'Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front' by Wendell Berry
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The Country of Marriage1973Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want moreof everything ready-made. Be afraidto know your neighbors and to die.And you will have a window in your head.Not even your future will be a mysteryany more. Your mind will be punched in a cardand shut away in a little drawer.When they want you to buy somethingthey will call you. When they want youto die for profit they will let you know.So, friends, every day do somethingthat won't compute. Love the Lord.Love the world. Work for nothing.Take all that you have and be poor.Love someone who does not deserve it.Denounce the government and embracethe flag. Hope to live in that freerepublic for which it stands.Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what manhas not encountered he has not destroyed.Ask the questions that have no answers.Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.Say that your main crop is the forestthat you did not plant,that you will not live to harvest.Say that the leaves are harvestedwhen they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.Put your faith in the two inches of humusthat will build under the treesevery thousand years.Listen to carrion -- put your earclose, and hear the faint chatteringof the songs that are to come.Expect the end of the world. Laugh.Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyfulthough you have considered all the facts.So long as women do not go cheapfor power, please women more than men.Ask yourself: Will this satisfya woman satisfied to bear a child?Will this disturb the sleepof a woman near to giving birth?Go with your love to the fields.Lie down in the shade. Rest your headin her lap. Swear allegianceto what is nighest your thoughts.As soon as the generals and the politicoscan predict the motions of your mind,lose it. Leave it as a signto mark the false trail, the wayyou didn't go.Be like the foxwho makes more tracks than necessary,some in the wrong direction.Practice resurrection.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Mad Farmer's Manifesto: A Call for Liberation and Connection
When was the last time you stopped and asked yourself, "What am I doing with my life? What am I working for?" Our society values productivity, efficiency, and progress above all else, often at the cost of our mental and physical health, our relationships, and our connection to the natural world. Wendell Berry's "The Mad Farmer's Manifesto" offers a powerful critique of this way of life and a call for a different kind of liberation. In this essay, I will explore the themes of connection, community, and resistance that run through the poem and offer my interpretation of its meaning and relevance for us today.
The Mad Farmer as a Symbol of Resistance
First, let's look at the figure of the Mad Farmer himself. Who is he, and what does he represent? Berry describes him as "the man who has never been to college" and "who walks up and down the rows of corn" (1-2). He is a simple, rural figure who lives close to the land and has a deep understanding of its rhythms and cycles. But he is also "mad" in the sense of being outside the mainstream, subverting the dominant norms and values of society. He is a rebel, a troublemaker, a jester who speaks truth to power.
The Mad Farmer is not just an individual, but a symbol of a way of life that is in danger of being lost. He represents a connection to the earth and to one's community that has been eroded by the forces of industrialization, globalization, and consumerism. He stands for a way of living that is slower, simpler, and more attuned to the natural world. He is a reminder that there are other ways of being human, other ways of organizing society, that are not based on profit, growth, and domination.
The Importance of Connection
One of the key themes of the poem is the importance of connection. The Mad Farmer declares that "we must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world" (11-12). What does he mean by this? I think he is saying that we cannot just turn away from the challenges and hardships of life, but must face them head-on. But at the same time, we must not lose sight of the beauty and joy that are also part of the world. We must hold both of these things together, and find ways to connect them.
For the Mad Farmer, this connection comes through his relationship to the land and to his neighbors. He says, "I labor by singing light / not for ambition or bread / or the strut and trade of charms / on the ivory stages / but for the common wages / of their most secret heart" (27-33). He is not working for himself or for profit, but for the well-being of his community. He understands that his own happiness is bound up with the happiness of others, and that the health of the land is essential to both.
Community and Resistance
This theme of community is closely tied to that of resistance. The Mad Farmer is not just advocating for a different way of living, but actively fighting against the forces that threaten it. He says, "So, friends, every day do something / that won't compute" (9-10). He is urging us to resist the logic of the system that tells us to be productive, efficient, and obedient. He is telling us to be subversive, to be "mad" in the sense of being different, unconventional, and unafraid.
This resistance takes many forms in the poem. The Mad Farmer is opposed to the destruction of the earth, the exploitation of labor, the commodification of culture, and the alienation of individuals from their own lives. He says, "Every one of them old / and sore in soul / every one of them homely / and simple and sweet" (41-43). He is championing the values of humility, simplicity, and kindness that have been lost in our society's rush to be modern and sophisticated.
But this resistance also requires us to build something new, something positive and life-affirming. The Mad Farmer tells us to "plant sequoias" and "live with your lovers" (58-59). He is urging us to cultivate a deep sense of connection to the earth and to each other, to build relationships that are based on mutual respect and care. This is not just a call to individual action, but to collective action - to join with others in the struggle for a better world.
Conclusion: The Mad Farmer's Vision
In conclusion, "The Mad Farmer's Manifesto" is a powerful call to action for those who are tired of the rat race, who long for a deeper connection to the natural world and to their fellow human beings. It is a vision of a world that is slower, simpler, and more attuned to the rhythms of nature. It is a world where people work not for profit or ambition, but for the common good, where resistance to oppression and exploitation is a daily practice, and where love and joy are the ultimate goal.
But this vision is not just a dream or a fantasy. It is a possibility, a reality that can be created if we have the courage to act. The Mad Farmer is not just a symbol of resistance, but a model for how to live. He shows us that it is possible to be happy and fulfilled in a world that is often cruel and unjust. He reminds us that we are not alone, that there are others who share our values and our hopes.
So let us take up his banner, and sing our own songs of resistance and liberation. Let us plant sequoias, and live with our lovers, and refuse to be tamed by the forces of conformity and obedience. Let us be mad farmers, and build a world that is worthy of our deepest dreams and aspirations.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Mad Farmer Liberation Front: A Manifesto for Poetry and Life
Wendell Berry’s “The Mad Farmer Liberation Front” is a powerful and inspiring manifesto that challenges us to rethink our relationship with the natural world, with each other, and with ourselves. Written in 1973, at a time of great social and environmental upheaval, the poem speaks to our current moment with renewed urgency and relevance. In this analysis, we will explore the key themes and ideas of the manifesto, and examine how they can inform and inspire our own lives and actions.
The poem begins with a call to action: “Love the quick profit, the annual raise, / vacation with pay. Want more / of everything ready-made.” Berry is critiquing the consumerist mindset that dominates our society, which values material wealth and convenience over deeper human values and connections. He is urging us to reject this mindset and embrace a simpler, more sustainable way of life. The “mad farmer” of the title is a symbol of this alternative way of living, one that values the land, community, and self-reliance over profit and power.
The manifesto is full of vivid and memorable images that capture the essence of this alternative way of life. For example, Berry writes, “Be like the fox / who makes more tracks than necessary, / some in the wrong direction.” This image suggests that we should be open to new experiences and paths, even if they don’t lead us directly to our goals. We should be willing to explore and experiment, to take risks and make mistakes, in order to discover what truly matters to us.
Another key theme of the manifesto is the importance of community and connection. Berry writes, “So, friends, every day do something / that won’t compute… / Love the Lord. / Love the world. / Work for nothing.” Here, he is urging us to prioritize our relationships with others and with the natural world over our own individual desires and ambitions. He is reminding us that we are all interconnected, and that our actions have a ripple effect on others and on the planet as a whole.
The manifesto also emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and independence. Berry writes, “Expect the end of the world. Laugh. / Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful / though you have considered all the facts.” This image suggests that we should be prepared for the worst, but not let fear or despair consume us. We should cultivate a sense of joy and resilience, even in the face of adversity. We should learn to rely on ourselves and our own resources, rather than depending on external sources of validation or security.
Throughout the manifesto, Berry uses language that is both poetic and political. He is not just advocating for a personal lifestyle choice, but for a broader social and environmental movement. He writes, “Practice resurrection: / the outrageous / hope of our / messy / improbable / world.” This image suggests that we should not give up on the world, even when it seems messy and chaotic. We should have faith in the power of life and renewal, and work to create a more just and sustainable future.
In conclusion, “The Mad Farmer Liberation Front” is a powerful and inspiring manifesto that challenges us to rethink our relationship with the natural world, with each other, and with ourselves. It urges us to reject the consumerist mindset that dominates our society, and embrace a simpler, more sustainable way of life. It emphasizes the importance of community, connection, self-reliance, and resilience. And it reminds us that we are all interconnected, and that our actions have a profound impact on the world around us. As we face the challenges of our own time, we would do well to heed Berry’s call to action, and work to create a more just and sustainable world for all.
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