Overall, Brooks’ use of form and structure effectively conveys the tragedy and injustice of West’s story. Additionally, the poem’s lack of punctuation and capitalization adds to the sense of disorientation and confusion, emphasizing the senseless violence that took West’s life. The poem’s structure and form reflect the fragmented and chaotic nature of West’s life and death, with the varying line lengths and lack of a set rhyme scheme mirroring the unpredictability and instability of his circumstances. The poem is written in the first person point of view, with the speaker recounting the life of Lincoln West, a young man who was killed in a gang-related shooting.

The first stanza is the longest, with 14 lines, while the second and third stanzas have 8 and 6 lines respectively. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with varying line lengths. In terms of structure and form, Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem “The Life of Lincoln West” is a free verse poem with no set rhyme scheme or meter. Understanding the historical context of the poem helps to illuminate its themes of racial injustice and the struggle for equality, and highlights the importance of Brooks’ work in the literary canon. By using this form, Brooks is able to elevate the story of Lincoln West, a young black man who is killed by police, to the level of a heroic tale. Additionally, the poem is written in the form of a ballad, a traditional poetic form that was often used to tell stories of heroism and bravery. The poem was published in 1971, a time when the country was still grappling with issues of racism and discrimination. Brooks was a prominent African American poet who lived through the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for racial equality in the United States.

To fully understand the significance of Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem “The Life of Lincoln West,” it is important to consider the historical context in which it was written.

Gwendolyn brooks poems about race