Poem- "Alone" by Maya Angelou

[Ms. Knarr]

Alone by Maya Angelou





Lying, thinking

Last night

How to find my soul a home

Where water is not thirsty

And bread loaf is not stone

I came up with one thing

And I don't believe I'm wrong

That nobody,

But nobody

Can make it out here alone.



Alone, all alone

Nobody, but nobody

Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires

With money they can't use

Their wives run round like banshees

Their children sing the blues

They've got expensive doctors

To cure their hearts of stone.

But nobody

No, nobody

Can make it out here alone.



Alone, all alone

Nobody, but nobody

Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely

I'll tell you what I know

Storm clouds are gathering

The wind is gonna blow

The race of man is suffering

And I can hear the moan,

'Cause nobody,

But nobody

Can make it out here alone.



Alone, all alone

Nobody, but nobody

Can make it out here alone.

[connorjmckeon]

The message of this poem is that nobody can survive on their own. The author says that humans need companionship to live and be happy. She also thinks humans are becoming more and more independent as time goes on, and this is bad. She says we are headed for a storm, representing a downfall, because without the help and love of others, we can't survive.

I agree with this poem because I believe we need others to live, as well. Even if we are independent in nature, we still will need help from someone else at some point. Also, many people search for love to be happy. The author feels this is a necessity because that is the sense of companionship that people need. With that companionship, love, and help that all come from others, people can live happily.

Do you think some people can make it alone?
Who/what is the author referring to when she says "but nobody"?
What does "where water not thirsty" mean?
Why does the author say that millionaires have hearts of stone?

[marysiagarcia]

1. I think that this poem is about only certain people being able to survive in situation. Where she is talking about is a place without money or love, just solitude. She talks about the others that have doctors to fix their hearts of stone and about an income storm. It is about a lonely person.
2. I like this peom because it talks about being alone and having to face to storm coming in. It's sad to think that some people live like this, i can't relate because I have family and friends and everything I need. I feel that it opens peoples eyes though.
3. Answering Connor's first question, i think that only some people can make it alone but its a hard life. People are made to be around others and enjoy love and comfort and for most it is hard to give these up
(my question) Why do you think Maya used the repitition on noboy, but nobody;can make it out here alone?

[caileighidell]

1. I definitely with Connor's opinion of the message of this poem. What Angelou conveys in this poem is that no human beings are truly able to survive on their own without any sort of companionship. Humans need contact with their own kind in order to maintain sanity in their lives. Without creating relationships with others humans will literally fall apart. We are designed as human beings to both create and maintain relationships with other people to experience life not only through our own experiences but through those of our peers. Angelou makes this especially clear in her repetitive phrase, "Nobody, but nobody can make it out here alone".

2. After reading this poem, I was personally able to take Angelou's message here and apply to my own life. I saw, in this piece, just how imperative it is to our existence to keep other people in our lives. If we isolate ourselves from others in the world we human beings will not properly function and therefore lose sanity.

3.(answering Marysia's question) I see Maya Angelou's repetitive use of the phrase, "Nobody, but nobody can make it out here alone" as a constant reminder to the reader just how important it is to our existence to surround ourselves with good people who we love and trust. It is these people who will be able to not only assist us in our quest to make it through life, but also they will help us enjoy it on the way.

4.(my question) *Do you believe that Maya herself was a lonely person? Could it be that she wrote this poem as a message to herself?

[gabbymcgovern]

1. I completely agree with Connor and Caileigh about the meaning behind this poem. I think Maya Angelou is trying to tell us that everyone needs some type of human communication. We need to live together with one another to survive the storms and hardships. In addition, I think that Angelou is saying that every person, rich or poor, can't rely on just themselves throughout life. Even people who have hearts of stone will not be able to succeed in life alone. As Caileigh said, Angelou emphasizes that nobody can make it alone because in some way, every human affects one another.

2. I found truth and honesty in this poem. I feel as if Angelou is opening up to us and advising us that we cannot be afraid to look for help when we are suffering. Any person can connect with this poem because somewhere along the road in life you realize that people are here on this earth to support one another. It's comforting to know that you don't have to face the storm alone. I love how Angelou said that money can't even save the millionaires from choosing to not communicate with others. I think that peoPle believe that they can do all of these things, but in the end it is natural to rely on others for things.

3. Connor's first question- No, I don't believe that people can live alone. Being alone means that you have no connection with any type of life. But being alone is actually inevitable. If you are living on earth, everything has been built by humans so you are surrounded by things that people have built together. If you choose to isolate yourself, you are still surrounded by man's creations. Therefore, Angelou is right that you cannot survive if you do not use the help of others.
My question- Can you infer from the first stanza that Angelou believes that if society works to survive and depend on each other it can end poverty and hunger? (How to find my soul a home, And bread loaf is not stone)

[colleenpoling]

1. In "Alone" by Maya Angelou, i believe the overall meaning is that no body no matter what the circumstances are, can make it in today's world alone. I agree with Gabby that no matter rich or poor, they cannot just rely on themselves to get them through life and its hardships. Materials will not be what matters in the end, and money is not what defines a person. Relations with other humans is healthy and each individual needs those relationships. And I also extremely agree with what Caileigh said, that May Angelou was telling that no single person can make it alone, because everyone effecting each other whether its known or not.

2. I really loved this poem. The message was very straight forward and it is one of great importance. I think everyone can relate to this poem and reflect back to who they are connected to, and see that they cant make it without those loved ones. The ones who love, and those who love you are the ones who keep you going in life, and are only there to help you succeed and back you up in everything you do. This was a very easy read, and up beat and gave a nice friendly meaning.

3.(Answer to Caileigh's question) I think its possible Maya could have been a lonely person, but what i truly believe is that she experienced a hardship, and what kept her going were those she connected with. It seems as if she is writing of almost a personal story in a way, and is letting us know those who we must need to be in relationship with are those who will help us along the way.

My question:
1. Do you think Maya is trying to single out one specific type of person who she thinks is alone in this world?

[samentwistle]

1. I completely agree with all of the previous statements about the idea of the poem that no one wants to go through the struggles of life alone. In this poem Angelou's main focus is that no matter what your social standing is, who you are, or where you come from, you can never be alone to solve any problems that stand in your way. Also, like what Caileigh said, I agree with the idea that all people affect each other, whether it is known or not. I also agree with what Colleen said, about the idea that materials will not be what matters in the end and that money is not what defines a person.

2. I enjoyed reading this poem because the main idea spoke through all of the words written by Angelou. Each part of the poem was easy to relate to and easy to understand. The reader can relate to the hardships in the poem and connect to the ideas brought up by the author. When reading this poem I was able to read it quickly and easily. The poem also flowed very well, and was happy and outgoing, unlike some of the other poems of this time.

3. 1) To answer Colleen's question, I don't think that Maya was trying to single out one specific type of person. I truly believe that her writing was trying to encompass the entire human population, and the hardships that they struggle. But, despite their hardships, they will never be alone.

My question:
1. Do you believe being alone was a common thought of Angelou's?

[dylanzaliwski]

1. I think the poem talks about how no one can survive by themselves only. A person needs many people to be able to survive for many reasons. These reasons include the most basic needs of food, shelter, clothing, and the needs to be social and have relationships with others. A person at one time or another needs someone else to meet these needs, that are essential to survival.

2. I liked this poem because of its simplicity. The poem has a certain flow and rhythm to it. The is able to get the point across easily without being cryptic and having to search for its meaning.

3. (Answering Gabby's Question) Yes, ending poverty and hunger is possible if society took the approach of this poem that no one person can survive by themselves alone.

(My Question) Do you think this poem about today's society and how we should be acting?

[connorjmckeon]

1. I agree with Marysia's view that maybe some people can live alone. Granted, it's impossible to live totally alone, like Gabby said, but if you take "alone" to mean with companionship, some people can do it, but it's not easy.

2. Answer Dylan's question: I think this poem can be applied to today's world. People say that we are becoming more independent with advances in technology and one can look at the message of this poem and say we need others because no one can make it alone.

[jthimelrick]

1. The overall meaning of Maya Angelou's poem "Alone" is that no body can ever achieve anything great without the help of another. We all need somebody to be there for us, because there will always be a time when we need help. No body, but no body can make it out here alone. Out here is representing being famous, and achieving what Maya Angelou always wanted.
2. I really like this poem because it speaks well to kids our age. Teenagers try to do everything on their own without the help of others because they think they don't need it. But just as "Alone" says, no body, but no body, can make it our here alone.
3. (Answering connors first question) I dont think it is possible for anyone to achieve anything great without the help of others. We are all social beings who need to interact with others to realize our full potential.

My question- who do you think could have helped Maya on her journey to "out here"?

[alexmaravic]

1. I disagree with JT. I think that Maya is trying to say that no one can survive alone meaning without love. People need love to be happy and prosper. Whether it be the love of a significant other, love of a child, or love of family, being loved is something that all humans strive to experience. When Maya says that "Their wives run round like banshees Their children sing the blues" I think she's trying to say that money doesn't make up for love and just because you're wealthy doesn't mean you're happy.

2. I really liked this poem and I completely agree with what Maya is saying. No one wants to live their life alone. They want to be surrounded by people who love them and people they care about. When things get rough, we want someone there besides us to help us through it and always be there for us.

3. (Answer to JT's question) The whole time I was reading the poem, I felt like Maya was thinking about a love she had lost or something along those lines. I think that having a man by her side would have helped her on her journery to "out here".

Question: What storm do you think Maya is referring to in lines 28-29?

[Katie Mustillo]

1. I think the overall meaning of the poem is that no matter what you have or don't have- no one can live their lives alone. People always need someone else whether it's to share food and water or to love. People always need other people to live a healthy life. Millionaires have a lot of money, but they can't be alone either; they need their family. People wrap themselves up in so many other things, but they don't realize that nothing else matters besides love and other people. Our society is falling into the trap that money and power is more important, but they need to realize that it's people they need or else they'll be alone and they won't be able to live with being alone. We need other people to live. People are always going to be there in the end for you, not materalistic things. She emphasizes her point by repeating that "nobody can make it out there alone." It really teaches you something important that you need to remember throughout your life.
2. I really liked this poem because you can really relate to it. She tries to tell us that people aren't bad and we need each other to survive. Also, we need to stop relying on items rather than others. I can really connect it to my life and use it as a life lesson. It was easy to understand and figure out the meaning. It made me feel really happy and grateful for the people in my life and for what I have.
3. Answer to Connor's Q1: No I do not think that anyone can make it alone. No matter what you have or what you believe eventually people get lonely and they need interaction with other people. People need people to help them out and comfort them. No one can make it alone despite what they have or don't have. People need people for everything.
My Question: Do you think that the concept of "not everyone is perfect" is illustrated in this poem? What would prove this?