
Anis Mojgani is a spoken poet born in New Orleans and graduated with a Bachelor in Fine arts. One of his poems, “Shake the Dust”, is a well-known powerful poem read by him to the audience. Mojgani does a great job by reading this to the audience because one really believes he is reaching out to everyone. The poem is about diversity and stereotypes and how every human is worth something. Mojgani is energetic and truly passionate about what is being said. Mojgani uses tone, language, and pattern in “Shake the Dust” to show the purpose of this piece. 

The phrase “shake the dust” is used multiple times in this poem. Mojgani keeps reminding the audience to shake the dust. The phrase means to let go of the struggles people are holding on too. Mojgani is talking to every single person that does not want to keep going. Shake the dust can also mean to be different and to never forget that every single person, even the “two year olds/ who cannot be understood because they speak half English and have God” are special and have a purpose (14-15). This phrase is used to separate stanzas, so it makes the audience have to think about what Mojgani just said and how it relates to them. The phrase could also mean to not settle into an ordinary life. There is also repetition when Mojgani uses the phrase “this is for the…” when Mojgani is talking to an individualize person. This use is special because the poet is trying to personalize the poem. The poet wants everyone to be accounted for, and talks to every person in society. This also shows that Mojgani is trying to break away from stereotyping, a major theme in this poem. Realizing stereotyping is a huge part of society today, Mojgani shows how everyone shares something similar. Members of society often share similar struggles and limitations. The poet uses repetition as a way of showing that Mojgani wants the audience to take this serious and realize that Mojgani is trying to reach out to everyone. Mojgani wants us to break free from that or “shake the dust.”

The theme of this poem is to make sure to put meaning in life and not hold back. Mojgani stresses to these many groups of people who fall into the same stereotypes that they should not be limited by what society thinks of them. The poet stresses how every person has a limitation to move on from. This poem is the first step in the journey of going beyond these limitations.  Mojgani uses many literary devices in this poem. The first one appears in the title itself, “Shake the Dust.” This phrase is a metaphor and means not to settle for things in life, and to find new experiences and adventures. This could also mean to move past whatever baggage the person is holding on too. Mojgani uses a simile, “not just some poem like just another night that sits heavy above us all” meaning that this poem should not be one that is read and forgotten, but one that should be appreciated and pondered upon. (64). Mojgani compares this phrase to a boring night at home that no one will remember. The phrase tells the audience to go out and experience life. An allusion is used in the lines where Mojgani is talking about the television show Leave it to Beaver in the 1950s. Mojgani indirectly talks about “those families that will never be like the Cleavers, with perfectly made dinners, and sons like Wally and the Beaver” which means that Mojgani was speaking to those people that do not have that perfect suburban life (41-42). A hyperbole is used in the phrase, “for the bus drivers who drive a million broken hymns” because clearly this is not meant to be taken literally. This could mean that Mojgani is talking about a bus driver who drives so many people that are broken, and that this poem is for them. 

Mojgani’s tone makes this poem more powerful. Listening to Mojgani perform this poem makes the poem more real and shows that Mojgani is serious about this poem and wants it to reach people. Mojgani is very energetic while reciting this poem, and uses conviction in his words to make the audience believe this is for them. Hearing the poem gives one a sense of joy, and hope to those who have lost it. The poet makes the audience feel as if they are being individually addressed. The way that Mojgani starts off slow and then escalates to talking fast and using hand gestures shows that he really does want this poem to be for everyone. The ending of the poem is Mojgani’s last piece of advice to the audience, to finally open the door “and run forward and far into its widespread, greeting arms” (71). These are Mojgani’s final words to not take life for granted and to move on. 

This poem touches everyone in the world. Mojgani wants to speak to every type of person and to go beyond stereotyping. Mojgani does this by using repetition of “shake the dust” and “this is for the” so that the audiences realize what is important, and go beyond the past. The poet uses these phrases to stress that this poem is for everyone, and that each person can be more than they are now. Mojgani touches every person in the audience and by listening to the tone of his voice one can tell that he truly believes what is being said. The poet uses very descriptive language to make the audience understand what they are hearing. Mojgani uses metaphors, similes, a hyperbole, and many more literary references to make the poem more relatable. Each person can take “shake the dust” and put it to their own life. This poem diminishes stereotyping and helps the audience overcome limitations. Society today is very judgmental and hard to be yourself. Mojgani uses this poem as a way to tell society to not care what others think, and to “shake the dust.”
