Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde accurately portrays the experience and tribulations of a teenager during adolescences. The poem not only describes the physical changes of a teen but also the mental changes which affect the outcome of the future. During this time of growth emotions are rapid, and new understandings of life and death are reached. Hanging Fire’s teen feels isolated from the world just like how most teens feel during some point of their life.

Adolescence is a time for physical growth; change of voice, increase height, increase acne, and other physical changes. These changes are not always for the best and in fact may betray you as seen in the poem. If interpreting the poem as teen that is not facing racism, then the phrase “my skin has betrayed me” may indicate acne, which everyone dreads. Physical appearance is an important issue with most teens, and Audre Lorde demonstrates the importance of looks through the phrases “..Knees.. ashy..,” and “wearing braces.” These things seem to trouble the fourteen-year girl in the poem as it would with other teens with the same situation.

Fitting in with everyone else might be the most important issue for a teen.