Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The poet calls for artists to sing softly over nature and bring spiritual hope to marginalized people.
In plain terms
Sing gently to nature and bring hope to oppressed people.
What can you take from it?
Art should offer spiritual comfort to the overlooked.

Where it applies

  • poetry readings
  • community gatherings
  • cultural events

Putting it to work

  • compose songs for social causes
  • create nature-inspired art
  • write for marginalized voices

Questions to consider

  • How can art serve the marginalized?
  • What is the role of nature in spirituality?

Another view

The religious imagery may not resonate with secular audiences.

More from Jean Toomer

  1. And there, a field rat, startled, squealing bleeds, His belly close to ground. I see the blade, Blood-stained, continue cutting weeds and shade

    Permalink to quote #1
  2. Superstition saw Something it had never seen before: Brown eyes that loved without a trace of fear, Beauty so sudden for that time of year.

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. One seed becomes An everlasting song, a singing tree, Caroling softly souls of slavery, What they were, and what they are to me, Caroling softly souls of slave…

    Permalink to quote #4

Related quotes

  1. J'allais sous le ciel, Muse! et j'etais ton feal.

    Arthur RimbaudArthur Rimbaud quote #1
  2. With this painting, I tried to make everything breathe faith, quiet suffering, religious and primitive style and great nature with its scream.

    Paul GauguinPaul Gauguin quote #2
  3. I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth's sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God a…

    Joyce KilmerJoyce Kilmer quote #3