Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “Sympathy” is invaluable to African American literature. His poem parallels his own life to the life of a caged bird. Imagery is absolutely essential to the development of the poem as a whole. Rhyme too, is an important component. Dunbar shapes his poem and relates his message to his readers though vivid imagery; gentle rhyme; and insistent repetition.

            In “Sympathy,” imagery is the frame from which the poem hangs. Dunbar wastes no time in jumping into his imagery detail. His first stanza opens with scenes of freedom and life.

                        I know what the caged bird feels, alas!

                        When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;

                        When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass

                        And the river flows like a stream of glass;

                        When the first bird sings and the first bud opes

                        And the faint perfume from its chalice steals–(Dunbar 1).

            Dunbar’s descriptions of the bright sun and upland slopes paint a pleasant carefree picture of what the caged bird is restrained from enjoying. Dunbar builds longing for these images by portraying the soft wind stirring the springing grass and the glassy river flowing serenely. By the last stanza the reader undoubtedly wishes to sample the “faint perfume” from the first opened bud. Consequently, Dunbar’s imagery is effective in translating the feelings of the caged bird to the reader; likewise, his imagery is effective in translating Dunbar’s feelings to the reader as well. Dunbar continues to use imagery in his next stanza, appealing to the readers senses of sight and touch.

                        I know why the caged bird beats his wing

                        Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;

                        For he must fly back to his perch and cling…

                        And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars…

I know why he beats his wing! (Dunbar 1).

            Here, the images of red blood and a bird beating his wing against cold cruel bars not only appeals to the readers’ sense of sight, but pity. Dunbar guides the poem a little further by next appealing to the readers’ sense of touch. His lines, “and a pain still throbs in the old, old scars…” are reminiscent of old battle wounds that hurt every once and awhile, long after the war. The line also alludes to the fact that the bird has been beating his wing against the bars for a time longer than that shown in the poem. By appealing to the senses through imagery, Dunbar effectively drives his meaning home.

            Imagery is not, however, the only tool Dunbar uses to shape his poem and relate its message to his readers; rhyme also is important. In this poem Dunbar uses an ABAABCC, DEDDEDD, FGFFGDD scheme throughout his poem. The rhyme, instead of lending the poem a nursery-rhyme feel adds a wistful lilt to the verse.

                        I know what the caged bird feels, alas!

                        When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;

                        When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,

                        And the river flows like a stream of glass… (Dunbar 1).

            The soft, easy flowing rhyme serves to induce a feeling of longing in the reader that matches both the bird and Dunbar’s own personal sentiments. Dunbar tightens his rhyme in his first stanza in lines two-six by regulating each line to ten syllables. In line seven he breaks the pattern with seven syllables. By introducing a specific syllable length for his lines, Dunbar creates unity and a continuum of occurrences that the caged bird misses. The rhythm of the lines is also tighter because of this syllable structure paired expertly with the rhyme. By employing this tool, Dunbar effectively implies that the small bird is missing a host of events and occurrences.

            Finally, Dunbar also shapes his poem through repetition. Dunbar’s repetition of “I know,” “When” and “but” in his poem not only add an element of rhythm, but make insistent statements about Dunbar’s message. “I know what the caged bird feels…I know what…I know why…I know why…I know why…I know why,” (Dunbar 1) the poet writes. The repetition firmly states that the poet truly, intimately knows why the caged bird acts the way it does. Next Dunbar repeats a series of “when’s:”

                        When the sun is bright…

                        When the wind stirs soft…

                        When the first bird sings…

                        When he fain would be…

                        When his wing is bruised

                        When he beats his wing… (Dunbar 1).

            This repetition, while adding an element of rhythm to the poem, adds a feel of melancholy longing as well. The sheer number of “when” statements add to the importance of what the bird has missed. Dunbar also uses repetition in his final stanza, “It is not a carol of joy or glee,//But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core,//But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings–,”(Dunbar 1). Here the repetition reinforces what Dunbar has already stated. The little bird’s song is not a joyful carol, he insists, but a sorrowful prayer. By using repetition throughout his poem, Dunbar adamantly states his message.

            In conclusion, imagery, rhyme, and repetition are the three shaping factors that effectively deliver Dunbar’s message to his readers. By using imagery, Dunbar induces a feeling of longing in his readers. Implementing rhyme, Dunbar heightens this wistful feeling. Finally, by introducing repetition throughout his poem, Dunbar drives his message home. “Sympathy” is undoubtedly, a remarkable poem that will be cherished appreciated for years to come.