Leopold Sédar Senghor, who as a young man had studied literature in Paris, was elected the first President of Senegal after his nation became independent from France. His poetry ranges from the political to the very personal, from Paris to Memphis and back to Senegal. In his poetry he uses visual imagery, especially colors; olfactory images, including fragrances; and auditory imagery, especially music, to communicate his meaning. Like Baudelaire, he attempts to combine these images in his poetry, using a technique that Baudelaire refers to as synesthesia. Please discuss part IV of his poem "Elegy for Martin Luther King".
What images does he use that are particularly effective?
Are there any details of the assassination of Martin Luther King which Senghor misrepresents (or is perhaps confused about) in this poem? (Keep in mind that this was long before the internet, so his news of the assassination may have arrived via telex, telegram, or telephone.)
How do you feel about reading a poem written in West Africa (by the President of Senegal) about an event that took place in Tennessee?
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