Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Sun Came" is a poem by Etheridge Knight, written in 1965. 

Explanation:

The poem is a reflection on the emotional and spiritual impact of the sun's presence on a prisoner in a maximum-security prison. The poem's speaker describes the feeling of hope that the sun brings to him, despite the oppressive nature of his environment.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse poem
• Theme: Oppression, hope, nature, spirituality
• Imagery: The sun, prison walls, barbed wire, concrete
• Tone: Reflective, contemplative
• Sound: The poem has a musical quality, with repetition and alliteration creating a sense of rhythm.
• Language: The language is simple, yet powerful, conveying the speaker's emotions and experiences clearly.
• Figurative language: The sun is personified as a source of hope and salvation for the speaker.
• Structure: The poem is divided into four stanzas of varying lengths.
• Symbolism: The sun is a symbol of hope and freedom in the poem, while the prison walls and barbed wire symbolize oppression and confinement.
• Emotion: The poem conveys a strong sense of longing for freedom and connection to nature, as well as a feeling of hopelessness and despair.

Conclusion:

"The Sun Came" is a powerful poem that explores the impact of the natural world on individuals trapped in oppressive environments. Through the use of vivid imagery and simple yet powerful language, Etheridge Knight conveys the speaker's emotions and experiences, painting a picture of hope and despair in equal measure. The poem is a testament to the human spirit's ability to find hope and meaning even in the most challenging circumstances.

Poem Snippet:

"The sun came like a headstrong woman

who moves to her own inner music,

who ignores she's being watched, and who

pays no regard to what the drunks and lovers, the poets and the dreamers say."