From The Dark Tower

The title itself suggests the theme of the poem: The dark, in this context, represents skin color or race, and a tower suggests a strong structure that reaches high into the air from which a person can survey their surroundings. A person can see far, which is exactly what the poem’s speaker does. The speaker sees past and present and looks to the future for his people. The speaker acknowledges the present reality of injustice but confidently expresses their belief that the future will be different, and better.

In the organic metaphor that makes up Lines 1 and 2, life offers much for people to enjoy: “The golden increment of bursting fruit” conveys value (“golden”), growth and abundance (“increment”), and the ripeness and lusciousness of life (“bursting fruit”). However, Black people are cut off from enjoying all that life has to offer by an unfair social and political system. Be that as it may, the speaker does not wallow in despair or even express anger about it. The speaker’s voice is a calm one. They confidently and unequivocally state in the opening phrase: “We shall not always plant while others reap” (Line 1).