A lesson for this Sunday

Explanation of Poem
In this poem the persona is lying in his hammock and is enjoying the beauty of nature, the summer grass and
furious butterflies (lines 1-2). Two children; a boy and a girl (brother and sister) are chasing a butterfly with
yellow wings .After they caught the butterfly they dissect it (operate on it). Then the black (African) maid sees
them and stops them but the girl in the lemon dress begins to scream.

Interpretation of Poem
The poem is focusing on mans cruelty to nature (humans natures inability to stay pure). The persona is also
extremely contradictory to his culture, this may hint at the writer (Derek Walcott) own identity crisis, who my
break my Sabbath with a thought of sin, Brother and Sister with a common pin (lines 3-5 stanza 2) , this is
evident sarcasm as the persona speaks of killing without remorse in Gods Holy Day (Sunday the day people go
to church). Frail as a flower in this blue August air, expresses the view that the little girl is just as fragile as
the butterfly. Cries in line one of stanza two and screams line seven stanza two are used to show the
disruption of the peace and the personas reaction to them. The mantis prays (line 7 stanza 2) is a pun which
can suggest that the mantis is resting on its front legs and rose as if in prayer. It can however, mean preys
showing how man attacks nature for their own benefit and pleasure.

In the last stanza, line three Heredity of cruelty everywhere. In this statement the persona says that violence is
present in man and even innocent children have inherited this trait. The last line of the poem can be paralleled
with the first where the poet is reinforcing the cruelty of man by showing how grass grow and are cut down by
the scythe design.

Figurative Language
Two examples of figurative language in this poem are:

The lesson is the same (line 9 stanza 2) is an extended metaphor throughout the poem. It examines humans
nature and the belief that bigger and stronger will dominate and destroy the weaker simply because they can.

In the line the growing idleness of the summer grass, (line one) personification id used where grass is
personified as idle. This statement helps to give the reader a clearer mental picture of the day described by the
persona

Themes
Mans Cruelty to Nature - Or so they should until I hear the cries of two small children hunting yellow wings,
Who break my Sabbath with the thought a sin (line 3 stanza 2). The persona shows even children who are
portrayed as innocent can be cruel.

Religion who break my Sabbath with the thought of sin, (line 3 stanza 2) Sabbath is a weekly day of rest
and time for worship. The mantis prays (line 7 stanza 2) can imply the mantis is resting on its front legs and
rose as if in prayer, this helps the poet to keep in touch with the religious part of the poem.
Tone & Mood of Poem
The poem opens with warmth, complacency and comfort but drastically changes to one of annoyance.
The tone of the poem is reflective.

*A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or reaping crops.