"The Lady I Know" by Countee Cullen

"For a Lady I Know"
by Countee Cullen

She even thinks that up in heaven
Her class lies late and snores,
While poor black cherubs rise at seven
To do celestial chores.

1. What is Cullen's message?

Cullen's message in "For a Lady I Know" is to tell of a woman who thinks that even after death there will be the same class system she is used to in heaven. She will be able to "lie late and snore" while the poor black slaves have to get up early and work. This poem is very short, but has a powerful message of the way upper-class white people thought at the time of slavery in the U.S.

2. How would you characterize the tone of the poem? Wrathful? Amused?

I think the tone of this poem is almost disgusted. I think Cullen feels as if this woman has no right to think that she is better than others. Most people believe in heaven everyone is equal. So looking at this woman's way of thinking was a very common stereotype for the time this piece was written in American history.