In Exile
By Emma Lazarus
“Since that day till now our life is one unbroken paradise. We live a true brotherly life. Every evening after supper we take a seat under the mighty oak and sing our songs.”
Twilight is here, soft breezes bow the grass,
Day’s sounds of various toil break slowly off.
The yoke‑freed oxen low, the patient ass
Dips his dry nostril in the cool, deep trough.
Up from the prairie the tanned herdsmen pass
With frothy pails, guiding with voices rough
Their udder‑lightened kine. Fresh smells of earth,
The rich, black furrows of the glebe send forth.After the Southern day of heavy toil,
How good to lie, with limbs relaxed, brows bare
To evening’s fan, and watch the smoke‑wreaths coil
Up from one’s pipe‑stem through the rayless air.
So deem these unused tillers of the soil,
Who stretched beneath the shadowing oak tree, stare
Peacefully on the star‑unfolding skies,
And name their life unbroken paradise.The hounded stag that has escaped the pack,
And pants at ease within a thick‑leafed dell;
The unimprisoned bird that finds the track
Through sun‑bathed space, to where his fellows dwell;
The martyr, granted respite from the rack,
The death‑doomed victim pardoned from his cell,—
Such only know the joy these exiles gain—,
Life’s sharpest rapture is surcease of pain.Strange faces theirs, wherethrough the Orient sun
Gleams from the eyes and glows athwart the skin.
Grave lines of studious thought and purpose run
From curl‑crowned forehead to dark‑bearded chin.
And over all the seal is stamped thereon
Of anguish branded by a world of sin,
In fire and blood through ages on their name,
Their seal of glory and the Gentiles’ shame.Freedom to love the law that Moses brought,
To sing the songs of David, and to think
The thoughts Gabirol to Spinoza taught,
Freedom to dig the common earth, to drink
The universal air—for this they sought
Refuge o’er wave and continent, to link
Egypt with Texas in their mystic chain,
And truth’s perpetual lamp forbid to wane.Hark! through the quiet evening air, their song
Floats forth with wild sweet rhythm and glad refrain.
They sing the conquest of the spirit strong,
The soul that wrests the victory from pain;
The noble joys of manhood that belong
To comrades and to brothers. In their strain
Rustle of palms and Eastern streams one hears,
And the broad prairie melts in mist of tears.
Summary of In Exile
- Popularity of “In Exile”: The poem is often attributed to Emma Lazarus, but there is no record of it appearing in her known collections. The work captures the pain of exile and the joy of finding sanctuary.
- “In Exile” As a Representative of Exile and Hope: The poem portrays refugees settling in the Texan landscape, depicting a scene of peaceful farming after a long day’s work. The exiles find contentment in simple pleasures, “relaxed…brows bare.” The narrator draws parallels between their experience and the freedom found by escaped animals, suggesting that true joy lies in the cessation of pain. The poem also references Jewish prophets and philosophers, connecting past and present and linking Egypt to Texas in the pursuit of spiritual and intellectual freedom.
- Major Themes in “In Exile”: The central themes revolve around exile, Jewish history, and the promise of a new life in America. By referencing Jewish prophets and philosophers, the poem underscores the historical significance of migration and the importance of preserving cultural and intellectual traditions. The poem concludes on a hopeful note, celebrating the strength and resilience of the exiled community.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used In In Exile
Literary devices are tools that poets employ to create meaning and evoke emotion. They add layers of complexity and beauty to a poem, enriching the reader’s experience. Let’s examine a few prominent examples in “In Exile.”
- Allusion: Allusion is a reference to a well‑known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. Lazarus employs allusion throughout the poem. The references to Moses, David, Gabirol, and Spinoza are particularly significant. These figures represent a lineage of intellectual and spiritual tradition, connecting the exiled refugees to a rich cultural heritage. For example, invoking David links the refugees to the ancient Hebrew monarchy and the Psalms, while referencing Spinoza highlights a tradition of philosophical inquiry.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within words in close proximity. It can create a musical quality and emphasize certain sounds. In lines such as “soft breezes bow the grass,” the vowel sounds weave together, giving the stanza a gentle, melodic feel.
- Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Lazarus uses alliteration sparingly but effectively. For instance, the phrase “brows bare” repeats the “b” sound, drawing attention to the image of exposed vulnerability and openness.
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within words, not necessarily at the beginning. An example can be found in “Through sun‑bathed space, to where his fellows dwell,” where the repetition of the “s” sound creates a sense of fluidity and movement.
- Enjambment: Enjambment occurs when a phrase or sentence continues from one line to the next without punctuation. Lazarus uses enjambment to create a sense of flow and momentum. Consider the following lines:
The noble joys of manhood that belong
To comrades and to brothers. In their strain
Rustle of palms and Eastern streams one hears,
And the broad prairie melts in mist of tears.The continuation of the thought across multiple lines creates a sense of unfolding revelation.
- Imagery: Imagery is the use of vivid language to create sensory experiences for the reader. Lazarus excels at creating striking images. For instance, the descriptions of the prairie landscape, “Twilight is here, soft breezes bow the grass,” and the “rich, black furrows of the glebe,” appeal to the reader’s sense of sight and smell.
- Metaphor: A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as.” The poem can be seen as an extended metaphor, with the exiles representing anyone seeking refuge and freedom. Lazarus also employs smaller, more focused metaphors, such as comparing the “soul that wrests the victory from pain” to a conquering force.
- Personification: Personification is the attribution of human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. In the poem, freedom is suggested to inspire and uplift the exiles.
- Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of objects, people, or ideas to represent something else. The prairie, the oak tree, and the land itself can be seen as symbols of hope, refuge, and the promise of a new beginning.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in In Exile
Poetic devices are techniques specific to poetry that enhance its aesthetic and emotional impact. Let’s explore a few key examples in “In Exile.”
- Diction and Tone: Lazarus’s diction, or word choice, is highly figurative and evocative. She employs words that carry rich connotations and create a sense of atmosphere. The overall tone of the poem is one of serene contemplation and hopeful optimism.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem contains occasional rhymes but does not follow a strict ABAB scheme. The use of rhyme adds musicality, though the overall structure remains free.
- Stanza: The poem is composed of six stanzas, each containing eight lines. This consistent structure provides a framework for the unfolding narrative and reinforces the poem’s overall coherence.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from “In Exile” are appropriate to use when showing the pleasures of farming in homeland or in exile.
Twilight is here, soft breezes bow the grass,
Day’s sounds of various toil break slowly off.
The yoke‑freed oxen low, the patient ass
Dips his dry nostril in the cool, deep trough.