As the imagery in the poem "The Barrier" by Claude McKay is analyzed, it is seen that though the words may seem simple, they hold a much deeper meaning. The phrase "Your sun-illuminated way" represents the seemingly sunny and care-free life that white people, not just the specific girl mentioned, live. The reader visualizes a sunny day where everything seems good and easy. This is then compared to the lives black people live by being separated by "the barrier of race." The phrase makes the reader picture a large menacing wall causing the reader to then sympathize with the author with emotions of fear, sadness, and anger.
The poem has the pattern of ABAB end rhyme to make it more appealing to the ear. The method of rhyme also causes the rhyming words to stand out more within the poem. This is apparent especially in the last stanza. The words "face" and "race" are rhymed to most likely make the reader focus on the word "race" because it begins the main point of the poem. "Spark" and "dark" are also rhymed for the same purpose of probably putting emphasis on "dark" because it is also within the main point of the poem.
The use of personification is also used to add imagery to the poem to make the reader sympathize more with the author of the poem. The phrases "Your eyes are dawning day" and "the fascinating note, which, fluting like a river reed" are used to show the authors great love and admiration of the girl, despite their difference in race. The figurative language illustrating love could also be seen as a contrast to the simply-put feelings of sadness in the poem.
