Summary

"Let Me Roar" is a poignant poem about the journey from silence and obscurity to finding one's voice and asserting one's existence.

Abstract

The poem "Let Me Roar" by I. Trudie Palmer, dedicated to Tasheka B., is a powerful exploration of the struggle to break free from the shadows of self-doubt and societal expectations. It begins with the speaker hiding in various forms of "shade," symbolizing their invisibility and silence. The poem progresses to a crescendo where the speaker's suppressed voice can no longer be contained, culminating in a defiant roar that challenges the world to acknowledge their presence and pain. The narrative arc reflects a transformation from being unseen and unheard to a bold declaration of life and purpose, emphasizing the importance of self-expression and the right to be heard.

Opinions

The speaker initially feels insignificant and invisible, having been taught to be unobtrusive and quiet.
There is a sense of frustration and anger at having been overlooked and undervalued, as the speaker describes their existence in the "underbelly of a cold, cold world."
The poem conveys a strong desire for recognition and the need to break out of the confines of silence and obscurity.
The act of roaring symbolizes a reclamation of power and identity, as well as a refusal to remain hidden and voiceless.
The poem suggests that everyone has a right to live fully and be heard, and that suppressing one's voice can lead to a metaphorical death.
The author dedicates the poem to Tasheka B., indicating a personal connection or inspiration drawn from this individual.
The poem encourages readers to embrace their own voices and to resist the forces that seek to silence them.

A Poem

Let Me Roar

Loud enough to deafen the silence

Lampshade

Nightshade

Eyeshade.

Cool shade — shadow, hidden from the bright lights.

Shy,

no confidence.

Stripped by the sun in a solar system that it reigns.

Hide me,

or let me hide.

For I dare not come out of the shade.

Dare not?

How dare I?

When all I was taught was to be small.

Seen but not seen,

heard but no one hearing me cry

in the silence.

Forgotten in the underbelly

of a cold, cold world.

Dark and dank,

bereft of life’s promise —

of sunshine.

So I sit in the shade,

Jealously guarding my stares

to the other side.

Behind my shades,

hat on

mask on,

hidden.

Until the roar in my belly

was too loud for the birds.

They scattered from the canopy,

Startled.

There was a voice in me.

A loud voice,

an angry voice,

A voice that was stilled.

Throat chakra awake.

I roar into the darkness,

scaring the night creatures

under the rocks with me.

Day creatures long gone,

out in the sun with their shades on.

Let me roar.

Let me give a voice to my pain

A wish to my desire,

A name to my song

Kindling for my fire.

Burn, let it burn

Send smoke signals to the sky,

I came here to live

Didn't born just to die.

After decades in the shade,

let me roar.

Let. Me. Roar.

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