“A Song in the Front Yard,” by Gwendolyn Brooks, illustrates the desire people develop to experience new things and live life by their own rules. In the first stanza, Brooks uses language of propriety and unfamiliarity to emphasize the author's desire to change his life. In the first line, the author establishes that she only knows one lifestyle since she has “stayed in the yard all [her] life.” The author "stayed" in the yard suggesting that she was capable of leaving the yard and experiencing new things, but was simply not ready. She grew up in the "front yard", highlighting the idea that the "front" is the correct way for her to live her life. In the second line, the author realizes that there is much more to experience in life and “[wants] to take a peek behind.” At this point in her life, she isn't ready to abandon the only life she knows, but she wants to look at the other side of things and all the different experiences she can have. In the third line, the backyard is described as "growing a raw, unkempt, hungry weed," once again representing how Brooks is accustomed to only one place. In the yard everything is tidy, well-groomed and no weeds grow. After seeing this, she realizes that life isn't always as perfect as she's been led to believe, so she wants a taste of something new. In the fourth line, the author says, “a girl gets sick of a rose,” showing how Brooks has had enough of backyard life and needs to experience new things. The “rose” is used to represent life in the courtyard. A "rose" is usually associated with perfection and beauty, reflecting the author's life in the "front yard". In the second stanza, the author uses repetition and changing diction to highlight...... the center of the card... ...has put on a new “costume” and is now a completely different person. The socks are “night black” and represent the courtyard and its negative connotation. In line twenty, the author writes that she wants to "walk the streets with paint on [her] face," once again highlighting Brooks' new rebellious nature since she entered the backyard. The "paint" suggests that his rebellion is righteous and takes action, and as soon as he removes the paint, he can return to the yard if he wishes. The repetition of “and” at the beginning of the last three lines illustrates Brooks' desire to completely rebel against her mother and backyard life as it shows how she wants to rebel in so many ways. The main theme of the poem highlights the desire people have to experience what they don't have and to live life on their own terms. Works Cited A Song in the Front Yard