Kindness

Kindness

By Naomi Shihab Nye

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.

Summary of Kindness

• Popularity of “Kindness”: Written by the celebrated American poet Naomi Shihab Nye, this poignant poem first appeared in her 1995 collection Words Under the Words. It was later included in her 2001 collection Different Ways to Pray. The poem’s enduring appeal lies in its presentation of kindness not merely as a feeling, but as a fundamental way of life.
• “Kindness” as a Representation of Kindness: Nye presents a speaker who suggests that genuine understanding of kindness requires experiencing loss and hardship. The poem posits that one must first encounter emptiness – the “desolate landscape” – before appreciating kindness. The imagery of a journey and the stark reality of witnessing suffering highlight the difficult path to recognizing kindness. The poem suggests that to truly understand kindness, one must confront sorrow and recognize the shared humanity in all beings, even those marginalized or forgotten.
• Major Themes in “Kindness”: The central themes revolve around loss, empathy, and the transformative power of sorrow. The poem suggests that experiencing hardship and acknowledging our own vulnerability are prerequisites for developing true kindness. The image of the “Indian in a white poncho” serves as a powerful symbol of marginalization and suffering, prompting readers to contemplate the shared human experience and the need for compassion. Ultimately, the poem champions kindness as the essential force that makes life meaningful and connects us to one another.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Kindness

Naomi Shihab Nye is known for her masterful use of language and imagery. Here’s a look at some of the key literary devices employed in “Kindness.”

1. Anaphora: The repetition of “you must” at the beginning of successive clauses creates an imperative rhythm that emphasizes the necessary conditions for understanding kindness.
2. Allusion: The poem alludes to the historical injustices faced by Native Americans through the image of the “Indian in a white poncho.” This reference evokes a sense of marginalization and the often invisible suffering of others.
3. Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds, such as the “o” sound in “desolate” and the “e” sound in “future,” creates a lyrical quality that enhances the emotional resonance of the poem.
4. Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds, for example in “simple breath” and “sorrow,” adds musicality and emphasis to key phrases.
5. Consonance: Repeated consonant sounds, such as the “n” in “between the regions of kindness,” create a subtle linking effect that reinforces the poem’s cohesion.
6. Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause creates a sense of flow and momentum. For instance:

only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.

These enjambments mirror the ongoing journey toward understanding kindness.

7. Imagery: Nye uses vivid imagery, such as “feel the future dissolve in a moment like salt in a weakened broth,” to evoke sensory experiences and emotional responses, conveying the fragility of hope and the inevitability of loss.
8. Metaphor: The entire poem functions as an extended metaphor for the journey toward understanding kindness, presenting loss, sorrow, and empathy as necessary steps along that path.
9. Personification: The poem personifies kindness, portraying it as an entity that “ties your shoes” and “sends you out into the day,” emphasizing its active and nurturing role in our lives.
10. Simile: The comparison of the dissolving future to salt in a weakened broth is a clear example of simile, connecting abstract concepts to concrete imagery.
11. Symbolism: The image of the bus journey symbolizes the ongoing, often aimless search for meaning and connection, while the “Indian in a white poncho” symbolizes marginalized communities and the need for empathy and understanding.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Kindness

While many literary devices overlap with poetic devices, certain elements are particularly prevalent in poetry. Let’s examine how Nye uses them in “Kindness.”

1. Diction: Nye employs a carefully chosen diction that blends formal and colloquial language, creating a simple, direct style that resonates with authenticity.
2. Free Verse: “Kindness” is written in free verse, meaning it does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This allows Nye to prioritize natural rhythms and emotional expression over formal constraints.
3. Repetition: The repetition of “you must” underscores the preconditions for understanding kindness and creates a sense of urgency.
4. Stanza: The poem is divided into three stanzas, each contributing to the overall narrative arc. The varying lengths of the stanzas reflect the ebb and flow of emotional intensity.
5. Tone: The poem’s tone is didactic, loving, and ultimately hopeful. While acknowledging the inevitability of suffering, it affirms the transformative power of kindness and its capacity to sustain us through difficult times.

Quotes to be Used

The following lines are particularly impactful and suitable for discussion in self‑improvement or empathy‑building contexts:

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.

These lines encapsulate the poem’s central message: that kindness is not merely a virtue, but a fundamental necessity for a meaningful life. It is the force that guides us, sustains us, and connects us to one another.