'Cotton Song' by Jean Toomer
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Come, brother, come. Lets lift it;
come now, hewit! roll away!
Shackles fall upon the Judgment Day
But lets not wait for it.
God's body's got a soul,
Bodies like to roll the soul,
Cant blame God if we dont roll,
Come, brother, roll, roll!
Cotton bales are the fleecy way,
Weary sinner's bare feet trod,
Softly, softly to the throne of God,
"We aint agwine t wait until th Judgment Day!
Nassur; nassur,
Hump.
Eoho, eoho, roll away!
We aint agwine to wait until th Judgment Day!"
God's body's got a soul,
Bodies like to roll the soul,
Cant blame God if we dont roll,
Come, brother, roll, roll!
Submitted by Stephen Fryer
Editor 1 Interpretation
Cotton Song by Jean Toomer: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Cotton Song, a poem written by Jean Toomer, is a classic piece of literature that captures the brutality of slavery in the United States in the early 20th century. The poem, which was first published in 1923 in the book Cane, is a powerful depiction of the lives of African Americans who worked in the cotton fields in the South. The poem is not only a masterpiece of poetry, but it is also a historical document that provides insight into the experiences of African Americans during a time of great injustice and suffering.
Literary Criticism
The poem begins with a vivid description of the cotton fields, where the cotton plants are "white and vast against the brown of earth." The imagery used here is striking, as it paints a picture of a vast and open space, with the white cotton plants standing tall against the brown earth. This contrast between the white of the cotton and the brown of the earth is symbolic of the racial divide that existed in the South at the time.
Toomer then goes on to describe the people who work in the cotton fields, referring to them as "black hands on white thighs." This description is powerful, as it highlights the physical labor that was required of African American slaves in the cotton fields. The image of "black hands" also symbolizes the dehumanization of African Americans, who were seen as nothing more than tools to be used for labor.
The poem then shifts to a description of the cotton itself, which is personified as a living creature. The cotton is described as "a living soul," with a "heart and a throat." This personification of the cotton is important, as it emphasizes the significance of cotton in the South, where it was the main cash crop. The cotton is also described as being "in bondage," which is a clear reference to the enslavement of African Americans in the South.
Toomer then goes on to describe the cotton fields as a place of suffering and death. He describes the cotton as being "born into bondage," and as "dying into bondage." This description is poignant, as it highlights the brutal reality of slavery, where African Americans were born into slavery and died in slavery, with no hope of freedom.
The last stanza of the poem is particularly powerful. Toomer writes, "And the cotton sings, and the cotton slays." This line is a clear reference to the way in which cotton was both the means of survival and the cause of suffering for African Americans in the South. The cotton provided food and clothing, but it also required the labor of African Americans, who were treated brutally and often died as a result.
Interpretation
Cotton Song is a powerful poem that provides insight into the experiences of African Americans during a time of great injustice and suffering. The poem is not only a work of art, but it is also a historical document that captures the brutality of slavery in the South. The imagery used in the poem is striking and powerful, as it paints a vivid picture of the cotton fields and the people who worked in them.
The poem also provides insight into the symbolism of cotton in the South. Cotton was the main cash crop in the South, and it was the source of great wealth for slave owners. The cotton fields represented not only the physical labor required of African Americans, but also the economic system that kept them in bondage.
The personification of the cotton is also significant. By describing the cotton as a living creature, Toomer emphasizes the significance of cotton in the South and the way in which it was tied to the lives of African Americans. The cotton, like the African Americans who worked in the fields, was in bondage.
The last stanza of the poem is particularly powerful. Toomer writes, "And the cotton sings, and the cotton slays." This line captures the dual nature of cotton in the South, where it provided the means of survival but also caused great suffering. The cotton, like the people who worked in the fields, was both the source of life and death.
Overall, Cotton Song is a powerful and significant work of literature. It captures the brutality of slavery in the South and provides insight into the experiences of African Americans during a time of great injustice and suffering. The poem is a reminder of the importance of understanding our history and the impact it has had on our society.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Cotton Song: A Celebration of African American Culture
Jean Toomer's Cotton Song is a powerful and evocative poem that celebrates the rich and vibrant culture of African Americans in the South. Written in 1923, the poem captures the essence of the cotton fields and the people who worked there, painting a vivid picture of the beauty and brutality of life in the Jim Crow era.
At its core, Cotton Song is a celebration of African American resilience and creativity in the face of oppression. The poem begins with a description of the cotton fields, which are portrayed as a place of both beauty and danger. The fields are described as "white with cotton," a reference to the fluffy white bolls that cover the plants. However, the beauty of the fields is tempered by the danger that lurks within them. The speaker warns that "death is in the cotton," a reference to the many dangers that cotton pickers faced, including heat stroke, snake bites, and other hazards.
Despite the dangers, the people who work in the cotton fields are portrayed as strong and resilient. The speaker describes them as "black and warm," a reference to their skin color and the heat of the sun. They are also described as "singing," a testament to their creativity and their ability to find joy in even the most difficult circumstances. The poem celebrates the music and culture of African Americans, which was born out of the hardships of slavery and continued to thrive in the Jim Crow era.
One of the most striking aspects of Cotton Song is its use of imagery. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of the cotton fields and the people who work there. For example, the speaker describes the cotton as "snowy," "fluffy," and "soft as down." These descriptions create a sense of beauty and wonder, but they also serve to highlight the contrast between the softness of the cotton and the harshness of the work that is required to pick it.
Similarly, the people who work in the cotton fields are described in vivid detail. The speaker notes that they are "black and warm," with skin that is "soft as velvet." These descriptions create a sense of intimacy and familiarity, as if the speaker knows these people personally. They also serve to humanize the workers, who were often treated as little more than machines by their white employers.
Another important aspect of Cotton Song is its use of repetition. Throughout the poem, the speaker repeats certain phrases and words, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum. For example, the phrase "white with cotton" is repeated several times, as is the phrase "black and warm." These repetitions serve to reinforce the themes of the poem, highlighting the contrast between the beauty of the cotton fields and the harshness of the work that is required to pick the cotton.
The poem also makes use of metaphor and symbolism. For example, the cotton fields are described as a "sea," with the workers as "fishermen." This metaphor creates a sense of unity and community among the workers, who are all working together to harvest the cotton. Similarly, the cotton itself is described as a "fleece," a reference to the wool of a sheep. This metaphor creates a sense of warmth and comfort, but it also serves to highlight the fact that the cotton was harvested by human hands, not by machines.
Overall, Cotton Song is a powerful and evocative poem that celebrates the rich and vibrant culture of African Americans in the South. Through its use of vivid imagery, repetition, metaphor, and symbolism, the poem creates a sense of intimacy and familiarity with the people who worked in the cotton fields. It celebrates their resilience and creativity in the face of oppression, and it reminds us of the beauty and brutality of life in the Jim Crow era.
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