Countee Cullen’s “Yet Do I Marvel” utilizes a unique sonnet structure to juxtapose God’s omnipotence and supposed good nature with the flawed state of the world. The first eight lines resemble a shakespearean sonnet, but the final six lines have an EEFFGG rhyme scheme, unlike either a shakespearean or petrarchan sonnet. Within this structure, I read the turn to occur between the 12th and 13th lines–similar to a shakespearean sonnet–where Cullen transitions from describing God’s neglect, “awful brain” and “awful hand” to questioning his own existence as a black poet in the poem’s final couplet (12).
I found the first few lines of the poem especially intriguing, as they humanize god in a very interesting way. Cullen clearly views god as an all-powerful being worth worshiping, yet still feels the need to advocate for him as if he is misguided, ensuring the reader that he doesn’t doubt that god is “good, well-meaning” and “kind”, before laying out his thoughts and criticisms (1). It’s strange to imagine that God–as Cullen describes him to be–would fail to “stoop to quibble” about the problems with the world he himself created, and it’s clear that Cullen is wrestling with this idea himself throughout this poem (2).
Another quality of this poem that I noted was that its intended audience is very versatile and broad. It simultaneously acts as a criticism of society and of those who were unreceptive to black poets and as a thought provoking piece about God and his influence.
I enjoyed reading your interpretation of the poem! I also agree that the poem not only has a wide audience range, which is exhibited in the conflicts for Cullen’s identity and his perspective on God, but also that if God’s intentions are to be praised. The way Cullen compares Tantalus and Sisyphus to himself (a successful, thoughtful poet) is an interesting way to juxtapose themselves on God’s intentions. Cullen never provides a direct answer and leaves it up to us to interpret if God is to be viewed as the same “good, well-meaning, kind” figure that he describes in the beginning of the poem.
I think it’s really interesting how you say the first few lines humanize God and that Cullen is wrestling himself! The poem clearly conveys the internal struggle of the speaker that believes in God is inherently good and kind, but can’t help but wonder why the state of the world has so much suffering, especially for a Black poet like Cullen himself. I interpreted that when the speaker says that God can “stoop to quibble could tell why” means that there are answers for why the suffering exists and God can explain himself. He can explain why Tantalus was tortured with a fruit and why Sisyphus must push a boulder up the stairs forever. I enjoyed reading your thoughts on this poem.