Congo
by Vachel Lindsay

Name: Congo
Author: Vachel Lindsay

The Congo is one of the best-known poems by American poet Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931). It was revolutionary in its use of sounds and rhythms — as sounds and rhythms — and includes elaborate annotations to guide its spoken performance. Lindsay categorized The Congo as “higher Vaudeville” and was famous for his exuberant performances of it. The poem’s imagery is racist, but Lindsay was a product of his time — born 14 years after the end of the American Civil War in Abraham Lincoln’s hometown, he revered Lincoln and viewed himself as a friend and supporter of African-American culture.(Summary by Kathy Thile)

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

Published In

Genre/Category

Poetry Non-Fiction Speech

Tags/Keywords

Imagery Racism Race Poetry sound Africa Performance Rhythm American poetry Vachel Lindsay Vaudeville Congo Lincoln African American culture

Authors

Vachel Lindsay

United States

Nicholas Vachel Lindsay was an American poet. He is considered a founder of modern singing poetry, as he referred to it, in which verses are meant to be sung or chanted. Lindsay was born in Springfie...

Books by Vachel Lindsay