# I: Sunrise in the Tropics explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James Weldon Johnson.

## What happens

The chapter opens with a poetic invocation of the sun rising in the tropics, depicting the transition from night to day as a majestic, almost divine event. The speaker observes the trembling stars, the patient palm tree, and the hush of nature before the sun's appearance, culminating in a burst of golden light that banishes the moon and stars.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and the Divine

The sunrise is portrayed as a sacred miracle, with the sun as a 'mighty lord' and 'King of Day,' blending natural imagery with divine reverence.

### Resilience and Hope

The daily return of the sun symbolizes renewal and hope, as the speaker waits expectantly for the light to overcome the darkness.

## Key lines

> Sol, Sol, mighty lord of the tropic zone, Here I wait with the trembling stars To see thee once more take thy throne.

The speaker addresses the sun as a powerful ruler of the tropics, waiting alongside the stars to witness its daily coronation.

_Establishes the sun as a sovereign figure and the act of sunrise as a royal ceremony._

> See! the miracle is done! Once more behold! The Sun!

The speaker exclaims that the miraculous sunrise has occurred again, inviting the reader to witness the sun's reappearance.

_Emphasizes the recurring wonder of dawn, framing it as a daily miracle._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/i-sunrise-in-the-tropics
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_13_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters