Harmony
The speaker writes in an optimistic tone that imagines an idealistic world where people are in harmony among themselves and with nature. This tone and imagery oppose the reality of 20th-century America, especially that of the state of Alabama, which has a history of slavery, legal segregation, and cruelty against African Americans.
Nature
Natural imagery is used throughout the poem to describe the contents of the songs that the speaker wants to create. The speaker does this to the effect of creating parallels between nature and humanity. Nature and humanity are joined together through the “colored composer’s” song.
Senses
The speaker evokes several senses throughout the poem. Music is an auditory experience, while the myriad of colors mentioned create a visual experience for the audience and listener. Toward the end of the poem the speaker describes his song “Touching everybody with kind fingers” as well as the smell of pine needles and red clay. The variety of senses mentioned in the poem creates a holistic sensory experience for the reader in which music has power beyond listening pleasure. It has the power to create social harmony as well.
