Boy Breaking Glass, written by the poet Gwendolyn Brooks, was published in 1987 and has attracted considerable public attention. The work stands out in comparison to the popular poetry of the time for the novelty of its message and the variety of literary means used to portray the idea. The text of the poem conveys a wide palette of emotions of the author, urging the reader to penetrate the depth of the message.
The poem deals with the theme of vandalism and its artistic value within the framework of political protests. The poet seeks to show his readers how important it is for a person to express his position (Slade and Cabrera 14). If there are no other ways to be heard, vandalism becomes that very mouthpiece. Desperate, people decide to take this destructive step, and the author is convinced that an act of art is accomplished in this way.
The most striking stylistic device used to convey the message is a metaphor. “Whose broken window is a cry of art” (Brooks, Selected Poems 34) – in this line, the author compares vandalism to a desperate cry for his feelings. The pictures depicted in the poem are made very vivid by the frequent references to the words “window,” “eye,” “glass,” and “cry.” The last two words create a vivid sound, demonstrating the loud and desperate nature of what is happening. Those who dared to tear down the windows have no way back; the broken windows, as a symbol of their actions, cannot be restored to their former state. In the context of this poem, the word “window” has the contextual meaning of hopes for the better, which have been shattered, shattered because of political and social contradictions (Slade and Cabrera 17). The author depicts the broken windows as mirrors of the souls of the people affected by the unfavorable conditions in the country. Thanks to the high symbolism, the reader is penetrated with sympathy for those who commit an act of vandalism, trying to understand the true causes of the latter. The totality of visual means and the relevance of the chosen theme make this poem an outstanding example of social poetry.
Works Cited
Brooks, Gwendolyn. Selected Poems. 3rd ed., Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.
Slade, Suzanne, and Cozbi Cabrera. Exquisite: the Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks. Illustrated, Harry N. Abrams, 2020.