Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Calling Motherland" by Dora Sigerson Shorter is a poignant poem that invokes the image of the motherland as a grieving figure calling out to her scattered children. The poem employs a repetitive structure and specific imagery to convey a profound sense of longing, loss, and universal human connection.

Dora Sigerson Shorter's poem "The Calling Motherland" offers a universal depiction of the concept of the homeland as a mother, mourning and calling out to her dispersed children. Through metaphors of nature and journeys, the poet emphasizes the bond between the land and the people, transcending borders and life itself.

Themes

Motherhood and Homeland

The motherland is personified as a maternal figure, full of grief and longing. The imagery of the mother's "eyes," "cheek," and her movements across the hill presents the land as nurturing, protective, and connected to her children. The connection between the people and their homeland is both spiritual and emotional.

Loss and Longing

The motherland's continual calling represents a yearning for her scattered children, who have left full of hope but return wounded or even dead. This theme resonates with the experience of emigration, war, or any form of separation from one's homeland. The motherland's call is a symbol of an unbreakable connection, but also a painful reminder of loss and distance.

Connection and Return

The idea of returning home, whether physically or spiritually, is central to the poem. The imagery of birds, wind, and waves signifies a natural, cyclical pattern of leaving and returning. The longing for home is portrayed as an instinctual, unending drive, echoed in the relentless calling of the motherland.

Structure and Style

Rhyme and Rhythm

The poem follows an ABCABA rhyme scheme that contributes to the overall mood and rhythm of the poem, creating a melodic quality that underscores the themes of calling, longing, and connection. The repetition of certain rhymes, along with the use of an unrhymed line within each stanza, emphasizes the cyclical and relentless nature of the motherland's call, mirroring the universal longing for home.

Repetition

The repetition of the word "calling" throughout the poem emphasizes the urgency and persistence of the motherland's cry. It creates a haunting effect, reinforcing the universal longing for home.

Imagery

Imagery of nature - the winds, the moon, the waves - connects the physical landscape to the emotions of the motherland and her children. The images of "snows unmelting," "far lagoon," and "coverlet of green" evoke a sense of both beauty and melancholy, painting a vivid picture of the connection between the land and its people.

Symbolism

Symbols such as the wounded wing, gypsies' road, and grey camel add layers of meaning, representing various aspects of life, struggle, journey, and ultimately, return. They enrich the poem's texture and deepen its emotional resonance.

Conclusion

"The Calling Motherland" by Dora Sigerson Shorter is a profound exploration of the universal human experience of longing for one's homeland. Through its poignant imagery, rhythmic structure, and resonant themes, the poem speaks to the timeless bond between a land and its people, a connection that endures through loss, distance, and even death. The motherland's constant call serves as both a lamentation and a beacon, reflecting our intrinsic longing to return to our roots, both metaphorically and literally.

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