Silver Spoon (Symbol -"Saturday's Child")
In the poem "Saturday's Child," the silver spoon functions as a symbol of privilege and inherited wealth. While silver spoons traditionally connote status and affluence, Cullen uses this image in a specific context. He contrasts his own difficult upbringing with that of wealthy white children, highlighting the sharp difference in the lives into which they were born. He opens the poem by describing these affluent children teething on silver spoons. In comparison, the speaker said he cut his teeth for battle, much like a raccoon. This image indicates how little they consider the luxuries that surround them.
Sable Night (Symbol - "Tableau")
In the poem "Tableau," the speaker describes the radiance of an interracial couple. At the end of the first stanza he underscores their different skin colors but depicts them as equally beautiful: "The golden splendor of the day, / The sable pride of night." Using the imagery of day and night, he emphasizes that there is aesthetic value in contrast. Here, the difference between them actually accentuates their respective allures. In this way, the sable night works as a symbol of the Black character's beauty.
Seeds (Symbol - "From the Dark Tower")
In "From the Dark Tower," seeds work as a symbol of the future. At the beginning of the poem, the speaker describes how they will no longer allow others to take the fruit that they planted and grew. It is clearly suggested that he is referring to the white appropriation of Black labor. Then, he ends the poem on a cautiously hopeful note, saying that they will tend their "agonizing seeds" in darkness. This image suggests a future in which the fruit will no longer be taken from them and they can directly benefit from their work. At the same time, it is a speculative image as the speaker is showing seeds and not a plant, implying they will have to wait and see how everything turns out.
Cinnamon Tree (Symbol - "Heritage")
In the poem "Heritage," the speaker mentions a cinnamon tree in the refrain where he reflects on what African means to him. He describes it as part of "the scenes his fathers loved" and notes that he cannot enjoy them in the same way because he is "three centuries removed." In this context, the cinnamon tree represents the speaker's African background. In being able to picture it clearly he shows his clear awareness of his roots. At the same time, his inability to connect with and love it in the same way as his ancestors shows his alienation from his history.
Desire (Motif - "Fruit of the Flower")
In the poem "Fruit of the Flower," the speaker discusses his parents. He initially portrays them as composed and calm almost all the time. However, he then goes on to say that sometimes he sees a change in his mother: "And though my mother chants of God, / And of the mystic river, / I've seen a bit of checkered sod / Set all her flesh aquiver." Earlier in the poem, he describes her as a perfectly still pool of water. Here, he uses the image of the surface being disturbed by a piece of "sod" to depict her experiencing want. The use of the word "aquiver" suggests that she has momentary desires that she cannot explain. This scene directly counters everything the speaker previously understood about her and gives depth to her character. In this poem, Cullen uses the motif of desire to show that people are almost never defined by one characteristic and that everyone has some degree of yearning, however buried.
