Power of Intellect
In “Ode to Big Trend,” Hayes pays homage to Big Trend, an African American man who worked towards and diligently fought for equal rights for black Americans. In this poem, Hayes comments on the fact that Big Trend was known for his physical strength and imposing size. And yet, he comments, Big Trend was an intellect—a fact that few people knew. He suggests that Big Trend was able to fight so successfully for the rights of African Americans because of his ability to engage in intellectual debates, conversations, and campaigns. It was because of his intellect that Big Trend was able to serve as such a powerful and effective advocate for his fellow African Americans. In this way, Hayes uses this poem to demonstrate the power of intellectual prowess.
The Hazards of Foolishness
In “Stick Elegy,” Hayes describes one of his childhood friends, named Stick. He explains that Stick once chose to jump over the side of a bridge into the waters below. This—bridge jumping—was quite common for young, local boys and was viewed as a safe, common pastime. For Stick, however, this was not the case. When he jumps over the edge and into the water, he breaks his ankle. Though Hayes does not delve further into the many effects of this broken ankle, he suggests that this event would forever impact Stick’s life for the worst. In this way, this poem captures how the foolishness of one or many can lead to mistakes and faults. Though dozens upon dozens of young men have safely jumped the bridge, it was because Stick choose to follow in their foolish footsteps that he broke his ankle and was subsequently left with a lifetime of hardships. Though Stick was merely following the examples of other young boys, it was because he continued their foolishness that he was forced to pay the price.
The Complications of Adulthood
In “The Golden Shovel,” Hayes explores the stark differences between his childhood and adulthood. Hayes divides this poem into two different parts. In Part I, he describes specific aspects of his childhood. He suggests that, as a child, he still had much to learn about the world. Part I is very concrete in nature; Hayes uses descriptive language and recounts specific moments of his youth. In Part II, however, Hayes transitions into the experiences of his adulthood. It is in this second part that the poem explores his experiences in a more abstract and ethereal manner. This deliberate change of tone and mood is a reflection of the narrator’s differing experiences in adulthood. In this way, Hayes uses this poem as a commentary on the fact that adulthood is so much more complicated and unclear than childhood. In adulthood, one’s worries are more complex and varied than in childhood, as are the experiences. Therefore, Hayes uses this poem to show how adulthood is far more complex and complicated than childhood.
