Alone (Maya Angelou poem)

Alone (Maya Angelou poem) Glossary

banshee

In Irish folklore, a female spirit whose wailing warns of impending death.

the blues

In the poem, the singing of “the blues” may have two connotations:

-the literal singing of blues music—a genre that originates in African-American culture and conveys sadness and pain.

-the expression of having “the blues”—being melancholy or depressed.

race

A group of people related by common descent; the human race.

moan

A low and prolonged sound indicating physical or emotional suffering.

round

In the poem’s context, a synonym for “around.”

gonna

A vernacular form of “going to.”