How Does Kwame Alexander Use Poetic Structure In The Crossover

Did you know, an estimated 3.5% (2.5 million) of children under the age of 18 in the united states have experienced the death of a parent? The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander, is a novel written in verse. It follows a Middle-schooler named Josh, as he goes through problems such as his father’s health problems and his brother’s girlfriend. In the book, Josh realizes that family is one of the most important things in life and that when things go wrong, keep going. The author of The Crossover, Kwame Alexander uses poetic structures, like enjambment and dialogue, to show the themes that family is one of the most important things and to keep going (respectively).

“At Noon, in the Gym, with Dad” is about how while Josh, Jordan, and their dad are playing a pickup game of basketball, their dad collapses on the court and how everyone is scrambling to help even as his pulse is gone. In it, Alexander uses this:

“Blow pump

Blow pump

Still nothing

Blow pump

Sirens Blast

Pulse gone

Eyes shut.” (Alexander 196)

I noticed that the author was using enjambment, which in this case is using small lines to show how the situation feels, with bits and pieces being shown but only what Josh is focusing on, such as the sirens and him doing CPR. even though the book is separate from Josh’s actual thoughts, it feels like the author, Kwame Alexander, is purposely skipping the punctuation, which Josh, in that specific situation, doesn’t have time