It begins with simple descriptions of the natural world and the farmland that he sees around him. As the poem progresses from the concrete (what we know and believe to be real) to the abstract (that which we are unsure of, appears to be random, cannot be explained easily), he finds himself lying in the grass looking at the farm and becomes aware of the many generations and many farms that have preceded this one. In the final stanza he is fully immersed in nature.
The metaphysical thoughts that he initially fears; ‘afraid of where thought might take me (after all these are not easy questions),’ gradually emerge and he begins to consider the larger questions of existence; who is he, where did he come from and what is his place in the world: ‘Self under self, a pile of selves’ gives us the idea of uncovering layers of self’ (similar to a Russian doll) suggesting that he considers his inner self or true self as something different to his outer self; that which he projects to the world. ‘Farm within farm’ suggests that he is only one in a sequence of people connected with this particular place.
Imagery is mostly concerned with his detailed descriptions of nature. ‘Straws like tame lightnings’ indicate patterns (crooked) in nature and compare the grass to something wild and dangerous. Odd descriptions such as this and ‘green as glass’ reveal everyday images in a different way. His own close analysis of such things brings about a bigger realization (compare with The Cockroach and Hunting Snake) ‘The water…shines’ is another detailed description of nature which possibly reflects the speakers state of mind – clear and untroubled, and the way that nature inspires him to access his inner thoughts.
The Essay on Character, Nature, Spatial Distribution of World Cities
The nature character and spatial distribution of world cities: Increasing globalisation has had major impacts on the world urban system. As a result a group of cities has emerged as key nodes in the organisation and functioning of the world, known as World Cities. World cities, such as London and New York are a product of cultural and economic globalisation and act as nodal points for the ...
Similarly: ‘A swallow falls’ and ‘The grasshopper…in space’ indicate the freedom of nature and reflect the speaker’s freedom of thought when surrounded by nature. ‘Nine ducks…’ gives us an image of another pattern in nature and its instinctive ability to organize itself (compare with organisation in Where I Come From).
In the final stanza, the imagery is less accessible; ‘Lift the farm like a lid’ and this marks the completed transition (movement, change) to abstract thought. – 9BS up to here, some students to finish off.
Diction (Choice of words) is positive throughout the poem and serves to indicate the benignity of nature and freedom of thought. ‘Tame’ suggests something that is not wild, although it is used to describe lightning. The poet’s observation of the hen picking up something that isn’t there gives us light hearted contemplation (humour); he is less serious than Halligan in The Cockroach or Brewster in Where I Come From).
‘Falls’ describes the movement of the swallow and perhaps reflects the poet moving with momentum (increasing power and speed) towards deep thought. Dizzy blue’ may represent confusion and’ Flickering’ which is linked to the swallow’s movement, again may suggest the poet moving from one state of mind to another and finally ‘finds himself in space (as does the grasshopper).
His ‘plated face’ is another description that shows how deeply engaged with nature the poet is and also suggests a form of protection (like a coat of armour).
Notice the use of personal pronoun ‘I’ in stanza three, indicating that the poet is moving from close observation of nature to close observation of self.
As the speaker finds himself deep in abstract thought the diction has less connotation (it is simpler and there are fewer ideas linked to it).
The Essay on Black Rights Movements Freedom Blacks Wanted
in the 60's when blacks where fighting for their freedom rights they did all kinds of things to prove that they were going to get what they wanted. The black freedom movements were lead by a man named Martin luther king Jr. he strongly believed that all men were equal no matter what they looked like. He lead no-violence protests. the blacks gained many rights this way but suffered a lot. they were ...
However, ‘threaded’ may suggest that he is intricately woven to the time period in which he exists and less able to move or manipulate it than he would be if he were tied to it. Tone is peaceful, meditative and tranquil in stanza one and two and although it remains so for stanzas three and four, it becomes contemplative, fearful to a lesser extent, reflective and finally philosophical. In the final stanza repetition helps to maintain the peaceful tone when the ideas become more demanding.
Compare to the change in tone in Where I Come From. Structure is simple reflecting the simplicity of nature and farm life (four regular stanzas with four lines of similar length in each) and there is a definite AABB rhyme scheme. This almost perfect structure may suggest completeness; it flows nicely and seems finished rather than unfinished or disorganised. (Compare with Where I Come From).
The first three stanzas are saturated with images of nature and the poet’s use of enjambment may link to his idea of the freedom of nature, its continuous free flowing movement and the way it moves him towards deep thought.
We can consider the theme of nature: Nature’s infinite existence and man’s relationship with nature, how man and nature are intertwined and joined together by time. We can also consider identity/personal reflection: The questions raised in the poem can make us feel humble or inadequate. How do we see ourselves, our existence how does the speaker see himself? Is he experiencing crisis like the speaker in The Cockroach? Does he represent just himself or does he represent ‘everyman’
