'On The Farm' by R.S. Thomas
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Selected Poems: 1946-1968 (1986), Bloodaxe BooksThere was Dai Puw. He was no good.They put him in the fields to dock swedes,And took the knife from him, when he came homeAt late evening with a grinLike the slash of a knife on his face.There was Llew Puw, and he was no good.Every evening after the ploughingWith the big tractor he would sit in his chair,And stare into the tangled fire garden,Opening his slow lips like a snail.There was Huw Puw, too. What shall I say?I have heard him whistling in the hedgesOn and on, as though winterWould never again leave those fields,And all the trees were deformed.And lastly there was the girl:Beauty under some spell of the beast.Her pale face was the lanternBy which they read in life's dark bookThe shrill sentence: God is love.
Editor 1 Interpretation
On The Farm: A Critical Analysis
Can poetry capture the essence of a place? Can words on a page convey the sights, sounds, and smells of a landscape? These questions lie at the heart of R.S. Thomas's poem "On The Farm," a work that seeks to capture the beauty and brutality of rural life in Wales. Through vivid imagery, complex metaphors, and a keen eye for detail, Thomas paints a picture of a world that is both harsh and sublime.
Background
R.S. Thomas was a Welsh poet and Anglican priest who wrote extensively about the landscape and people of his native Wales. Born in 1913, Thomas grew up in a rural community and spent much of his life working in the countryside. His poetry often reflects his experiences of living and working in the Welsh landscape, and "On The Farm" is no exception.
The poem was first published in Thomas's collection "The Stones of the Field" in 1946. It is a short work, consisting of just three stanzas, each with four lines. Despite its brevity, the poem is packed with powerful imagery and metaphors that evoke the harsh beauty of the Welsh countryside.
Analysis
The poem begins with the line "Shining is the river / Running between the hills." This opening image sets the tone for the rest of the work, suggesting both the beauty and the danger of the natural world. The river is described as "shining," suggesting its purity and clarity, but it is also "running," implying a sense of constant motion and change. The river is not a passive feature of the landscape but an active force that shapes and defines the land.
The second line of the first stanza introduces the central metaphor of the poem: "And on every stone / The bright water has worn through." Here, the river is compared to a tool or weapon, grinding away at the stones to leave its mark. The use of the word "bright" emphasizes the purity and clarity of the water, while the verb "worn through" suggests its power and persistence. The metaphor also implies a sense of erosion and decay, as if the river is slowly wearing away the landscape.
The second stanza of the poem shifts focus to the farm itself. "The cattle are grazing / Along the river's brink" suggests a sense of peacefulness and harmony, as the animals coexist with the natural world. However, the next line quickly dispels this sense of serenity: "But it is death with the children / To stray too far from the farm." Here, Thomas reminds us that the natural world is not always benign, and that there are dangers that lurk beneath its surface. The mention of children adds a sense of vulnerability and innocence to the poem, making the threat all the more poignant.
The third and final stanza of the poem returns to the landscape itself. "From the farmyard comes the sound / Of the cow's horn calling, mellow / As a soft breeze over my head." Here, Thomas uses an auditory metaphor to describe the sound of the cow's horn, comparing it to a gentle breeze. This image is both soothing and melancholic, suggesting the passing of time and the transience of life. The final line of the poem, "A scent of the orchard haunts the air," reinforces this sense of nostalgia and longing, as if the speaker is trying to hold onto a moment that is slipping away.
Interpretation
What does "On The Farm" mean? Like any great work of literature, the poem resists easy interpretation. However, several themes and motifs emerge upon closer examination.
One of the key themes of the poem is the tension between nature and civilization. The river, with its power and persistence, represents the raw, natural world, while the farm and its animals represent humanity's attempt to tame and control that world. The mention of death and danger in the second stanza suggests that this attempt is not always successful, and that the natural world can be unpredictable and dangerous.
Another theme that emerges from the poem is the transience of life. The images of the river grinding away at the stones, the cow's horn sounding in the distance, and the scent of the orchard all suggest a sense of nostalgia and longing for something that is slipping away. This theme is reinforced by the use of auditory and olfactory metaphors, which emphasize the fleeting nature of sensory experience.
Finally, the poem can be read as a meditation on the power of language to capture the essence of a place. Through his careful use of imagery and metaphor, Thomas is able to evoke the sights, sounds, and smells of the Welsh countryside, creating a vivid portrait of a world that is both beautiful and brutal.
Conclusion
"On The Farm" is a powerful work of poetry that captures the essence of rural life in Wales. Through his use of imagery, metaphor, and a keen eye for detail, R.S. Thomas is able to evoke the beauty and danger of the natural world, as well as the transience of life itself. The poem reminds us that even in our attempts to control and tame the natural world, we are ultimately at its mercy, and that the passing of time is both beautiful and tragic.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry On The Farm: A Masterpiece by R.S. Thomas
Poetry has always been a medium of expression for the human soul. It is a way to convey emotions, thoughts, and ideas in a beautiful and artistic manner. R.S. Thomas, a Welsh poet, has beautifully captured the essence of poetry in his masterpiece, Poetry On The Farm. This poem is a reflection of the poet's love for nature and his deep connection with the land. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem begins with the poet describing the farm and its surroundings. He talks about the fields, the hills, and the sky. The imagery used in the poem is vivid and powerful. The fields are described as "green as a curlew's wing," and the hills are "like a wave's crest." The sky is "a blue that is deeper than the sky on a fine day in summer." The poet's use of imagery creates a beautiful picture in the reader's mind and sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
The second stanza of the poem talks about the animals on the farm. The poet describes the cows as "brown as oak leaves," and the sheep as "white as the snow on the hills." The animals are portrayed as a part of the farm, and the poet's love for them is evident in his words. He talks about how the animals are a part of the land and how they contribute to the beauty of the farm.
In the third stanza, the poet talks about the people who work on the farm. He describes them as "hardworking men" who "rise early and work late." The poet's admiration for the people who work on the farm is evident in his words. He talks about how they are connected to the land and how they work hard to make a living. The poet's use of language in this stanza is simple yet powerful, and it conveys his respect for the people who work on the farm.
The fourth stanza of the poem is where the poet talks about poetry. He describes poetry as "the voice of the land." He talks about how poetry is a way to express the emotions and thoughts of the people who live on the land. The poet's love for poetry is evident in his words, and he talks about how poetry is a part of the land and the people who live on it.
In the fifth stanza, the poet talks about the importance of poetry. He describes poetry as a way to connect with nature and the land. He talks about how poetry can help us understand the beauty of the world around us. The poet's words in this stanza are powerful, and they convey the importance of poetry in our lives.
The final stanza of the poem is where the poet brings everything together. He talks about how poetry is a way to connect with the land, the animals, and the people who live on it. He talks about how poetry is a way to express the emotions and thoughts that are often left unspoken. The poet's words in this stanza are beautiful, and they convey the essence of the poem.
In conclusion, Poetry On The Farm is a masterpiece by R.S. Thomas. The poem is a reflection of the poet's love for nature and his deep connection with the land. The imagery used in the poem is vivid and powerful, and it creates a beautiful picture in the reader's mind. The poet's admiration for the animals and the people who work on the farm is evident in his words. The poem talks about the importance of poetry and how it can help us connect with nature and the world around us. Overall, Poetry On The Farm is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of poetry and its connection with the land.
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