In Langston Hughes poem "Theme for English B," in the lines 16-26 it says: It's not easy to know what is true for you or me
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:
hear you, hear me--we two--you, me, talk on this page.
(I hear New York, too.) Me--who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records--Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn't make me not like
the same things other folks like who are other races.
HOW DO I MAKE THIS A LINE-BY-LINE TRANSLATION?? PLAESE AND THANK YOU!!!!!
If you post what you think each line means, we'll be glad to comment on it.
To make a line-by-line translation of the given passage from Langston Hughes' poem "Theme for English B," you can break down each line and provide a concise explanation for what it means. Here's a line-by-line translation:
Line 16: "It's not easy to know what is true for you or me"
Explanation: Identifying what is personally true and authentic can be challenging.
Line 17: "at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what"
Explanation: The speaker is acknowledging their age, 22 years old, and expresses uncertainty about their true identity.
Line 18: "I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:"
Explanation: The speaker recognizes the influence of Harlem, the neighborhood they live in, on their thoughts and experiences. They can relate to and understand the experiences of their community.
Line 19: "hear you, hear me--we two--you, me, talk on this page."
Explanation: The speaker emphasizes the mutual understanding and connection between themselves and Harlem. They recognize the opportunity to communicate and express their experiences on the page.
Line 20: "(I hear New York, too.) Me--who?"
Explanation: The speaker acknowledges the broader influence of New York City on their identity and then questions who they truly are.
Line 21: "Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love."
Explanation: The speaker lists simple expressions of their personal preferences and desires, such as enjoying basic human needs like eating, sleeping, drinking, and being in love.
Line 22: "I like to work, read, learn, and understand life."
Explanation: The speaker expresses an appreciation for the process of working, reading, learning, and gaining a deeper understanding of life.
Line 23: "I like a pipe for a Christmas present,"
Explanation: The speaker mentions a particular preference for receiving a pipe as a gift during Christmas.
Line 24: "or records--Bessie, bop, or Bach."
Explanation: The speaker enjoys listening to and appreciating different genres of music, specifically referencing Bessie Smith (a blues musician), bop (a form of jazz), and Bach (a classical composer).
Line 25: "I guess being colored doesn't make me not like"
Explanation: The speaker recognizes that their race, being "colored," does not determine their preferences or interests.
Line 26: "the same things other folks like who are other races."
Explanation: The speaker asserts that they can appreciate the same things as people of other races, emphasizing the universality of shared interests and desires.
By breaking down the lines and providing explanations for their meanings, you can create a line-by-line translation of this passage from the poem.