Chapter 20 "Beehive" Summary

"Beehive" is a poem describing a swarming beehive. It is written from the perspective of a male drone bee inside the hive. The male bee watches a million other bees fly in and out of the hive at night. He stays within the hive licking honey but wishes he could go outside and experience the countryside at night.

Chapter 20 "Beehive" Analysis

"Beehive" is not a straightforward poem. The literal description of the swarming bees may have many different figurative interpretations. The activity of the bees, the reference to a far-off farmyard and the poem's placement with Cane are clues to the poem's deeper meaning. From Chapter 17 ("Seventh Street") forward, the book's setting has been in the city. Toomer's perspectives on the city have included references to temptation, sinful behavior and a lack of meaningful human interaction. In this context...