’s reflection on “The earth ticking with mines” from “Life on Mars” itself. She believes, “We’ve been riddled with bullets, shot through like ducks / Everyday. To ourselves and one another.” With continuous terror reining the earth, Smith questions what sends the unnecessary violence. Although violence is prominent, the injustice of the victims of discrimination is far more