Coal Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde’s poem “Coal” utilizes contrasting imagery and repetition to further express her shifting emotions and struggles with her identity as a result of oppression. The poem speaks volumes about the experiences of an African-American and Lesbian identifying individual during the late 1970s. The speaker's application of these devices inflicts a profound impact on the poem's overall message and meaning.
In the beginning and end of the poem, Lorde shows how repetition and contrasting imagery aren’t mutually exclusive, but rather intertwined. This combination of devices is apparent when Lorde discusses Blackness, as she writes, “I / is the total black, being spoken / from the earth’s inside” (1-3). The lack of capitalization in the word “black” and utilizing the word “is” rather than “am” generalizes Blackness. Through generalizing

Lorde writes, “Some words are open like a diamond” (8). The word “some” is reflective of how certain people don’t face consequences for expressing their opinions, and the reaction to their words from others is positive, like a “diamond.” Others, like Lorde, reap repercussions when they speak, which is evident when she writes, “Then there are words like stapled wagers” (11). When Lorde speaks her words are “stapled,” contrasting with the openness of others' words. Lorde writes, “Some words live in my throat / breeding like adders” (16-17). The words aren’t “living” in her throat, but rather Lorde restricts herself from speaking her truth because she fears the consequences. There is a repetition of openness while speaking but Lorde displays how her sense of expression differs from others due to her identity. Lorde’s implementation of repetition and contrasting imagery deepens our understanding of her message and allows us to grasp a better sense of her internal