“Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link

“Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link, first appeared in 1987 in her poetry collection Paths of the Heart, is simple yet a profound depiction of human connection, empathy, and comfort. Through vivid imagery and carefully chosen language, Link captures the intimate act of holding hands as a universal symbol of support, love, and solidarity. The poem’s popularity stems from its relatability and the warmth it evokes, making it a favorite among those seeking solace in poetry. Link’s ability to explore profound themes with such gentle, accessible language has made “Holding Hands” an enduring piece cherished by diverse audiences.

Text: “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link

Annotations: “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link

Couplet	Annotation
“Elephants walking / Along the trails”	Introduces elephants as the central figures, emphasizing their journey along a path. The “trails” evoke an image of movement, companionship, and exploration.
“Are holding hands / By holding tails.”	Uses the phrase “holding hands” metaphorically to convey elephants’ connection and unity. “Holding tails” creatively shows how elephants support each other.
“Trunks and tails / Are handy things”	Highlights the unique physical traits of elephants (trunks and tails), portraying them as tools of both connection and utility, symbolizing adaptability.
“When elephants walk / In circus rings.”	Shifts the setting to a “circus ring,” suggesting a structured, perhaps challenging environment, where unity becomes crucial for strength and balance.
“Elephants work / And elephants play”	Depicts the diverse lives of elephants, where they experience both labor and leisure, mirroring the balance in human lives between responsibilities and enjoyment.
“And elephants walk / And feel so gay.”	“Feel so gay” reflects joy and contentment, capturing a sense of harmony and happiness in their shared journey and companionship.
“And when they walk – / It never fails”	Suggests a sense of constancy and reliability in their connection, emphasizing that this support is a consistent part of their lives.
“They’re holding hands / By holding tails.”	Concludes by returning to the metaphor of “holding hands,” reinforcing the theme of unity and affection. The repetition emphasizes the bond between them.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link

Device	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	“holding hands,” “trunks and tails”	Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words creates rhythm and draws attention to the words, emphasizing connection and companionship.
Anaphora	“And elephants walk / And feel so gay.”	The repetition of “And” at the beginning of lines creates a rhythmic flow and builds continuity, adding to the feeling of joy and connection.
Assonance	“Along the trails”	Repetition of the vowel sound “a” in “along” and “trails” enhances the musicality of the line, creating a sense of smooth movement, like the elephants’ walk.
Caesura	“And when they walk – / It never fails”	The pause created by the dash slows the line, allowing the reader to reflect on the constancy of the elephants’ bond.
Connotation	“holding hands”	“Holding hands” implies affection and support, connoting friendship and unity without explicitly stating it.
Consonance	“tails are handy things”	Repetition of the “t” and “s” sounds within the line creates harmony and rhythm, enhancing the poem’s melodic quality.
End Rhyme	“trails” / “tails”	The rhyme scheme (AABB) gives a lighthearted, playful rhythm that mimics the gentle and steady pace of the elephants.
Enjambment	“Are holding hands / By holding tails.”	The sentence continues without a pause across lines, creating a fluid movement that mirrors the elephants’ continuous journey.
Imagery	“Elephants walking / Along the trails”	The description conjures visual images of elephants in motion, fostering a sense of their shared journey and environment.
Irony	“holding hands / By holding tails”	There’s a playful irony in the metaphor, as elephants obviously don’t have hands, yet Link humorously applies this human expression to their unique anatomy.
Juxtaposition	“work” / “play”	The contrasting concepts of work and play highlight the balance in the elephants’ lives, similar to human experience, enriching the poem’s depth.
Metaphor	“holding hands”	“Holding hands” metaphorically represents companionship, support, and unity, framing the elephants’ tail-holding as an affectionate gesture.
Meter	Mostly trochaic tetrameter	The poem’s rhythm (strong-weak beats) mirrors the steady pace of the elephants walking, adding a rhythmic unity to the structure and content.
Mood	Joyful and lighthearted	Words like “play” and “feel so gay” set a mood of joy and contentment, reinforcing the theme of companionship.
Onomatopoeia	Implied in “walk”	Though not direct, “walk” suggests the steady, rhythmic steps of elephants, adding to the sensory experience of the poem.
Personification	“feel so gay”	Attributing human emotion to elephants gives them a playful personality, fostering empathy and a sense of connection for the reader.
Repetition	“holding hands / By holding tails”	Repeated lines emphasize the central theme of connection, reinforcing the idea that unity is inherent in their nature.
Rhyme Scheme	AABB	The AABB rhyme scheme maintains a predictable and soothing rhythm, adding a playful tone suitable for a poem about unity and joy.
Simile	Implied in “holding hands / By holding tails”	Although not directly stated, this line suggests a comparison between human connection and elephant behavior, linking the two in an indirect, implied simile.
Symbolism	“holding hands”	Symbolizes unity, care, and mutual support, transcending species to create a universal message about the importance of connection.

Themes: “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link

1. Unity and Companionship: The poem’s recurring image of elephants “holding hands by holding tails” emphasizes the importance of unity and companionship. This metaphor creatively depicts the elephants’ physical bond as a symbol of emotional closeness and mutual support. The repetition of this line reinforces the idea that these animals, much like humans, rely on each other for connection and stability. By portraying elephants holding tails as they walk together, Link suggests that shared journeys are easier and more fulfilling with companions by one’s side.
2. Joy in Togetherness: The line “And elephants walk and feel so gay” highlights the joy that comes from being together. Link shows that companionship brings happiness and a sense of well-being, as seen in the way the elephants playfully engage with one another while walking. The word “gay,” meaning happy, reflects their contentment, suggesting that their connectedness brings them comfort and pleasure. Through this theme, the poem celebrates the simple joys of companionship and the lighthearted spirit it can inspire.
3. Support and Guidance: Link’s portrayal of elephants holding tails as they walk serves as a metaphor for support and guidance. The elephants use their trunks and tails—tools both practical and affectionate—to ensure they stay together on their journey. The phrase “holding hands by holding tails” illustrates that physical closeness in the animal kingdom, much like in human relationships, provides a sense of direction and security. This theme underscores the idea that close bonds with others offer strength and help individuals navigate life’s paths more confidently.
4. Harmony in Nature: The poem suggests a sense of harmony within nature, as seen in the elephants’ effortless companionship while they walk “along the trails” and “in circus rings.” This harmonious connection with each other and their environment is part of their natural state, underscoring that such bonds are an intrinsic aspect of life. By showing the elephants moving in unison across different settings, Link emphasizes that harmony and connection are universal qualities, natural both in the wild and in structured spaces, like the circus, symbolizing balance in all aspects of life.

Literary Theories and “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link

Literary Theory	Explanation	References from the Poem
Structuralism	Structuralism analyzes language and underlying structures within texts to uncover universal meanings. In “Holding Hands,” the poem’s simple AABB rhyme scheme and repetitive phrases like “holding hands by holding tails” highlight recurring structures of companionship and unity, which are relatable across cultures.	The repetitive structure and rhyme scheme emphasize the theme of connection, symbolizing companionship as a universal concept. The simple yet repetitive phrasing of “holding hands by holding tails” creates a structure that reinforces the idea of unity as a fundamental social construct.
Eco-Criticism	Eco-criticism explores human relationships with the natural world, considering how literature represents animals, environments, and ecological harmony. In “Holding Hands,” Link’s portrayal of elephants highlights their natural behaviors and social bonds, presenting them as a model of harmonious living.	The lines “Elephants walking / Along the trails” and “in circus rings” suggest that these animals thrive in different settings while maintaining a natural harmony with each other. The poem’s emphasis on animals in their natural and human-altered environments fosters respect for nature’s connectedness.
Feminist Theory	Feminist theory often explores themes of support, nurturing, and relational bonds, particularly from a communal perspective. The poem’s focus on elephants holding tails as a form of bonding reflects values often associated with feminist ideals, like unity and mutual support.	The metaphor “holding hands by holding tails” speaks to a supportive, nurturing connection, traditionally associated with feminist values of relational strength and unity. By focusing on communal bonds, the poem portrays companionship as an essential and sustaining element, resonating with feminist themes of interdependence.

Critical Questions about “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link

• How does the metaphor of “holding hands” deepen our understanding of connection and support in the poem?
• The phrase “holding hands by holding tails” is central to Link’s portrayal of companionship among the elephants. By using a human concept of hand-holding, the poem suggests that support and closeness are universal needs, not limited to humans alone. This metaphor invites readers to consider how connection can take different forms across species, bridging human experiences with those of animals. The act of “holding tails” as a substitute for hand-holding reveals that the essence of bonding transcends physical forms and instead focuses on intention and proximity, emphasizing that closeness is rooted in shared experiences and mutual reliance.
• In what ways does Link’s portrayal of elephants balance natural behavior with humanized characteristics?
• The poem’s playful tone and lines like “And elephants walk and feel so gay” subtly anthropomorphize the elephants, ascribing to them human-like emotions of joy and companionship. However, Link balances this with images of elephants engaging in their natural behavior, such as “walking along the trails” and using their tails and trunks to stay connected. This balance creates a layered portrayal of the elephants, as both figures of natural grace and creatures capable of emotional bonds relatable to human experiences. By blending these elements, Link subtly encourages readers to view animals as beings capable of complex social interactions and feelings.
• What role does setting play in the development of the poem’s themes of unity and companionship?
• Link uses both natural and artificial settings, such as “trails” and “circus rings,” to illustrate that companionship remains constant across different environments. This dual setting suggests that the bond between the elephants transcends their surroundings, highlighting a kind of resilience in their relationship. Whether in the wild or under human-imposed circumstances, their connection through “holding tails” represents adaptability and steadfastness. The poem implies that true companionship is unwavering, even when faced with changes or challenges in the external environment, reinforcing the theme of unity through diverse situations.
• How does the poem’s structure and rhyme scheme contribute to its themes of harmony and rhythm in relationships?
• The consistent AABB rhyme scheme and short, rhythmic lines create a sense of unity and flow that mirrors the elephants’ synchronized movement. Each couplet’s rhythm matches the elephants’ steady pace, symbolizing the seamless and balanced nature of their companionship. The structured rhyme scheme serves as a metaphor for the stability and predictability of their relationship, suggesting that genuine connections provide a comforting rhythm to life. The poem’s structure thus enhances the theme of harmony in relationships, echoing the steadiness that companionship brings to life’s journey.

Literary Works Similar to “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link

1. “The Pasture” by Robert Frost
   This poem shares a gentle tone and themes of companionship and natural beauty, as Frost invites readers to join him in observing simple yet meaningful acts in nature.
2. “Little Things” by Julia A. Carney
   Carney’s poem emphasizes the impact of small gestures, much like Link’s focus on simple, supportive actions among the elephants, highlighting how minor acts of kindness strengthen connections.
3. “The Eagle” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
   Tennyson’s short and vivid imagery of the eagle, like Link’s portrayal of elephants, brings nature to life with a focus on the unique characteristics of animals, evoking respect and admiration.
4. “The Cow” by Robert Louis Stevenson
   Stevenson’s poem observes the gentle and nurturing aspects of a cow’s life, similar to how Link’s elephants represent warmth and connection through familiar behaviors in nature.
5. “Brotherhood” by Octavio Paz
   Paz’s poem reflects on the universality of connection and unity, echoing Link’s theme of bonds that transcend physical forms, creating a sense of shared existence across beings.

Representative Quotations of “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Elephants walking / Along the trails”	Describes elephants in their natural setting, setting the stage for the poem’s themes of companionship.	Eco-Criticism – Emphasizes the natural harmony and unity within the animal world.
“Are holding hands / By holding tails.”	Establishes the central metaphor of companionship and mutual support among elephants.	Structuralism – Uses the metaphor of “holding hands” to symbolize universal companionship structures.
“Trunks and tails / Are handy things”	Highlights unique physical features of elephants that facilitate their connection.	Feminist Theory – Reflects values of resourcefulness and nurturing with communal support.
“When elephants walk / In circus rings.”	Shifts to a man-made setting, suggesting adaptability in companionship across environments.	Eco-Criticism – Examines the impact of human-imposed structures on natural behaviors and relationships.
“Elephants work / And elephants play”	Balances the dual nature of elephants’ lives, integrating both labor and enjoyment.	Marxist Theory – Highlights the roles of labor and leisure, relevant to understanding class and social roles.
“And elephants walk / And feel so gay.”	Depicts the elephants’ happiness, focusing on emotional aspects of their bond.	Humanism – Centers on the inherent joy and emotional well-being that comes from companionship.
“And when they walk – / It never fails”	Suggests reliability and consistency in the elephants’ relationship.	Structuralism – The repetition implies that companionship is a dependable structure in social bonding.
“They’re holding hands / By holding tails.”	The refrain reinforces the metaphor of unity, connecting their bond to human-like affection.	Post-Structuralism – Challenges typical expressions of affection, reinterpreting “holding hands.”
“Along the trails”	Returns to the idea of journey, framing the elephants’ connection as part of a shared path.	Symbolism – The “trails” symbolize the paths of life, shared through companionship.
“In circus rings”	Depicts a confined setting, contrasting with the freedom of the trails.	Psychoanalytic Theory – Suggests the tension between natural inclinations and external constraints.

Suggested Readings: “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link

1. Hollingsworth, Shirley. “Tuck in a Poem or Two.” Language Arts, vol. 54, no. 2, 1977, pp. 180–86. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41404503. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
2. Jenkin, Ann Timoney, and Miriel Lenore. Midwinter Light: Poems. Wakefield Press, 1995.