Hanging Fire

Hanging Fire by Audre Lorde is another poem dealing with the life of an African American girl growing up. This poem is very poignant at times and also is full of wisdom. The poem is about Lorde looking back on her younger life of 14. She is starting to question the things that are going on in her life. She is starting to question why her skin color is holding her back. She describes her skin as 'betraying her.' The wisdom found in this poem is very startling too. She has the state of mind to realize that she was dealt a tough time. Her mother is never around and doesn't worry about her but she has the strength to move on from that.