Ballad of Birminingham

Poetic analysis:

In lines 1-4 there is repetition and rhyme involved:

"Mother dear, may I go downtown

Instead of out to play,

And march the streets of Birmingham

In a Freedom March today?"

In lines 5-8 involves the mother's tone or views towards the situation:

5- "No, baby, no, you may not go,

For the dogs are fierce and wild,

And clubs and hoses, guns and jails

Aren't good for a little child."

In lines 9- 12 the child also points out their insight or tone (positive) about the march:

"But, mother, I won't be alone.

10- Other children will go with me,

And march the streets of Birmingham To make our country free."

In lines 13-17 the mother again explains her tone toward the situation and how she does not want to lose her "baby" over a bullet for she wants her child to go to church a safer environment:

"No, baby, no, you may not go,

for I fear those guns will fire. 15-But you may go to church instead

and sing in the children's choir."

In lines 18-22 is catalog excerpt it is a poetic description of what the mother is doing:

She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair, And bathed rose petal sweet,

And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands,

And white shoes on her feet.