"Marked the mastodon,
The dinosaur, who left dried tokens
Of their sojourn here"
in this stanza of the poem ON THE PULSE OF MORNING what does it mean? I honestly don't know what this stanza tries to tell us
Angelou is talking about how a rock or a river or a tree once saw now extinct animals. A mastodon and a dinosaur probably defecated there.
Here's the entire poem.
from On the Pulse of Morning
BY MAYA ANGELOU
A Rock, A River, A Tree
Hosts to species long since departed,
Marked the mastodon,
The dinosaur, who left dried tokens
Of their sojourn here
On our planet floor,
Any broad alarm of their hastening doom
Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.
But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully,
Come, you may stand upon my
Back and face your distant destiny,
But seek no haven in my shadow,
I will give you no hiding place down here.
You, created only a little lower than
The angels, have crouched too long in
The bruising darkness
Have lain too long
Facedown in ignorance,
Your mouths spilling words
Armed for slaughter.
The Rock cries out to us today,
You may stand upon me,
But do not hide your face.
Thanks Ms.Sue this really helped
You're welcome, Ari.
The stanza you mentioned is from the poem "On the Pulse of Morning" by Maya Angelou. In this stanza, the poet is using metaphorical language to convey her message. Let's break it down to understand the meaning.
"Marked the mastodon" implies that the presence of the mastodon, an extinct elephant-like creature, was significant and notable. The mastodon represents the ancient history and ancient beings who once inhabited the Earth.
"The dinosaur, who left dried tokens" refers to the dinosaurs, the prehistoric reptiles that once roamed the Earth. The phrase "dried tokens" suggests fossils or remains of these dinosaurs that were left behind after their existence.
"Of their sojourn here" means their stay or journey on Earth. It implies that these ancient creatures once occupied the Earth and have left indications of their presence through fossils and other remnants.
Overall, this stanza reflects the poet's exploration of history and her recognition of the value and impact of those who came before us. It suggests that through the evidence they have left behind, these ancient beings have marked their existence on Earth, and their presence is a reminder of the continuous journey of life and the importance of preserving and learning from our past.