Lineage by Margaret Walker

My grandmothers were strong.
They followed plows and bent to toil.
They moved through fields sowing seed.
They touched earth and grain grew.
They were full of sturdiness and singing.
My grandmothers were strong.

My grandmothers are full of memories
Smelling of soap and onions and wet clay
With veins rolling roughly over quick hands
They have many clean words to say.
My grandmothers were strong.
Why am I not as they?

Hi!

I am trying to identify literary terms that helps bring out the theme of the poem (i.e. rhythm, syntax, personification, etc.)

I only could find one: syntax: "Why am I not as they?"; but I cannot analytically explain this term well.

Thanks in advance :)

P.S. I'm just in 9th grade honors; so I do not know many of the higher standard critical formats and terms that I will use later on in my lifetime.

Some literary devices you might want to consider discussing:

Anaphora: repetition at the beginning of lines, in this case "They" and "My grandmothers," which serves to keep the focus on the grandmothers as the subject of the poem until the very end.

Alliteration: "sowing seed," "grain grew," "sturdiness and singing," "rolling roughly"

Meter (rhythm): This poem doesn't really seem to have a consistent meter. A lack of consistent meter is a deliberate choice that requires explanation as much as the presence of a consistent meter would have. Also, break down the poem into stressed and unstressed syllables, and see if you can detect places where the poem slips into meter. The second line, for instance, is essentially iambic. Then ask yourself why the poet chose to use meter in those places.

The shift from past to present tense between stanzas. I don't know if this has a name, exactly, but it is clearly also a deliberate choice by Walker that qualifies as a poetic device.

Hopefully these will give you a good place to start.

I recently did this same exact poem my junior year.

"My grandmothers were strong.
Why am I not as they?"

What sad words those can be.

It is a very touching poem.
Sad, peaceful, and admiring.