Flames (Symbol)
Flames function as a complex symbol in the poem. In one context, they represent the hate and terror being purveyed by the Klan members. The "charred grass" and flames that have burnt away in the morning quietly convey the aftermath of this cross burning, without showing it overtly. At the same time, the small lantern flame kept by the family that "trembles" in its "font" seems to symbolize the family's fear as they hide in the dark from these men. Finally, when the speaker notes that all of these flames "had all dimmed," they appear to suggest that both their fear and the Klan's threats have diminished.
Cross (Symbol)
The cross functions as a symbol of hypocrisy in the poem. The speaker describes the cross being "trussed like a Christmas tree" and says the men surrounding it look "white as angels in their gowns." They introduce this Christian imagery to underscore how wrongly it is being used in this context. These men are burning a cross to terrorize a community of innocent people, which runs strongly counter to the traditional idea of a "good Christian." The speaker uses this symbol to show that their act of hatred and cruelty is deeply unfaithful to the tenets of the faith they claim to champion. The cross becomes a symbol of how transparently hollow these men are, driven only by their desire to perpetuate racial animosity and violence.
