Notes on the Poem 'The Lynching': Italian or Petrarchan Sonnet

Themes: Race & Gender, Death, Hatred

The poet indicates that a man has been cruelly hanged and burnt at night, then describes the unpitying crowds that come in the morning to look at the spectacle.

This is a sonnet and specifically an Italian/Petrarchan Sonnet. This type of sonnet has:

•an Octave (eight lines) and Sestet (six lines)

•Presents some contrast of setting/theme (For example night vs. day)

•Transition occurs in the 9th line

The poem 'The Lynching' has 14 lines, 10 syllables per line) with the rhyme scheme abba cddc (octave) effe gg (sestet). Contrast may be found between the octave (for e.g pity, night) and the sestet (for e,g no pity, day). 

Religious references (Allusions) may be found to things like the Nativity scene in the Bible, the Crucifixion and the curse of Ham (and his well-known link to African people). Other aspects of style to be noted include contrast, descriptive detail and symbolism.

Themes such as racism, violence, cruelty, for example for children, pity, injustice and sacrifice underline the outrage felt by the poet at the racist cruelty being perpetuated in parts of the USA in the early 20^th century.

                         The Lynching
His spirit in smoke ascended to high heaven.
His father, by the cruelest way of pain,
Had bidden him to his bosom once again;
The awful sin remained still unforgiven.
All night a bright and solitary star
(Perchance the one that ever guided him,
Yet gave him up at last to Fate’s wild whim)
Hung pitifully o’er the swinging char.
Day dawned, and soon the mixed crowds came to view
The ghastly body swaying in the sun:
The women thronged to look, but never a one
Showed sorrow in her eyes of steely blue;
And little lads, lynchers that were to be,
Danced around the dreadful thing in fiendish glee.