A hanging fire happens when the fuse of a cannon, or any other firearm, is lit but does not immediately takes off; as if it stops in a second or two before it fully ignites.
From the title in itself, Hanging Fire, it is evident that an African-American Teenage girl (i.e. the narrator) is waiting for the wind to do the job; and that job is to turn her wheel of fortune. She is simply waiting for change to come rather than take the necessary step and start to make a change.
To justify such claim, let me quote a few lines from the poem, there is nothing i want to do and too much that has to be done and momma's in the bedroom with the door closed. These lines imply that although much is expected form her, she still chooses not to take any of it. Though the the door may be closed, she still has the power to open it if she really wishes to. It was not locked, it was just closed and all it takes is initiative but still, she hasn't done any.
Life, often times if not always, provide opportunities to everyone. There may be competition but this so-called rivalry between the others was not made to inhibit but to stimulate.
As for the poem, being an African-American (the persona portrayed by the narrator) should not hinder her from exploring new walks in life, exploring new heights instead, it should be a motivator; that although they are seen as different, they too are capable of making a difference.
From the title in itself, Hanging Fire, it is evident that an African-American Teenage girl (i.e. the narrator) is waiting for the wind to do the job; and that job is to turn her wheel of fortune. She is simply waiting for change to come rather than take the necessary step and start to make a change.
To justify such claim, let me quote a few lines from the poem, there is nothing i want to do and too much that has to be done and momma's in the bedroom with the door closed. These lines imply that although much is expected form her, she still chooses not to take any of it. Though the the door may be closed, she still has the power to open it if she really wishes to. It was not locked, it was just closed and all it takes is initiative but still, she hasn't done any.
Life, often times if not always, provide opportunities to everyone. There may be competition but this so-called rivalry between the others was not made to inhibit but to stimulate.
As for the poem, being an African-American (the persona portrayed by the narrator) should not hinder her from exploring new walks in life, exploring new heights instead, it should be a motivator; that although they are seen as different, they too are capable of making a difference.
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