The poem is a long, celebratory ode to a man named Olaf, who is described as a "glad and big" and "fierce" character. In one section, Cummings compares Olaf to various famous figures, including Bricktop, who was a famous African American cabaret singer and performer known for her husky voice and flamboyant persona.
Here's the relevant excerpt from the poem:
"and the people of the city
all ran out to look at him:
'there goes Olaf glad and big
and fierce' they shouted to each other
‘he's as strong as the old oak
he's as big as the sea he's as
fierce as a black panther
he's as brave as a fireman
he's as glad as a
( Bricktop)
he's as big as the Mayor
he's as strong as the law
he's as fierce as the whole world"
The inclusion of Bricktop, a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance, adds a layer of cultural context to the poem and further emphasizes Olaf's larger-than-life personality.