The poem follows the format of an English sonnet. It consists of three quatrains and a rhyming couplet -- 14 lines in total. Furthermore, it has the same rhyme scheme: abab; cdcd; efef; gg. In addition, iambic pentameter is used, which gives it rhythm.
The poet personifies the country and gives it a feminine identity, which is a common practice when referring to land. In the first stanza, the speaker uses contrast to express his...
The poem follows the format of an English sonnet. It consists of three quatrains and a rhyming couplet -- 14 lines in total. Furthermore, it has the same rhyme scheme: abab; cdcd; efef; gg. In addition, iambic pentameter is used, which gives it rhythm.
The poet personifies the country and gives it a feminine identity, which is a common practice when referring to land. In the first stanza, the speaker uses contrast to express his sentiments about the country. He starts off using the conjunction "although," indicating that a juxtaposition is to follow. He states a negative aspect first but contrasts it with a positive declaration. This emphasizes the speaker's positive sentiment about the land he now calls home.
Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,
And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth,
Stealing my breath of life, I will confess
I love this cultured hell that tests my youth.
The first line compares America to a mother who provides him bitter sustenance, implying that his life is probably a drudge. The second line suggests that she is a dangerous animal suffocating her prey, which means the speaker finds his life stifling and considers himself a victim. In spite of these factors, though, he declares that he loves this challenging country. He describes it as a "cultured hell," which is somewhat of an oxymoron, as one does not expect hell to be associated with culture. The implication is obvious: America might be civilized and enlightened, but it presents many difficulties to its residents.
The next three lines in the second stanza are positive affirmations of the power that this country provides. The speaker states that it energizes him, for it is itself driven by an inner revitalizing energy that sustains it. This inspires him and drives him forward. The speaker is overwhelmed by its size and its power. The simile strengthens the image of the country being like a life-giving river. It gives him the power to fight whatever malice he may experience within her borders.
Her vigor flows like tides into my blood,
Giving me strength erect against her hate,
Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood.
The next line, which should actually be part of the second stanza, seems to stand alone -- a deliberate technique by the poet to indicate the speaker's rebellious inclination. He is not completely rebellious, but seems to assume a deliberate confrontational manner:
Yet, as a rebel fronts a king in state
It becomes clear, however, that he is not himself rebellious but that he is using the comparison to a rebel confronting a king to accentuate how safe he feels and that he bears America no ill will and would not mock her. It appears, though, as if the speaker is aware of the ravages of time and, when he looks into the country's future, he sees its immeasurable might and wonders gradually disappear into the metaphoric sands of time.
Darkly I gaze into the days ahead,
And see her might and granite wonders there,
Beneath the touch of Time’s unerring hand,
Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand.
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