What is the tone of this poem? Read the poem below.

Question

A. drowsy

B. reflective

C. adventurous

D. romantic

Midsummer, Tobago by Derek Walcott

Broad sun-stoned beaches.

White heat.

A green river.

A bridge,

scorched yellow palms

from the summer-sleeping house

drowsing through August.

Days I have held,

days I have lost,

days that outgrow, like daughters,

my harbouring arm.

Answer 1

The answer would be B, reflective.

The author of the poem talks about the "Days I have held,

days I have lost" which means they are reflecting on their past. It seems they are recounting their time at a place they described in the poem (beaches, green river, a bridge etc.).

Answer 2

I would say that the tone of the poem is B. reflective. The use of the simple, yet powerful words and phrases from the speaker of the poem allude to memories; the author is not describing something they are seeing in the present, but something they have already seen. It is as if the speaker is using the most clear and concise words possible to create an image in the mind of the reader, an image that they themselves are seeing from their past.

The specific phrases of the poem, "days I have held, days I have lost", clearly tell the reader that the speaker is remembering the past. The phrase, "days that outgrow" confirm that the speaker has lived through these days already and that time has passed. This is how you can come to the conclusion that the poem is reflective. Thank you!