Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Tornados" by Thylias Moss delves into the nuanced relationship the speaker has with tornadoes, utilizing them as a complex metaphor that grapples with themes of identity, race, history, and the intricate relationships between natural phenomena and human life. The poem's structure is fluid, evoking the uncontainable and unpredictable nature of tornadoes themselves. Moss crafts this work with vivid imagery and clever wordplay, enabling a multifaceted exploration of the tornado both as a physical entity and as a symbol loaded with cultural and personal implications.

The opening lines disclose the speaker's ambiguous feelings toward tornadoes. The claim "Truth is, I envy them" immediately places tornadoes in a position of power and awe, not just as natural disasters but also as embodiments of uncontainable energy. They "do black more justice," says the speaker, inviting considerations of race and identity. In saying that the tornadoes are "conductor of philharmonic and electricity," Moss portrays them as entities capable of orchestrating both chaos and art, where "Ions played / instead of notes."

As the poem progresses, the tornado becomes more explicitly a symbol of spiritual and cultural experiences. It forms "above the church a surrogate / steeple," indicating a divine or transcendental aspect. Its appearance on the "morning of my first baptism" underscores its significance as a potent force that seems to have been present at formative moments in the speaker's life. The speaker also relates it to their "black / guardian angel," adding layers of cultural and spiritual dimensions to the tornado's symbolism.

The poem also reflects on historical consciousness. The tornado "stirs up the past," described as a "bewitched spoon / lost in its own spin," like a chaotic maelstrom of history and memory. Moss presents the tornado as an unpredictable force, an adult storm driving the speaker "underground," evoking both tornado safety procedures and, perhaps, the forced concealment or suppression of aspects of identity and history.

Stylistically, the poem uses slant rhymes, free verse, and a careful choice of metaphors, which contribute to its open-ended structure, allowing for a multiplicity of interpretations. Words are given the freedom to associate freely, enabling connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, such as music and electricity, religion and weather phenomena, or history and the forces of nature.

The final lines offer a vivid, personal identification with the tornado, described as "a perfect nappy curl." Here, the tornado comes to represent a sort of natural beauty, one that resists efforts to be tamed or straightened out, much like the speaker's own hair-and by extension, identity. The tornado takes "the royal path on a trip to town," perhaps suggesting that it, like the speaker, should be recognized and respected in its potent, natural state.

In "Tornados," Thylias Moss navigates a compelling journey through the corridors of history, spirituality, and identity. Using the tornado as both metaphor and muse, the poem whirls through complex themes, leaving the reader in a state of contemplative awe. The work is a testament to the intricate ways in which natural phenomena can be perceived as reflections of human experience and existential concerns.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...