Summer Farm- Norman McCaig
1. Straws like tame lightnings lie about the grass
2. And hang zigzag on hedges. Green as glass
3. The water in the horse-trough shines.
4. Nine ducks go wobbling by in two straight lines.
5. A hen stares at nothing with one eye,
6. Then picks it up. Out of an empty sky
7. A swallow falls and, flickering through
8. The barn, dives up again into the dizzy blue.
9. I lie, not thinking, in the cool, soft grass,
10. Afraid of where a thought might take me – as
11. This grasshopper with plated face
12. Unfolds his legs and finds himself in space.
13. Self under self, a pile of selves I stand
14. Threaded on time, and with metaphysic hand
15. Lift the farm like a lid and see
16. Farm within farm, and in the centre, me.
Plated- Comprising sections of metal plate
Metaphysic- Concerned with the nature of abstract and transcendent truths
Summary A poem following the stream of a man's consciousness in an existential crisis, contemplating the link between nature and humanity. The poet develops the concept of layers and stages, employing various farm animals as physical representations of the different elements of his psyche.
Poetic Voice- Ambivalent and initially fears traveling into deep thought and ironically slips into a stream of such concentration that he begins to question his own identity objectively.
Structure- AABBCCDDAEFFGGHH rhyme scheme. The third "A" occurs on the line in which the poet claims, "not thinking", indicating that the suspension of thought also accounts for the poet's inability to communicate in rhyme. The consistent quatrains also evoke a sense of organization and calm that may reflect the poet's own tranquility and clarity of thought. The first two quatrains are told in detail by an omniscient narrator but the poet then shifts to the first person with "I", creating a feeling of intimacy and empathy with the reader.
Poet examines the world around him in the first stanza.
This observation leads to deeper thought in the second stanza. It is also broken by commas to allow the reader to consider certain images. The long vowel sounds also slow the pace of the poem.
The poet directs his thought to himself in the third stanza and this culminates in the final stanza with the poet finding himself in the centre of the farm as he is physically positioned in the poem.
2. And hang zigzag on hedges. Green as glass
3. The water in the horse-trough shines.
4. Nine ducks go wobbling by in two straight lines.
5. A hen stares at nothing with one eye,
6. Then picks it up. Out of an empty sky
7. A swallow falls and, flickering through
8. The barn, dives up again into the dizzy blue.
9. I lie, not thinking, in the cool, soft grass,
10. Afraid of where a thought might take me – as
11. This grasshopper with plated face
12. Unfolds his legs and finds himself in space.
13. Self under self, a pile of selves I stand
14. Threaded on time, and with metaphysic hand
15. Lift the farm like a lid and see
16. Farm within farm, and in the centre, me.
Plated- Comprising sections of metal plate
Metaphysic- Concerned with the nature of abstract and transcendent truths
Summary A poem following the stream of a man's consciousness in an existential crisis, contemplating the link between nature and humanity. The poet develops the concept of layers and stages, employing various farm animals as physical representations of the different elements of his psyche.
Poetic Voice- Ambivalent and initially fears traveling into deep thought and ironically slips into a stream of such concentration that he begins to question his own identity objectively.
Structure- AABBCCDDAEFFGGHH rhyme scheme. The third "A" occurs on the line in which the poet claims, "not thinking", indicating that the suspension of thought also accounts for the poet's inability to communicate in rhyme. The consistent quatrains also evoke a sense of organization and calm that may reflect the poet's own tranquility and clarity of thought. The first two quatrains are told in detail by an omniscient narrator but the poet then shifts to the first person with "I", creating a feeling of intimacy and empathy with the reader.
Poet examines the world around him in the first stanza.
This observation leads to deeper thought in the second stanza. It is also broken by commas to allow the reader to consider certain images. The long vowel sounds also slow the pace of the poem.
The poet directs his thought to himself in the third stanza and this culminates in the final stanza with the poet finding himself in the centre of the farm as he is physically positioned in the poem.
Quote Analysis-
"Straws like tame lightnings...hang zigzag"
The ideas of control and domestication in "tame" contrast with the spontaneous rapid speed and destructive potential of "lightning". This juxtaposition confuses the reader but the vivid imagery engages you in the poet's struggle to find order and comprehension in a seemingly chaotic world. The guttural and jarring "g" sound is repeated and reflects the poet's stumbling mindset. The syntax is also manipulated into a periodic sentence that forces the reader to process the poem in an indirect way that further adds to the complex undertone.
"Green as glass the water in the horse-trough shines"
Another set of contrasting images. "Green" suggests impurities and dirt yet "glass" implies transparence and visual clarity. One would also expect liquid contained in a "horse-trough" to be murky and contaminated yet the poet continues with "shines" which connotes purity and pristine cleanliness. This is another example of periodic phrasing that works to confound the reader.
"Nine ducks go wobbling by in two straight lines"
Adds to the list of confusing imagery. Nine is not divisible by two so it would not be possible to have two lines of ducks. "Wobbling" also infers weakness and a lack of support that may reflect the poet's own mental state whilst also recreating the kinesthetic imagery that would accompany the motion of ducks. The first example of how common farm animals are used to allow the reader to access the poet's train of thought and empathize with his complicated and metaphysical internal inquisition.
"Hen stares at nothing with one eye, then picks it up"
The hen may be an extended metaphor for humanity and how we transfix ourselves on irrelevant and minute details without being able to answer much broader and abstract questions. The sinister image of "one eye" also provokes sentiments of insecurity and may demonstrate how the poet is only viewing the world from one perspective and highlights his irrationality in this manner. The full-stop caesura following "picks it up" is important as it allows the reader to stop and consider what the poet has found and whether it has a physical embodiment or represents a figment of the poet's surreal creation in his mind.
"Out of an empty sky, a swallow falls and, flickering through the barn, dives up again into the dizzying blue"
The swallow may be a metaphor for the poet's thought at this time. As it "falls" an idea comes to the poet but as it gradually fades as the swallow is "flickering" before it is completely lost as it "dives up". "Dizzying" both relates to the poet's confused mindset and the swirling sky above. The initial periodic structure of "out of any empty sky, a swallow falls" appeals to the lack of order in the world irrespective of the poet's most diligent attempts to imagine that is exists.
"Grasshopper with plated face unfolds his legs and finds himself in space"
The grasshopper is the metaphorical equivalent of the poet's consciousness and perspective. As the grasshopper "finds himself in space", this is an allegorical representation of the poet separating his consciousness from his physical being and viewing himself objectively. The use of "his...himself" implies that the grasshopper is a sentient being and therefore crates a empathy between the poet and the grasshopper. "Unfolds his legs" suggests that the grasshopper was previously in a position of meditation.
"A pile of selves I stand, threaded on time with metaphysic hand"
This confirms the poet's objective view of himself. Like the rest of humanity, the poet sees himself above all the previous versions of himself. Or perhaps the poet sees himself as the final descendent of a vast range of farm owners who used to occupy the same position as he does now. The poet then transgresses to deeper levels of surrealism. "Pile" also dehumanizes the poet in a way and suggests that he has lost his individuality and sense of identity which is ironic after his caution of "afraid where a thought might take me".
"I lift the farm like a lid and see farm within farm, and in the centre, me"
Brings all the elements of the poem together at the end with "farm" only being mentioned once. Sees his past and the farm's past intertwined. Equivocal ending renders many interpretations.
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