Cross

Cross
By Langston Hughes
1926

 

My old man's a white old man

And my old mother's black.

If ever I cursed my white old man

I take my curses back.

If ever I cursed my black old mother

And wished she were in hell,

I'm sorry for that evil wish

And now I wish her well.

My old man died in a fine big house.

My ma died in a shack.

I wonder where I'm gonna die,

Being neither white nor black?

 Analysis:

..The title of the poem contains several meanings, all of which underscore the main theme: the inner turmoil the speaker feels because of his (or her) mixed racial heritage. These meanings include the following: 
 
Anger: The speaker has been angry, or "cross," with his father and mother for passing on to him an amalgam of genes. After his anger subsides, he forgives them but remains in turmoil over his mixed heritage.
Burden: The speaker "carries a cross," his mixed racial heritage.
Crucifix: The speaker hangs nailed to a cross, like Christ, suffering persecution even though he has done no wrong. 
Traversal: The speaker "crosses over" from anger to forgiveness, leaving behind his bitterness.
Crossroad: After forgiving his father and mother, the speaker stands at a crossroad. The road to the right is for white people. The road to the left is for black people. But he must go straight, into an uncertain future.
Crossbreed: The speaker is a mulatto.


 resource:
http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides4/cross.html