Using evidence from the text, explain what "dance" symbolizes in the poem and how this symbolism affects the tone of the poem.

In the poem "Dance Mama Dance" the word dance symbolizes happiness.

Explanation:

The poem is related by someone who sees how his mother has tried to give everything to him and his brothers.

Let's look at this analysis with evidence from the poem:

She played the role of father: "I saw you raise five of us by yourself with a father nowhere in sight." She worked hard to support the family: "I saw you limp home late at night after a long day's work with sores on your feet" She kept the family together despite everything: "I saw you hold our home together like a foundation that would never crumble."

And as these we can find examples throughout the poem.

But something that this person has never seen is his mother being happy. This is expressed by the word "dance".

The tone with which he constantly repeats the word dance makes us feel that he is saying to the mother "Be happy, Mom! Be happy!".

"And I say Dance Mama Dance

Break the floodgates of countless uncried tears

And Dance Mama Dance

For all the nights you slept alone

with no warm arms to hold you

Dance Mama Dance

For all the dreams that you forgot so we could make it through the day "

In these lines we can see how the mother has suffered and cried and what her children want is to see her smile and be happy.