“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Thomas Maerke
6th period English
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
When she comes slip-footing through the door,
she kindles us
like lump coal lighted,
and we wake up glowing.
She puts a spark even in Papa’s eyes
and turns out all our darkness.
When she comes sweet-talking in the room,
she warms us
like grits and gravy,
and we rise up shining.
Even at night-time Mama is a sunrise
that promises tomorrow and tomorrow.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Personal Interpretation:
I really like this poem because I feel like I can put myself in the speaker’s place, and say this about my own mom. My mom doesn’t wake me up anymore, and she doesn’t make me breakfast anymore, but still I have great memories of her from when I was a kid, and this poem makes me think of those memories.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Theme:
This poem is an extended metaphor, sharing how wonderful “Mama” is. So, when I think of the underlying point of this poem, I think Evelyn Tooley Hunt is expressing that everyone (hopefully) has someone in their life that brings joy and happiness and hope, and that person is really special.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Mood:
“Mama” is a comforting, loving, warm figure in this family, and I experience those moods when I read the poem and am reminded of my own mother.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Symbolism:
I feel like this poem is pretty straight-forward, even though there are some deeper meanings. “Mama” is described as a sunrise, which is a metaphor. Through this description, “Mama” could represent everything that is good and kind and loving in the world to this family. “Mama” could also be a symbol of dedication to family or love for one another.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Poetic Elements:
This poem has two stanzas, each with six lines, making 12 lines total.
The speaker in the poem is a child speaking of his/her “Mama.” I do not know if the poem is written from multiple children’s perspective, or just one. I also don’t know the age or gender of the speaker. What I do know is that the speaker clearly loves and appreciates “Mama” for all the wonderful, loving things she does.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Poetic Elements:
There are several different elements of repetition in this poem. In the last line of the poem, line 12, the words “tomorrow and tomorrow” are repeated, possibly with the design to show the bright future that Mama’s love promises.
Structurally, there are some neat things that are repeated in this poem. The first (“When she comes”), second (“she”), third (“like”), and fourth (“and we”) lines in each stanza are repeated, offering a symmetrical structure to each of the stanzas. I think this is pretty cool.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Poetic Elements:
There is no rhyme within this poem, meaning there is no end rhyme or rhyme scheme, or internal rhyme.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Literary Elements:
Metaphor and simile are prominent in this poem. The title of the poem, “Mama is a sunrise,” is used on line 11, and is a metaphor. Mama is being compared to a sunrise, in order to show how bright and wonderful she is.
Each of the stanzas include one simile. On lines 2-3 there is the simile: “she kindles us/like lump coal lighted.” On lines 8-9 there is another simile: “she warms us/like grits and gravy.” Both of these similes describe how good Mama is to the children, especially in the morning.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Literary Elements:
There is a tricky use of personification on lines 11-12: “Mama is a sunrise/that promises tomorrow and tomorrow.” This is a mixture of metaphor (which I described earlier) and personification. The sunrise is something that is not human, but being described using human characteristics--the sun cannot make promises.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Literary Elements:
This poem includes some pretty cool imagery, which allows me as the reader to imagine some things--things that I can see and hear in my head.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Literary Elements:
Alliteration is one of my favorite literary elements, and there are quite a few uses of it in this poem.
“Mama is a Sunrise”
by Evelyn Tooley Hunt
Any questions?