Terrance Hayes’ “American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin”

Change is an indelible facet of existence, a constant force shaping our lives. Terrance Hayes, in his 2018 poem, "American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin," delves into the complexity of intentional change. Through a distinctive structure and the juxtaposition of symbols—a bull and a bird—Hayes prompts readers to ponder the challenges inherent in making difficult choices.

The interplay of the bull and the bird as symbols takes center stage, initially presenting a simple dichotomy of freedom and restraint.

However, Hayes skillfully expands these metaphors, transforming the bull into a source of delight, its essence captured in the bird's wings "whipping in a storm" (Hayes 6). This shift unveils a deeper emotional landscape, urging readers to question their own choices.

Beyond the visual contrast, the symbols carry a profound social commentary, particularly on the issue of racism. The black bull and the caged bird symbolize the historical marginalization of the African American community, revealing the persisting racial prejudices in American society.

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Hayes, through the lens of change, underscores the vital trait of adaptability within the African American experience. The sonnet challenges expectations, as the immense black bull transforms into a size small enough to fit inside a nipple ring—a powerful metaphor for the flexibility required for survival in a hostile environment.

The unsettling notion that change is not always a deliberate choice but a pressured process emerges as a central theme. The poem hints at the struggles faced by racial minorities in America, with lines like "As if a bird/Could grow without breaking its shell" (Hayes 6) suggesting the inherent challenges of breaking free from societal constraints.

Hayes' rebellion against traditional sonnet structure mirrors the defiance against societal expectations for African Americans. By rejecting established forms, he voices a commitment to continue the fight against social injustice, pushing the boundaries of what is expected for individuals in marginalized communities.

Hayes' deliberate departure from traditional sonnet conventions in the cited example serves as a powerful vehicle for exploring the deeply ingrained prejudices within American society. While the poem retains the fourteen-line structure characteristic of a sonnet, the abandonment of meter and rhyme is a conscious choice, allowing the focus to shift to the content's evolving tone, meaning, and emotional impact. This intentional break from tradition adeptly captures the intricate complexities and strains within contemporary social relationships in the United States.

An additional metaphor skillfully employed in the sonnet is the nuanced relationship between time and space. By underscoring the imperative for African Americans to adapt to unjust societal standards, Hayes illuminates the arduous struggles faced by vulnerable racial minorities in their quest for social progress. The vivid imagery of "wild wings bewildering a cage" underscores the formidable risks confronting African American men, and the line "feet stuck in a plot of dirt" vividly conveys the tension and monumental effort required to ensure survival (Hayes 6).

The interplay between the two options presented by Hayes gains potency through the dynamic changes in their scope and size, with both birds and bulls fluctuating from small to huge and back. This thematic contrast, exemplified in lines like "As if a bird/Could grow without breaking its shell" and "small enough to fit inside/The bead of a nipple ring" (Hayes 6), invites a deeper exploration of the meaning behind his words. This dynamic portrayal allows for a nuanced examination of social interactions and the pervasive role of prejudices in people's lives. The shifts from a bird symbolizing the yearning for freedom to a bull embodying it signify the fluidity of human nature, resilience, and adaptability. However, the revelation that the ferocious beast inside him is "balled small enough to fit inside/The bead of a nipple ring" prompts contemplation on the stress endured by African Americans due to systemic injustices and societal pressures (Hayes 6).

While the overall tone of the poem may be perceived as somber, reflecting the escalating problems in cultural dialogue within American society, Hayes injects a note of upliftment. Amidst the exploration of social injustices and the implicit threat to justice, the poet reminds readers that moments of delight and happiness deserve acknowledgment: "I mean to leave/A record of my raptures" (Hayes 6). By sharing his joy in the ability to transform and maintain connections with family and community, Hayes instills a sense of hope in his readers, a reminder that resilience and joy persist even in the face of adversity.

The title of Hayes' sonnet collection, "American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin," stands as a provocative and recurrent enigma. Surprisingly, this title graces every poem in the collection, presenting a deliberate exploration of the complex changes that have swept through American society. While identifying the elusive assassin responsible for impeding progress between the African American and Euro American communities, Hayes intriguingly sidesteps direct confrontation. Instead, he directs attention to the wellspring of strength within himself and the broader African American community, underscoring the importance of unity and familial bonds: "My mother shaped my grasp of space" (Hayes 6). Thus, the sonnet not only hints at the impending threat to the African American community but also unveils a reservoir of resilience and support within those familial relationships often overlooked or marginalized in the evolving American landscape.

Within the sonnet, amidst the journey of self-discovery, Hayes deliberately leaves the decision between freedom and a life confined in a cage to the readers. The poem oscillates between these two opposites, encapsulating a nuanced exploration of the hurdles faced by African American individuals striving to integrate into society and carve out their place. Every detail in the poem unveils the tangible obstacles that persist for African Americans seeking acceptance and establishing their identity in the broader American context. In its purest form, the sonnet serves as a vessel for raw emotion, drawing attention to the inherent challenges within American society.

Hayes' artistic choice to title each poem in the collection consistently invites readers to grapple with the broader implications of societal changes. The elusive nature of the identified assassin sparks contemplation on the multifaceted challenges faced by marginalized communities. By emphasizing the influence of familial ties and unity within the African American community, the sonnet transcends a mere exploration of threat and becomes a profound reflection on resilience, strength, and the often-unseen bonds that sustain individuals navigating the complexities of the American reality.

Terrance Hayes, in his thought-provoking poem "American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin," masterfully employs vivid symbolism and unconventional structure to delve into the intricate facets of intentional change and the challenges it poses. The juxtaposition of the bull and the bird as symbols takes on a multifaceted role, initially presenting a dichotomy of freedom and restraint, but gradually evolving into a metaphor for the adaptive resilience required within the African American experience.

Hayes skillfully transforms the bull from a symbol of oppression into a source of delight, intertwining its essence with the bird's wings whipping in a storm. This nuanced shift not only adds layers to the visual contrast but prompts a deeper emotional engagement, inviting readers to reflect on the transformative power inherent in making difficult choices.

The symbols of the black bull and caged bird extend beyond visual contrast, offering a profound commentary on racism in American society. These metaphors reveal the historical marginalization of the African American community, emphasizing the enduring racial prejudices that persist.

Through the lens of change, Hayes emphasizes the vital trait of adaptability within the African American experience. The sonnet challenges conventional expectations as the immense black bull transforms into a size small enough to fit inside a nipple ring—a powerful metaphor for the flexibility required for survival in a hostile environment.

The poem hints at the notion that change is not always a deliberate choice but a pressured process, reflecting the struggles faced by racial minorities in America. Lines like "As if a bird/Could grow without breaking its shell" suggest the inherent challenges of breaking free from societal constraints, emphasizing the delicate balance between growth and resistance.

Hayes' departure from traditional sonnet conventions serves as a rebellion against societal expectations for African Americans. This deliberate choice to reject established forms aligns with his commitment to challenging social injustice and pushing the boundaries imposed on marginalized communities.

The interplay between time and space serves as another metaphorical layer, highlighting the imperative for African Americans to adapt to unjust societal standards. The vivid imagery of "wild wings bewildering a cage" underscores the formidable risks and tension faced by African American individuals in their quest for social progress.

In the dynamic changes of scope and size within the symbols of birds and bulls, Hayes invites a nuanced exploration of social interactions and the pervasive role of prejudices in people's lives. The shifts from a bird symbolizing yearning for freedom to a bull embodying it signify the fluidity of human nature, resilience, and adaptability.

While the overall tone may be perceived as somber, Hayes injects a note of upliftment, reminding readers that moments of delight and happiness deserve acknowledgment. This element of joy in transformation and maintaining connections with family and community instills a sense of hope, emphasizing resilience in the face of adversity.

The title of Hayes' sonnet collection, "American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin," becomes a recurrent enigma, inviting readers to contemplate the complex changes in American society. This title, gracing every poem, hints at the elusive assassin impeding progress between African American and Euro American communities. Yet, instead of direct confrontation, Hayes directs attention to the wellspring of strength within himself and the broader African American community, emphasizing the importance of unity and familial bonds.

In its essence, the sonnet becomes a vessel for raw emotion, drawing attention to the inherent challenges within American society. Hayes' deliberate choice to leave the decision between freedom and a life confined in a cage to the readers adds an interactive dimension, encouraging personal reflection on the hurdles faced by African American individuals striving to integrate and establish their identity in the broader American context.

By consistently titling each poem in the collection, Hayes invites readers to grapple with the broader implications of societal changes. The elusive nature of the identified assassin sparks contemplation on the multifaceted challenges faced by marginalized communities. The sonnet transcends a mere exploration of threat and becomes a profound reflection on resilience, strength, and the often-unseen bonds that sustain individuals navigating the complexities of the American reality.