Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Allison Joseph’s “Soul Train” is a vibrant ode to the cultural phenomenon of the titular television show, which captured the spirit of Black creativity and joy in the 1970s and beyond. Through the lens of a young girl’s yearning to emulate the dancers on the screen, the poem explores themes of identity, aspiration, and the transformative power of art and community. Joseph’s nostalgic and intimate tone captures the deep impression the show made on her formative years, while her vivid imagery and rhythmic language pay tribute to the exuberance of the dancers and the culture they represented.

The poem begins with the speaker’s memory of Saturday mornings spent watching Soul Train in the living room, forsaking chores for the allure of the performers’ kinetic energy. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of longing: “Oh how I wanted to be a dancer / those Saturday mornings.” This sets the stage for the speaker’s identification with and admiration for the dancers, whose movements and confidence seem almost otherworldly. The juxtaposition of mundane domesticity—chores, a living room, and a dust rag—with the electrifying performances on the television underscores the speaker’s sense of awe and yearning.

Joseph’s description of the dancers is rich with physicality and glamour: “shapely and self-knowing brownskinned women,” “men strong, athletically gifted,” and “women in skin-tight, merciless spandex.” These details emphasize the performers’ unapologetic confidence and their mastery of their bodies, a stark contrast to the speaker’s more self-conscious and tentative movements. The imagery of sequins, slicked-back hair, and daring heels evokes a dazzling world of style and flair, one that feels both aspirational and unattainable to the twelve-year-old girl watching from her home. This dichotomy between the ordinary and the extraordinary adds emotional depth to the poem, as the speaker simultaneously idolizes and feels removed from the world of Soul Train.

The heart of the poem lies in its depiction of dance as a communal and celebratory act. Joseph’s description of the dancers’ movements—“arched, swayed, shimmered / and shimmied”—captures the sensuality and joy of their performances. The phrase “a communal rite” situates the dance within a broader cultural and spiritual context, suggesting that it is not merely entertainment but an expression of shared identity and vitality. The neon letters spelling out “SOUL TRAIN” loom large as a symbol of cultural pride and the transformative power of rhythm and music. For the speaker, the show represents more than a dance program; it is an affirmation of Black excellence and creativity, a vision of what life could be.

The speaker’s attempts to mimic the dancers underscore her longing to belong to this world of rhythm and movement. Her efforts are described with humility and humor: “my approximation nowhere near as clever or seductive, / faking it as best I knew how.” This contrast between her clumsy attempts and the dancers’ effortless grace highlights the gap between aspiration and achievement. Yet, it is precisely this striving—this “yearning to get it right”—that gives the poem its emotional resonance. The speaker’s determination to “move like those dancers— / blessed by funk, touched with rhythm” reveals her desire to claim a piece of that confidence and artistry for herself.

The poem also captures the generational and cultural significance of Soul Train. For many viewers, the show was more than a source of entertainment; it was a celebration of Black identity and a platform for representation in an era when such visibility was rare. Joseph’s reference to the dancers as “blessed by funk, touched with rhythm” acknowledges their role as cultural icons, carriers of a vibrant tradition that extends beyond the dance floor. At the same time, the speaker’s personal connection to the show underscores its universal appeal: it inspired countless young people to dream of expressing themselves with the same freedom and creativity.

In “Soul Train”, Joseph masterfully combines nostalgia with cultural critique, using vivid imagery and rhythmic language to evoke the electrifying energy of the show and its impact on a generation. The poem captures the transformative power of art to inspire, to bridge the gap between the ordinary and the extraordinary, and to affirm the beauty and strength of a community. Through the eyes of her twelve-year-old self, Joseph invites readers to celebrate the joy of movement, the resilience of dreams, and the enduring legacy of Soul Train as “the hippest trip in America.”

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