Dirt

Free verse refers to poetry that is written without a regular or obvious rhyme scheme or form. Contemporary poets often employ free verse to mimic typical speech patterns, making them more accessible to readers. The speaker of “Dirt” is likely a person who would have little or no formal education and would speak with a natural, informal cadence. This unpolished speech is no less powerful for its informality.

The speaker of “Dirt” speaks not only for themselves but for a larger community. They never name that community but rather explain what members of that community have done or been forced to do. The quote from August Wilson’s play infers that the speaker represents all enslaved Africans and their descendants, since Wilson and the characters of The Piano Lesson were part of that community. However, the ambiguity of “we” allows the reader to infer that it might refer to anyone who labors chiefly for someone else’s gain. Using “we” instead of “I” or focusing in on a specific person echoes a theme of generational or societal identity. The speakers remember and are still affected by the experiences of their ancestors and are determined to leave a plot of land to their descendants.