This is not a small voice

you hear this is a large

voice coming out of these cities.

This is the voice of LaTanya.

[5]Kadesha. Shaniqua. This

is the voice of Antoine.

Darryl. Shaquille.

Running over waters

navigating the hallways

[10]of our schools spilling out

on the corners of our cities and

no epitaphs1 spill out of their river mouths.

This is not a small love

you hear this is a large

[15]love, a passion for kissing learning

on its face.

This is a love that crowns the feet with hands

that nourishes, conceives, feels the water sails

mends the children,

[20]folds them inside our history where they

toast more than the flesh

where they suck the bones of the alphabet

and spit out closed vowels.

This is a love colored with iron and lace.

[25]This is a love initialed Black Genius.

This is not a small voice

you hear.
PART A: Which of the following identifies a theme within the poem?
A. Change can only be created by those who are heard.
B. It is important to consider others’ opinions and beliefs.
C. A tough education is the key to success and happiness.
D. Unity is the key to well-being, strength, and resilience.

PART B: Which section from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. This is the voice of Latanya. / Kadesha. Shaniqua. This / is the voice of Antoine.” ( Lines 4-6)
B.“Running over waters / navigating the hallways / of our schools spilling out” ( Lines 8-10)
C.“on the corners of our cities and / no epitaphs spill out of their river mouths.” ( Lines 11-12)
D.“folds them inside our history where they / toast more than the flesh” ( Lines 20-21)

How does the speaker’s personification of learning in lines 14-16 contribute to the poem?
A. It shows that love is closely linked with knowledge.
B. It shows how all people long to learn and grow.
C. It proves that there is a love for education inside every person.
D. It stresses that the strongest love is the love for knowledge.

4.How does the author’s word choice help develop the poem?