Solo

“But it would be the most romantic thing you’ve ever done // for me. And people would be talking about it for months.”

Chapel’s preoccupation with Blade creating a song for her in the moment he contemplates creating a song for the high school commencement illustrates her immaturity. Blade has the honor to give the speech, as the valedictorian has become ill, and instead, she attempts to convince Blade to create a performative love song about her.

“I Can’t Say I Blame Him // My family / stands for / too much / and not enough. // Too much celebrity / not enough dignity. / Too much excess / not enough kindness. // Too much Yes. / Not enough No / to drugs / to crude behavior / to breaking the law / to rock & roll.”

Though he doesn’t agree, Blade understands why Chapel’s father has forbidden Chapel from seeing him, emphasizing The Impact of Addiction and Fame on Family. This passage further provides context for Blade’s resentment toward Rutherford as he’s unable to enjoy a romantic relationship due to his father’s actions while struggling with substance abuse disorder.

“[W]hat mattered / to me / was that when I strummed, / it sounded / like Mom / laughing. // So I named her Sunny, / after my mother. / And there hasn’t been a day, / no matter how crazy / or wicked // or cruel, / that I haven’t held her / knowing it’s / the bridge / that connects / heaven / and earth.”

Blade loves his custom, priceless guitar, not because of its material worth, but because it connects him to Sunny, as he visualizes that the guitar connects him to his mother, even though she’s no longer living. Blade’s connection to Sunny through his guitar illustrates The Power of Love Through Music and Poetry as he’s able to feel close to his mom through his guitar.

“Let me get this straight. You’re living up in Hollywood / Hills with a pool and tennis court, and a lady to clean / your underwear and cook you tacos on Tuesdays, and / you’re living in hell. You got first world problems, / Youngblood.”

Blade’s friendship with Robert provides him perspective about his life, as Robert speaks to Blade’s complaints with a viewpoint he hasn’t considered. Robert and Blade’s bond over their shared love for music strengthens their friendship, while letting Blade gain insight about his life before he begins Searching for Identity and Belonging.

“Maybe that’s what too much money does? / Why am I so ungrateful? / I have / everything: / the cars, / the guitars, / the mansion, / the view, / the girl. // Something is not right. / There’s a vacancy / inside the rooms / of my soul.”

Blade’s inability to feel satisfied with his privileged life foreshadows Storm’s revelation about Blade’s adoption. Blade’s questioning of his material wealth introduces the rising actions of his Searching for Identity and Belonging.

“As for being made like you, / you’re right, I’M. NOT. LIKE. YOU! / I want nothing more / than to wipe this Morrison stench / from my body. / Clean its muddy glum / from my existence. / I’m not like / any of you.”

Blade separates himself from his family, isolating and abandoning his place in the Morrison family, which is the rising action to the unfolding plot point in the narrative. His outburst angers his sister, who retaliates by informing him that he is adopted and not biologically related to his immediate family.

“‘Some people don’t even get one parent, you got four.’ / Yeah, but two of ‘em gave me away, one of ‘em doesn’t / care about me, and one of ‘em ‘s dead. // ‘If the blues was cash, you’d be the richest Youngblood in / town […]’”

Robert continues to provide Blade with perspective that he cannot see about his life through its complications and conflicts. Robert’s acknowledgment that Blade is lucky enough to have four parents allows Blade to process the information apart from his family and without feeling judged.

“That’s a whopper of some news about your birth parents. / I feel for you. I do know this, though. There’s a lot of love / around you, but if you don’t see it, it’s not there. Go climb / your mountain, see things from the top. Find out the / answers you need, seek what’s really important.”

Robert continues his advice to Blade as he outlines the positive aspects of Blade’s life, including the affection his family feels for him. Robert’s encouragement foreshadows Blades literal mountain climbing to reach his adoptive mother, and his figurative mountain while Searching for Identity and Belonging.

“When Rutherford sings / ‘Sunny,’ / it’s like an eruption / of joy and pain. // To hear him / croon / is to know / his hurt / is volcanic / is to know / he is capable / of loving / even if he refuses / to ever show it.”

Blade hears Rutherford playing “Sunny” by Bob Hebb, illustrating his process of coping with his pain of losing his wife early in life. This scene provides significant context to Rutherford’s struggles with substance abuse disorder, as he’s unable to soberly cope with the loss of his wife and demonstrates how full of love Rutherford actually is.

“We look at each other. / Really look at each other. / Two siblings connected / through experiences / that forever changed us / and now separated / by our blood / and the truth.”

As Blade prepares to leave for Africa, his shared eye contact with Storm illustrates the bond they share as siblings and the established identity Blade already has, though he fixates on their differences. While Blade has already forgiven Storm for her outburst about his adoption and still identifies as her sibling, he understands that they have reached a turning point in their relationship and family dynamic.

“I raise a hammer, / SMASH up / what’s left / rip out / all the strings, / DESTROY / all the love / that was / once played. // I am done / with music, / rock & roll, / and LA.”

Blade catches Chapel cheating on him, which, coupled with the news of his adoption, pushes Blade over the edge. That he destroys “Sunny” serves as a representation of his confusion and anger as well as his feelings toward his mother for keeping the secret and for not protecting him from this pain.

“Each person / I pass / waves / like they know me / or they want to. / It is a good feeling / not to be recognized / and still noticed.”

Blade’s relief of experiencing people who recognize him as himself without the connection of his relationship to Rutherford makes him feel light and happy. Konko’s community doesn’t know Blade’s rock star father yet, and they’re not looking at him through the perspective of his identity with regard to Rutherford.

“…I marvel / at your body / and soul / the masterpiece // that is your / pristine walk / the heavenly way // it colors / the world / from earth // to sky […] Her smile / makes me forget / that I am / seven thousand miles / away from / the spider / that bit / and poisoned me.”

Blade describes his attraction to Joy through poetry, emphasizing The Power of Love Through Music and Poetry as his descriptive language illustrates his pull toward her. Blade’s feelings for Joy represents a turning point for him, as he moves past his occupation with Chapel and her betrayal.

“I think it would be good for fans to see us helping these / little village people in Ghana. Imagine that, Blade. The / Morrisons saving lives. We can build something or buy / something. Did you get that, he says to the camera guy. / That was authentic sh—.”

Rutherford reveals his lack of consideration and continues to illustrate his impulsivity due to his struggle with substance abuse disorder. Rutherford’s entitled behavior underscores the methods in which African countries and communities continue to be colonized via concepts, material means, and more; Joy explains that no one asks the people of Konko what they want or need, and that people assume they know best.

“‘Are you jealous of your father?’ Joy asks. / No, I just don’t want him to get their hopes up. // ‘That is what they need, to have their hopes up.’”

Blade’s response to Joy’s question indicates The Impact of Addiction and Fame on Family as he recognizes the joy the children have, similar to his own experiences as a child. Due to Rutherford’s struggle with substance abuse disorder, Blade understands what comes after the hope Rutherford inspires and the disappoint that follows.

“Standing outside / the bus / is a washed-out rock star / with a five-year-old angel / on his shoulder / and a / multitude / of shining sons / and daughters / drumming / dancing / and singing. // For me.”

Blade’s birthday is celebrated by a welcoming community in Konko instead of an intimate few and a crowd of strangers in Hollywood, again emphasizing The Impact of Addiction and Fame on Family. Away from the limelight, Rutherford and Blade are able to celebrate milestones in a way that they wouldn’t be able to do under the watch of paparazzi, highlighting the changes the father and son are experiencing.

“I watch Rutherford / toss and turn, / restless as rain / and wonder / if I’ll / ever get out of / this squall / that owns my life / and if I’ll ever / get to her.”

Rutherford’s battle with his substance abuse disorder leads to symptoms of withdrawal, serving as a larger picture of how Blade views his life. His father’s tossing and turning reflects Blade’s own inward tossing and turning through his Searching for Identity and Belonging.

“I think of Mom, / I think of Lucy / and close my eyes, / almost unable to form / the words. / I say it, / wishing / they could both hear me. // Thank you.”

Blade feels gratitude to the mothers who have given him life and love, cementing his journey Searching for Identity and Belonging as complete. Blade’s realization on top of a mountain outside Konko recalls Robert’s advice earlier in the narrative as Blade embraces the additional parent in his life and finds the positive aspects of his situation.

“This is about Blade. / Not about me. / This is what he’s come for. // Let’s respect that, he says, / almost as if he’s / reminding himself.”

Rutherford validates Blade’s desires to focus on meeting his biological mother instead of making the event about himself, shifting their relationship dynamic in doing so. Blade feels respected and seen by his father, changing the way he sees Rutherford for the better and beginning the healing process their relationship requires to become better.

“I am locked in time, / finally hugging / the mother // I never knew / existed, / the first woman // to hold me, / to see my face, / to feel the music // strumming / in my blood. // This is where / I’ve needed / and wanted to be, // yet, it is a strange / and confusing place / to be told you now belong to […]”

Lucy runs to Blade and hugs him tightly as they meet, and Blade’s emotions permeate the narrative, underscoring The Power of Love Through Music and Poetry. His descriptive language includes allusions to guitar strumming, with music in his blood, illustrating his love and how he feels love through the lens of music.

“‘Was it Anansi the Spider?’ Lucy says. […] ‘In Ghana folklore, Anansi carries knowledge and stories to / help us triumph over challenges.’”

Lucy’s explanation of Anansi to Blade helps him confront his nightmare and discover the identity behind the spider he runs from in his dream. Blade’s Searching for Identity and Belonging is complete as the person he’s been running from is revealed to be himself.

“In a voice / that carries / love, care, / protection / and all the things / a father should bring / to the world, / Rutherford says // ‘You guys don’t need to stay’ […] He hugs me, / and, for once, / it feels right / and good / to hug him back.”

Rutherford’s support and care for Sia highlights his character development as he puts others before himself, staying with a young girl sick in a hospital. Blade recognizes this change and expresses his love and pride for his father by hugging him in a rare display of affection.

“I love you, son. Your father loves you. I don’t know how / we got so lucky to find you, or maybe you found us. What / I do know is that we were meant to be a family. We may / have adopted you when you were just born, but you came / to me in a dream, almost a year earlier. I remember your / face. I remember your big, curly hair. I remember every / second of our journey together.”

Sunny’s letter confirms her love and Blade’s adoptive family’s love for him, showing him that his identity has been with the Morrison family all along. Sunny stresses that Rutherford also loves Blade, and by the time Blade reads the letter, he has already rediscovered Rutherford’s love for himself, making the letter all the more meaningful.