Bread-fruit

Bread-fruit symbolizes rural peasant life in the Caribbean. Bread-fruit is a soft, starchy tropical fruit that, when ripe, resembles the taste and texture of white bread. It is a staple food in the Caribbean, primarily among the lower classes and in rural areas where it is grown. It is a symbol of the culture that gave rise to this food and that relies on it for sustenance.

Clock

The clock is a symbol of urban life. Spanish Town, where the poem is set, is known for its large European-style central square, which is dominated by a clock tower. By emphasizing that she was born "beneat de clack," the speaker establishes her link to Spanish Town and to urban life (9).

Samplatta

The samplatta symbolizes Black identity, and particularly the parts of it that are looked down on by white people. A samplatta is a type of sandal...