"Shoulders" by Naomi Shihab Nye
"Shoulders"
A man crosses the street in rain,
stepping gently, looking two times north and south,
because his son is asleep on his shoulder.
No car must splash him.
No car drive too near to his shadow.
This man carries the world’s most sensitive cargo
but he’s not marked.
Nowhere does his jacket say FRAGILE,
HANDLE WITH CARE.
His ear fills up with breathing.
He hears the hum of a boy’s dream
deep inside him.
We’re not going to be able
to live in this world
if we’re not willing to do what he’s doing
with one another.
The road will only be wide.
The rain will never stop falling.
About the poet,
Naomi Shihab Nye is a celebrated American poet, novelist, and anthologist known for her accessible and deeply humanistic work that often focuses on themes of heritage, compassion, and everyday life. Born on March 12, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri, to a Palestinian father and an American mother, Nye’s multicultural background significantly influences her writing, infusing it with a blend of Middle Eastern and American sensibilities.
Nye’s poetry often captures the small, everyday moments that reveal larger truths about human connection, kindness, and the importance of understanding others. She has a remarkable ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary, using simple, clear language to convey profound emotional depth. Her poems often reflect on family, community, cultural diversity, and social justice, advocating for empathy and peace.
Summary ,
Naomi Shihab Nye's poem "Shoulder" is a touching and simple narrative that highlights the themes of empathy, kindness, and the shared human experience. In the poem, the speaker observes a father carrying his son across the street, showing a moment of care and protection. The father carefully ensures his son’s safety, embodying a deep, instinctual love and responsibility.
The poem begins with the image of a man crossing a street in the rain while carrying his sleeping son on his shoulder. This scene, though seemingly ordinary, becomes a profound reflection on the tender, protective nature of the father’s actions.
The father is described as stepping gently and looking carefully in both directions, not just for his own safety but to protect his vulnerable child. He is acutely aware of his surroundings, mindful of cars that might splash water or come too close. The father’s actions are instinctive, driven by love and responsibility, and Nye emphasizes that this care is not outwardly marked or recognized—there are no signs on the father's jacket declaring his precious cargo. Yet, the careful way he moves reveals the depth of his care.
Nye uses the imagery of the father’s ear filling with his son’s breathing and hearing the "hum of a boy’s dream" to deepen the sense of intimacy and connection between them. This not only highlights the vulnerability of the child but also underscores the father’s role as a guardian of his son’s innocent and fragile world. The bond between the father and son serves as a microcosm of how humans should interact with one another.
The poem’s central message is a call to collective empathy and responsibility. Nye extends the father’s protective gesture to a broader societal context, suggesting that if we hope to coexist peacefully in the world, we must be willing to care for each other with the same level of attentiveness, tenderness, and caution. The poem warns that without such willingness, the world will be an increasingly difficult place to navigate—symbolized by the continuous rain and the wide, daunting road ahead.
Themes,
Empathy and Care: At its core, the poem emphasizes the importance of empathy and the everyday acts of care that bind us together. The father's tender actions towards his son illustrate how simple gestures of love and protection are vital, suggesting that these acts of empathy are essential for a harmonious world.
Human Connection: The poem highlights the interconnectedness of people, using the relationship between the father and son as a metaphor for how we should treat each other. It suggests that our relationships, built on care and attention, are fundamental to a compassionate society.
Responsibility and Protection: The father’s careful steps and awareness of his son’s safety underscore the theme of responsibility. It speaks to the broader idea that we are responsible not just for ourselves, but also for others around us, especially the vulnerable.
Fragility of Life: The poem subtly touches on the fragility of life through the imagery of the sleeping child and the father’s protective behavior. This theme highlights the delicate nature of human existence and the need for gentleness and mindfulness in our interactions.
Everyday Acts of Kindness: Nye captures how ordinary, unremarkable actions can carry profound significance. The father’s care is not grand or heroic but is powerful in its simplicity, reminding us that everyday kindness is a cornerstone of human decency.
Shared Human Experience: By focusing on a universally relatable scene—a parent caring for a child—Nye taps into the shared experiences of love, protection, and concern. This theme reflects on how these common experiences connect us, regardless of our individual differences.
Navigating Life’s Challenges: The poem’s imagery of rain and a wide road serves as a metaphor for life’s difficulties. It suggests that these challenges are an inevitable part of life, but they can be mitigated through mutual support and understanding.
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