The structure of the poem is freeform, which means that unlike conventional poetry structure, this poem has a paragraph like structure. It does not contain stanzas, and does not have a formal poetry structure. Although some parts of the poem contain rhyme, most parts of it do not have rhyme schemes. The language of the poem is figurative. It contains meaning behind actions that are depicted in real life. These are not physical depictions, although they are implicit descriptions that symbolize the frustration and anger of the poet towards the "White Americans". The meaning behind the poem is to convey the agony and pain that silhouettes the lives of colored races in America. It shows how oppressed they are, and the torture and stress they go through each and every day. The poem also clearly depicts the people at fault, the whites, and their actions. This is evident in the lines "i’m sick of calling your recklessness the law. each night, i count my brothers. & in the morning, when some do not survive to be counted, i count the holes they leave. i reach for black folks & touch only air." The lines "I reach for black folks and touch only air" shows that black people are being killed and tortured. That they live in constant fear of losing their lives. Why? Just because they are black. The author portrays how America, a country which is cosmopolitan, which should encourage inclusivity and equality, is doing the opposite. A country in which dominance is clearly visible. A country in which oppression is clearly visible. This also hints at the theme, which is "Oppression in America by Whites". Overall, the poem has a freeform structure, does not have conventional stanzas, has a theme regarding the Whites and how they oppress, and a purposeful meaning of portraying how Black people are tortured, killed, and are looked down upon, just because of their race.