INTERLUDE D: WOMEN LIKE HER CANNOT BE CONTAINED: Warsan Shire and poetic potential in Lemonade

Lemonade resonates socio-culturally, politically, spiritually, sexually, artistically, and has already begun to shape how Black women view their own authority in self-representation. However, the question of who leads and shapes this representation remains an important one. Beyoncé, one of the most beloved entertainers of this era, is as artist in her own right. Surely her ability to deliver a song and performance cannot be denied, but the work which cemented the impact Lemonade came to have—its poetry and visuals—can be credited to artists unseen and unheard in the film. This short essay focuses on the poetry of Warsan Shire in Lemonade; and, through a brief look at the poetic devices employed, it argues that the film is anchored by the poetry framing each of the songs on the visual album.