Toomer’s poem is a reference to the longings of the slaves in the Harlem renaissance. Robert Frost wrote “After Apple-Picking” regarding the rest that he longs for after a strenuous day of apple picking.
Jean Toomer’s poem provides the reader with a visual of how exhausted he is after a long day of hard work in the fields. He continuously utilizes metaphors to remind the reader of his enervated condition. In the poem, the speaker is employed in the farming industry. It is evident that the speaker is longing for a better lifestyle and education after having the same job for what feels like an interminable amount of time. Toomer is tired of the farm life and provides the reader with evidence of the emotional impact it has taken on him. The title of his poem is ironic because he subtly refers to the harvest as his life in the fields. A song is supposed to be