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Knoxville, Tennesee | Introduction

Originally published in the 1968 poetry collection Black Judgement, Nikki Giovanni’s poem “Knoxville, Tennessee” has had many incarnations. In 1994, it was published as a children’s book complete with full-color illustrations by Larry Johnson. A delightful and nostalgic visit to a summertime memory, the poem evokes the voice of a child in the midst of this reverie. The poem is generally not complicated by literary references or stodgy style but leans heavily upon an innate rhythm that seems to rise from the child’s own heartbeat. Originally written for an adult, African-American audience, the poem has found a much wider readership. Its simplicity draws readers into a world where the most important decision to make is whether to have more “barbecue” or keep some room for the “homemade ice-cream.”

Knoxville, Tennesee Summary

Lines 1–2
In each line of this poem, the speaker identifies something about summer. It is clear by the simplicity of language and affections that this speaker is not an adult but perhaps a child. It seems to be told from the point of view of a young person who is both nostalgic about a past summer spent and also looking forward to the return of summer’s delights.

Lines 3–12
In these lines, the speaker focuses on the taste sensations of summer and the quality of abundance. The presence of the family patriarch is perhaps the only slightly political statement in the whole poem. This... » Complete Knoxville, Tennesee Summary