Length+of+Moon+by+Arna+Bontemps

**Length of Moon**

**by Arna Bontemps** Then the golden hour Will tick its last And the flame will go down in the flower. A briefer length of moon Will mark the sea-line and the yellow dune. Then we may think of this, yet There will be something forgotten And something we should forget. It will be like all things we know:. A stone will fail; a rose is sure to go. It will be quiet then and we may stay Long at the picket gate But there will be less to say.

Length of Moon is a very figurative and interesting poem. The poem uses lots of imagery and symbols to spark feelings and thoughts in the reader’s mind. Bontemps was a strong leader of the Harlem Renaissance. During the Harlem Renaissance the people all worked together to create a cultural movement that changed America. Arna was a strong player in this movement and sparked many emotions inside a large group of people. The poem was rather hard to understand. Bontemps uses many symbols like flowers, flames, moons and fences. All of this is included in one short poem. He uses a longing, mournful and lonely tone to make the reader feel like they need to change their lives so they do not end up like the character in the poem. Bontemps also uses a lot of enjambment in this poem. This not only makes the poem harder to read and harder to analyze, but also makes the poem get this feeling of being lost and unsure. The poem has a simple message. Everything good will eventually come to an end so love it and cherish it while you have the chance. The flowers will all lose their flame. There will be less to say. Bontemps wants the reader to decide to enjoy every moment - to not let one flower, or one word to pass by a person without them lavishing in every piece of it.