Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Runagate Runagate" by Robert Earl Hayden is a formidable work of art, a poetic representation of the African American experience, specifically the urgency and perils of the Underground Railroad. Hayden employs a variety of poetic techniques to present an evocative narrative that blends the historical with the symbolic, the real with the mythic.

The poem opens with a sense of urgency, "Runs falls rises stumbles on from darkness into darkness," creating an atmosphere of frantic motion and inescapable dread. The "darkness thicketed with shapes of terror," the "hunters pursuing," and "the hounds pursuing" set the stakes high. These lines echo the terror of the runaway slaves' experiences, where every step is a gamble between freedom and death. "Runagate, Runagate, Runagate," serves as a refrain in this section of the poem, stressing the core theme of running for one's life.

Hayden taps into the collective memory of the African American struggle for freedom, invoking the concept of the "mythic North" and the "star-shaped yonder Bible city," perhaps a symbolic representation of the North Star that guided slaves to freedom. "Some go weeping and some rejoicing / some in coffins and some in carriages / some in silks and some in shackles"-these lines capture the dichotomy of the runaway experience, not all make it to freedom; some die in the journey, some are caught and shackled, and yet some succeed in attaining the unimaginable.

Harriet Tubman, an iconic figure in American history, takes the central stage in the second part of the poem. Described as a "woman of earth, whipscarred, / a summoning, a shining," she embodies resilience, courage, and leadership. Hayden portrays her as almost supernatural, armed with a pistol and an unyielding will: "you keep on going now or die, she says."

The poem also touches upon Tubman's historical associations-Garrison, Alcott, Emerson, Garrett, Douglass, Thoreau, John Brown-all stalwarts of the abolitionist movement. This places Tubman in a larger socio-political context, illustrating that the fight against slavery was a collaborative effort among diverse people. Hayden blends the mythical and the historical seamlessly, as Tubman's train becomes a "ghost-story train / through swamp and savanna movering movering."

The poem ends with a powerful refrain: "Mean mean mean to be free." It captures the essence of the entire narrative-a burning, relentless drive for freedom that defies the horrors of the journey and the persistent threat of capture or death.

The format of "Runagate Runagate" significantly informs the narrative, enriching its themes and intensifying its emotional impact. The structure and format serve as an additional layer of expression that works in tandem with the content to deliver a multifaceted experience. Hayden employs structural elements to further deepen the emotional resonance and thematic complexity of "Runagate Runagate," making it not just a story told but an experience shared.

In its entirety, "Runagate Runagate" is a vibrant, multi-layered poetic narrative that combines form and function to evoke both the terror and the dignity of the Underground Railroad. It delves into the collective African American history, pays tribute to its heroes like Harriet Tubman, and celebrates the indomitable will to be free. This poem doesn't just tell a story; it relives it in every line, echoing the footsteps of those who ran desperately through the darkness, aiming for the light of freedom.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...