Question

o blues!
swaying to and fro on his rickety stool
he played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.
sweet blues!
coming from a black mans soul.
o blues!
in a deep song voice with a melancholy tone
i heard that negro sing, that old piano moan—
\aint got nobody in all this world,
aint got nobody but ma self.
is gwine to quit ma frownin
and put ma troubles on the shelf.\

what is the effect of repeating the phrase \piano moan\ in the poem?

○ it sets a sad, mournful tone.
○ it adds a cheerful, melodic chord.
○ it adds an open, musical sound.
○ it sets an angry, discordant tone.

Explanation:

The poem centers on sad, melancholic blues music from a Black man's soul, with lyrics about loneliness. The word "moan" evokes sadness and mourning, so repeating "piano moan" reinforces this somber mood. The other options conflict with the poem's tone: cheerful, open musical, and angry tones do not match the text's focus on sorrow and weariness.

Answer:

It sets a sad, mournful tone.