divinity
religiousness or sacredness; something so special it is related to God. Baraka opens the poem connecting Lamont Cranston (The Shadow) to this elevated state.
WCBS
the acronym name for CBS New York; this is a TV news show that has been on the air since 1931 and was very popular in the mid-20th century.
linoleum
floor covering or varnish known for durability depending on the quality. From the 1860s to the 1950s, linoleum was widely used because of its relative inexpensiveness and durability.
gaschamber satori
Here, the brutality of Baraka's language is at its highest. "Gaschamber" refers to the Holocaust, which is the Nazi Germany led genocide that resulted in the murder of over 6 million Jews. "Satori" refers to the Japanese Buddhist term for enlightenment. The juxtaposition of these two terms can be, and is meant to be, rattling.
Red Lantern
The Red Lantern Corps were the anti-heroes of the DC comics universe. They are driven by the power of rage; a rage that perhaps was tapping into the rage felt by minority groups throughout the 20th century.
Let's Pretend
Let's Pretend is a US radio show created for children that focused on fairy tales and fostering the imagination of children.
Mandrake
A plant that has been revered by many cultures and is thought to have magical or evil characteristics; has been linked to female fertility in the Old Testament.
Most likely in reference to Mandrake the Musician, a superhero from the early half of the 20th century who fought crime by making hypnotic gestures and controlling men's minds.
