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About this quote

What does it mean?
A rainbow appears and curls around God's shoulder after He smiles.
In plain terms
God smiles and a rainbow appears around him.
What can you take from it?
Nature reflects divine mood through symbols.

Where it applies

  • poetry reading
  • nature observation
  • theological study

Putting it to work

  • writing about nature
  • using symbolism in art
  • discussing peace

Questions to consider

  • What does a rainbow symbolize?
  • How is divinity portrayed here?

Another view

The rainbow as a physical object around a shoulder is highly metaphorical.

More from James Weldon Johnson

  1. So God stepped over to the edge of the world And He spat out the seven seas; He batted His eyes, and the lightnings flashed; He clapped His hands, and the thun…

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  2. With his head in his hands, God thought and thought, Till he thought: I'll make me a man!

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  3. And God stepped out on space, And He looked around and said, 'I'm lonely- I'll make me a world.'

    Permalink to quote #17

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