Poem explores the themes of romanticisation versus reality of the situation. In the poem, the poet talks about the difference in the sight of a white person and an African-American. To a white American, the black belt or Southern America looks romanticized or dreamy. They are unable to overcome their arrogance and look at the reality of the suffering that the African-American community faces. The poem also talks about the racial discrimination highly prevalent in the country. The black community lives sub par lives because of the discrimination against their race.

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1. Repetition- Repetition is a literary device in which a word, phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis or effect. The phrase “South Side” and “To me” are repeated in the poem.
2. Rhetorical question- a rhetorical question is a question asked by the poet without the intention of getting an answer but to put stress on an idea. The poem ends with the poet asking the question “Who’re you, outsider?” To emphasize on the subverted idea of the outsider.
3. Enjambment – enjambment is when the line is continued onto the next line without any pause. In the poem, the poet uses enjambment to create an internal connection within the lines.
4. Allusion – allusion is used when the words or phrases in a poem refer to something else. In this poem the poet refers to the segregation Law as well as the Harlem Renaissance that happened in America.
5. Oxymoron- oxymoron is the use of two contrasting words in order to bring together two opposing ideas. In the poem the line “Kitchenettes/ With no heat” is an oxymoron.
6. Antithesis- antithesis is used to put two ideas, qualities or words parallel to each other. In the poem, the poet uses antithesis in the lines “Across the railroad tracks/ To me it’s here/ On this side of the tracks.”

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