Storm clouds and wind (symbol)
The storm clouds and wind mentioned in stanza five represent turbulent times in America and the rest of the world. The poem was written in the 1970s, after World War II and at a time when the Vietnam War divided Americans. The civil rights movement was also underway, and women were also seeking equality. The image of foul weather may therefore represent the struggles felt around the world by humans of all walks of life.
Home (symbol)
In the first stanza, the speaker looks for a home for her soul. Her soul is not at peace, and she feels disconnected from the rest of the human race. To feel at home normally means to be happy with one’s life and to feel that one belongs somewhere. However, a soul is an abstract concept and cannot be "housed" anywhere in a literal sense. The home is therefore a symbol for a place where the speaker may feel calm and happy, such as in a community or in a church.
Loneliness (motif)
The title of the poem is the first indication of the motif of loneliness. Throughout the poem, the speaker uses repetition to emphasize her own loneliness and the idea that others are suffering just like her.
Religion and spirituality (motif)
In the first stanza, the speaker makes two references to the Bible with the use of the words “water” and “bread loaf.” She is craving some kind of spiritual comfort. The repetition of the key stanza on loneliness also sounds like a chant or song, as one might hear at church. The poem as a whole therefore possesses a religious or spiritual tone.
Rich people's problems (allegory)
In the third stanza, the speaker describes the lives of wealthy people. She illustrates the misery of their lives in great detail and explains how they are unable to save themselves despite their fortune. The speaker seems to be telling the listener that money cannot buy happiness, and that people should think twice before assuming that wealth is the answer to unhappiness.
