Symbolism and Allusion in “My Arkansas” by Maya Angelou “There is a deep rumor/in Arkansas.” Arkansas is stuck in the past, its antebellum memories of hatred and crime hindering progress toward civil rights. Maya Angelou's poem about the fight for a new wave of equality uses both general symbolism and historical allusion to drive home its theme to the reader. The poem uses general symbolism of nature, time, and historical allusions to make the theme clear in a concise but vibrant poem. General symbolism relating to nature assumes a common base of knowledge from which symbolism can be constructed. The poem opens with a description of Arkansas: "Old crimes like moss hang/from the poplars./The sullen earth/is far too red for comfort." » The first example of general symbolism in this passage is the reference to moss. Moss is considered the base of the forest, the lowest level from which all other plants grow. Although moss is vital to a forest, it is often considered slimy and dirty. Moss “hangs from the poplars,” our second natural symbol. Poplar is weak and useless. Nothing can be built with its wood, and it often bends and breaks in storms. The visual image of the moss clinging to the poplar tree shows the slimy moss as “old crimes” and the poplar tree as a fragile attempt at growth and a new but weak beginning. The reader gets a clear sense of the struggle towards a new life that is hindered and held back by the old reliable moss that has been and always will be present. The second part of the passage speaks of the “sullen earth” which is “much too red.” Red earth can be symbolic in two......middle of paper......e. Finally, at the end of the poem, the historical allusion completely concludes the poem and the theme of new beginnings is placed in a more specific context. “Old hatreds” and “old crimes” refer to those committed against African Americans during the era of slavery. the new beginning for Arkansas is the attempt to achieve equality, leaving the past behind. “Today hasn’t arrived in Arkansas yet. » Reading Angelou's poem shows the reader a new perspective on civil rights and their applicability in society. The use of general symbolism found in nature through the low poplar tree hampered by moss and the cautious sun, coupled with the historical allusion to the antebellum era, makes the theme of the poem clear. The past cannot be forgotten and can hinder the future. Arkansas' Struggle for the Future 'Wriths in Horrible Waves of Reflections' on the Past.