Nikki Giovanni: Poems Literary Elements

The poem “Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day” is told from the perspective of a first person subjective point of view.

The poems are written in free verse and as such have no form and meter.

In the first lines of the poem “Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day” the narrator theorizes that her pain is caused by her “broken nail” and not by something much more serious and something she cannot control. The broken nail is used by the narrator here as a metaphor to suggest the ways through which a person may try to find a reason for their suffering.

We find and alliteration in “Knoxville, Tennessee” in the line “and buttermilk / and homemade ice-cream”.

An ironic idea appears in the poem “Ego Tripping” in which the narrator describes the former slaves as being the true masterminds behind the man-made constructions which became in time wonders of the world. The reason why their description is ironic is because despite their intelligence, that group of people never truly gained independence and were forced to serve ruthless masters.

“Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day” is a meditative poem through which the narrator tries to understand her place in the world.

The action described in the poem “Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day” takes place inside the narrator’s home during the course of one evening.

The tone used in the poem “Knoxville, Tennessee” is a carefree and happy one.

The protagonists in “Ego Tripping” are the narrator and her descendants while the antagonists are the white nations trying to enslave and control them.

The major conflict in “Knoxville, Tennessee” is between the sense of immediate happiness and the knowledge it can all end in a split of a second.

The poem “Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day” reaches its climax when the narrator realizes that despite her efforts, society will never be able to fully accept her for who she is.

In the first line of the poem “Knoxville, Tennessee” the narrator describes summer as the time of the year she likes best. This initial description foreshadows the way in which summer will be linked with happiness, love and joy.

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Through the poem “Knoxville, Tennessee” the narrator transmits the idea that having enough food and a roof over one’s head can bring happiness. Through this, the narrator also alludes that having many riches does not necessarily mean happiness, only more troubles in the long run.

The first name singular pronoun “I” in “Ego Tripping” is used to describe a highly intelligent group capable of extraordinary feats.

We find a personification in the poem “Ego Tripping” in the line “the fertile crescent”.

The lines “the gray of my mornings/ Or the blues of every night” in the poem “Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day” contain a hyperbole.

We find an onomatopoeia in the poem “Knoxville, Tennessee” in the line “voices raising to heaven”.