In literature, many poets consider life, the hardships individuals endure, and the hope that exists during these trials. Poets who discuss these topics include John Milton and Lorna Goodison. Lorna Goodison examines the hope and understanding that exists during tribulation in “I Will Light a Candle of Understanding in Your Heart.” Through his use of imagery, symbolism, and poetic structure, Goodison emphasizes this overarching concept of hope and understanding. Goodison presents an image of hedges and groves, which illustrates the importance of tribulations. Throughout their lives, individuals may build hedges to protect themselves from life's difficulties, but this only hinders their growth and development. Individuals do not recognize the importance of understanding life processes and do not feel completely sheltered from the world by planting such hedges. Even with these hedges, thickets will arise and obstruct their path. These thickets constitute unexpected good fortune that individuals encounter when facing tribulations. In order to gain hope, wisdom and understanding, one must expose oneself to the world and believe that they will receive these great fortunes. With every tribulation, humanity faces a candle of understanding/hope that will be lit (Goodison 4-9). To make connections between lighting the candle and perseverance through tribulation, Goodison presents various tribulation images. These images help to highlight the understanding that can come when one perseveres through trials. In the first stanza, Goodison presents images of mending fences, paying debts, and finding one's true friends. These images illustrate the diversity of tribulations that individuals will face throughout their paper, as a very difficult and lasting process that everyone must experience and understand. Through his use of imagery, symbolism, and unique poetic structure, Goodison demonstrates that humanity can find hope and peace through trust in God. The hand of God will light the candle of understanding in the hearts of all humanity to help them face tribulations. The artificial hedges that individuals attempt to construct will not prove beneficial, for misfortune and fortune will befall all despite their precautionary measures, and the light that God provides will bring hope, confidence, and understanding to all. humanity that accepts this candle. Lorna. “I will light a candle of understanding in your heart.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Sarah Lawall. 2nd ed. Flight. f. New York: Norton, 2002. 2136. Print.