On the Pulse of Morning say's:
"No less to Midas than the mendicant. No less to you now than the mastodon then."
I don't get this what is this part referring to or saying?
Have you looked up the words that you're not 100% sure of?
http://www.dictionary.com
or
http://www.onelook.com
The lines you mentioned are from Maya Angelou's poem "On the Pulse of Morning." In these specific lines, Angelou is drawing a parallel between individuals of different social statuses and different eras in history.
When she says, "No less to Midas than the mendicant," Angelou is referring to the Greek mythological figure King Midas, known for his ability to turn everything he touches into gold, and a mendicant, which is a beggar or someone who lives in extreme poverty. She suggests that both the wealthy and the poor are equally important and deserving of attention and respect.
The second part, "No less to you now than the mastodon then," compares the reader or listener of the poem to the prehistoric animal known as the mastodon. By juxtaposing modern humans with an extinct species, Angelou is emphasizing that each individual in the present is significant and should not be overlooked or underestimated.
Overall, these lines convey the idea that regardless of wealth, social status, or historical context, all individuals hold inherent value and deserve equal recognition and respect.