Analyzing "Second Attempt Crossing", "I Hear America Singing", "Harlem"

Topics:	I Hear America SingingPoetry
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“Second attempt crossing”, “I Hear America singing”, “Harlem”

A reader might come across many similarities when they read two or more poems at a time. So is the case in the analysis of the three poems “Second attemt crossing”, “I hear America singing” and “Harlem”. While all the three poems differ from each other the only similarity is that the speakers use the reference of America while talking about their experiences.

Zamora in his poem “Second attempt crossing” shares his experience of coming to America and gives a tribute to Chino which is evident from the first line “For Chino”(Zamora,1). The speaker uses the word “Chino” three times to make readers understand the importance of the person who saved him. Moreover, the arrangement of the phrases cannot be considered proper by the way it looks while reading. On the other hand Whitman in his poem “I hear America singing” talks about the freedom that the American workers who—work day and night to make a living are celebrating. The speaker uses the word “Singing” eleven times which depicts how much the working people are enjoying while they work. However the structure of the poem is very irregular. Likewise Hughes’ in his short poem “Harlem” use such phrases that catch the attention of the reader, yet the structure of the poem is very complex and takes time for one to understand the vision of the speaker.

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Zamora uses a realistic and serious tone in his poem. He describes one of the event where he and chino were on gunpoint and chino saved his life by protecting him. “It was then the gun ready to press its index…your pushed me under your chest”(Zamora). One could feel the emotion of the speaker as he narrates these lines. While Whitman uses tone of happiness and excitement. The poem starts with a cheerful statement “I hear America singing”(Whitman) it gives a hint to the readers about the tone that will remain throughout the poem. Hughes’ poem brings a strong/disturbing image to the reader’s mind as they start reading it. For instance “fester like a sore…stink like rotten meat…”(Hughes’) – can make the reader rethink their dreams and what if they are unable to achieve them.

Zamora did not make good use of the figurative language in his poem. We could just see imagery being used in between the poem. While Whitman in his poem used allitration very often. For instance “the carpenter singing…the boatman singing…the shoemaker singing…”. Hughes’ makes a very strong use of simile and metaphor in his poem while comparing the dream to different objects which forces the readers to imagine what exactly the speaker is trying to convey.

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Analyzing “Second Attempt Crossing”, “I Hear America Singing”, “Harlem”. (2022, September 27). Edubirdie. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from https://hub.edubirdie.com/examples/poetry-analysis-second-attempt-crossing-i-hear-america-singing-harlem/

“Analyzing “Second Attempt Crossing”, “I Hear America Singing”, “Harlem”.” Edubirdie, 27 Sept. 2022, hub.edubirdie.com/examples/poetry-analysis-second-attempt-crossing-i-hear-america-singing-harlem/

Analyzing “Second Attempt Crossing”, “I Hear America Singing”, “Harlem”. [online]. Available at: <https://hub.edubirdie.com/examples/poetry-analysis-second-attempt-crossing-i-hear-america-singing-harlem/> [Accessed 13 Nov. 2025].

Analyzing “Second Attempt Crossing”, “I Hear America Singing”, “Harlem” [Internet]. Edubirdie. 2022 Sept 27 [cited 2025 Nov 13]. Available from: https://hub.edubirdie.com/examples/poetry-analysis-second-attempt-crossing-i-hear-america-singing-harlem/

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