What is the main setting in Angelou's, The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou?

Settings vary within the collection. Many of the poems could apply to different locales and situations. The reader should be careful not to assume a setting unless it is explicitly implied within the poem. On the other hand, the reader may apply many of the poems to the reader's own environment, as poetry often lends itself to this type of universalism.

Still other poems point out very specific places, such as Africa or America. Even certain states are mentioned, such as Arkansas and Georgia. Sometimes the place itself will speak. The setting is often personified, as the poet describes how the land cares for its own. In yet other poems, the land suffers from the errors of its inhabitants. These poems, such as "Georgia," the poet speaks to the land itself, offering advice, and support.

In the final piece, "On the Pulse of the Morning," the land itself teaches the lesson of togetherness and mutual respect. The tree, the river, and the rock address the reader, offering security and wisdom.

Throughout the poems, the time varies as well. Some poems, such as "Elegy," refer to a distant historical period before the author was born. Others, such as "Riot: 60's," mention a much more recent time of history. Many poems travel through time, using the past to teach lessons for changing the course of the future.