" However, upon further research, one can see that Angelou's uses of references are actually very strong and hits the heart. These two lines are an irregular use of diction, suggesting that this person's soul is lost. The protagonist's life could potentially be upside-down and she is stuck in an alternate universe where "water" is in fact "thirsty" and "bread" is "stone", thus implying that this soul needs to relocate to the proper destination. The notion of the bread is stone is also interesting in regards that it refers back to the bible when Satan tries to convince Jesus to turn stones to bread. By saying that the bread did turn to stone, it is suggesting that Satan has won the battle against Jesus in this alternate universe. By using such deep allusions just in those two lines alone, readers are able to feel the impact behind Angelou's intentions. Priscilla R. Ramsey states the perfect reasoning behind why Angelou is such an active contributor to society when she says "While Maya Angelou's poetry may not have taken us into every nook and cranny of her long and complex life starting with the Lafayette County Training School--its various movements and insights have nonetheless helped us understand the themes, the issues even some of the conflicts which have pervaded her inner life."(Ramsey) Ramsey makes a solid point because the poem in fact relates to Angelou's actual experiences as a child growing up. In fact, Maya Angelou knows first hand what it feels like to be alone in life, living between homes though out her adolescence and getting to where she is in life on her own. Angelou's mastery of allusions are vivid throughout the opening stanza due to her experiences in life, but especially in her prowess in imagery.
Angelou strengthens her claim in the proceeding stanzas through the use of visual imagery, integrating an example that contradicts popular belief and establishing that wealth isn't as appealing as it seems.
