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1. In what way is the water motif included within the very first poem in the collection?

The first poem in the collection is called "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." In the poem, the speaker extols the virtues of rivers, referring to their power to cleanse, to renew, and to indicate emotional depth.

2. How is the theme of family bonds depicted within the poem entitled "Mother to Son"?

In the poem "Mother to Son," the speaker tells her son about life and about the importance of perseverance. The mother in the poem wants to use her own difficult life as an example to her son. She wants him to see that though her life has been "no crystal stair" (7), she has persevered, just as she wants to see him do within his own life.

3. In what way is irony utilized within the poem entitled "The South"?

The speaker of the poem entitled "The South" expresses how he would like to embrace the location of the Southern United States, but that he cannot. The irony lies in the fact that the speaker would be happy to extend love and kindness toward the south if it were only to consider returning the favor.

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