Seeds (Symbol)
In the poem, the image of seeds work as a symbol for a new future. The speaker begins the poem by saying that they will no longer cultivate the seeds of fruit that someone else will reap. They conclude by stating that they will care for their "agonizing seeds" in darkness. They are showing that, this time, these seeds will be cultivated for their benefit and no one else's. By depicting this progression, the speaker is expressing a quiet hope for a future. In this way, the seeds are representative of what could be possible at some later point in time.
The Night Sky (Symbol)
In the second stanza, the speaker offers a lengthy description of the night sky. The speaker says that while the beauty of the stars is constantly remarked upon, the dark parts of the sky are just as important. In the speaker's view, these patches of darkness provide contrast and are equally remarkable. The implication is that, like these parts of the sky, Black people have not received recognition for the beauty and meaning in the work that they do. By using the imagery of light and darkness in the night sky, Cullen is able to comment on the Black community's struggle to be recognized without referring to it overtly. The darkness here functions as a symbol of the value of Black individuals' work.
