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20. Beehive
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Cane, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Navigating Identity
Racism in the Jim Crow Era
Feminine Allure
Nature vs. Society
The Power and Limitations of Language
Summary
Analysis
A storm breaks over the head of the speaker, each peal of thunder reminding the speaker of not just the sound but also the flower-like shape of a bell. On the earth, dry and dusty flowers open their buds to the falling rain, which drips like honey down their petals.
This short, free-verse poem emphasizes the power of nature and draws on it as an inspiration for poetry. The image of the passing storm suggests a moment in time that’s in flux and which has the potential to revitalize society.
Themes
