Nikki Giovanni

Start Free Trial

Student Question

What is the meaning of "Choices" by Nikki Giovanni?

Quick answer:

The poem "Choices" by Nikki Giovanni explores the theme of perseverance in the face of limitations. The speaker navigates unfavorable circumstances by focusing on what she can control: refusing unwanted actions, appreciating what she has, adapting her direction, and expressing emotions. This approach reflects maturity and resilience, as she chooses to act and think independently despite constraints, suggesting a determination to pursue personal growth rather than simply settling for less.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

On one hand, the speaker of the poem seems to be making the best of a bad or an unappealing situation. In the first stanza, she says that if she cannot do what she wants, she can at least refuse to do what she doesn't want to do. In the second stanza, she thinks that if she cannot have what she wants, then she will learn to want what she does have. In the third stanza, she concludes that if she cannot go one way, she will go another. And finally, in the last stanza, she determines that she will try to feel what she can express because she cannot (yet) express what she feels. 

This "doing what you can" attitude can be interpreted as a maturation but it might also be considered a matter of settling. And in this case of the latter (settling), the reader gets the impression that the speaker is being oppressed, held down, or forced to live in certain ways. But, the speaker does not merely settle. In this case, the speaker does what she can in spite of those forces which limit her. Rather than quitting, settling into, and/or dwelling on her limitations, she "chooses" to act, think, and move in some way and in doing so, she chooses to pursue her own personal progress. 

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial