Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Ted Kooser’s poem "Abandoned Farmhouse" is a masterful narrative that uses the physical remnants of a deserted home to tell the story of its former inhabitants. Through a series of personifications, Kooser allows inanimate objects to speak, piecing together a poignant tale of a family’s life and their eventual departure. The poem explores themes of hardship, failure, and the passage of time.

The poem begins by describing the man who lived in the farmhouse: "He was a big man, says the size of his shoes / on a pile of broken dishes by the house." The imagery of the shoes among broken dishes immediately suggests a sense of neglect and disorder. The man’s size and stature are further emphasized by "the length of the bed / in an upstairs room" and his character is hinted at by "the Bible with a broken back / on the floor below the window, dusty with sun." The Bible indicates that he was a "good, God-fearing man," but its broken and dusty state might suggest a lapse in his faith or a life weighed down by burdens.

The poem then shifts to describe the woman: "A woman lived with him, says the bedroom wall / papered with lilacs and the kitchen shelves / covered with oilcloth." The lilac wallpaper and oilcloth-covered shelves indicate her attempts to bring beauty and practicality into their home. Their life together, however, was marked by struggle, as indicated by "the jars of plum preserves / and canned tomatoes sealed in the cellar hole," symbols of frugality and self-sufficiency.

The presence of a child is confirmed by "the sandbox made from a tractor tire." This repurposing of materials for a sandbox reflects both ingenuity and the scarcity of resources. The poem paints a picture of a hard life: "Money was scarce, say the jars of plum preserves," and the cold winters are evidenced by "the rags in the window frames." The isolation of their life is captured by "the narrow country road."

As the poem progresses, it becomes clear that something disrupted this family's life: "Something went wrong, says the empty house / in the weed-choked yard." The abandonment is palpable, with "Stones in the fields" indicating the man’s struggles with farming and the still-sealed jars in the cellar suggesting that the woman left hastily. The scattered toys in the yard—"a rubber cow, / a rusty tractor with a broken plow, / a doll in overalls"—further emphasize the suddenness and the emotional turmoil of their departure.

The repetition of "something went wrong" underscores the mystery and tragedy of the family’s disappearance. The poem leaves much to the imagination, allowing the reader to infer the possible hardships that led to the abandonment. Was it financial ruin, personal strife, or perhaps an external force that drove them away?

Kooser’s use of personification gives voice to the objects, creating a vivid and immersive narrative. The broken dishes, the Bible, the preserves, and the toys all serve as silent witnesses to the lives once lived within the farmhouse. Through this technique, Kooser not only tells a story but also evokes a deep sense of empathy and reflection on the fragility of human existence and the impermanence of our endeavors.

"Abandoned Farmhouse" by Ted Kooser is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of a family’s life and their struggles through the lens of an empty home. It invites readers to consider the stories that lie hidden in everyday objects and the silent testimonies they provide about our lives. The poem’s evocative imagery and narrative depth make it a powerful meditation on loss, memory, and the passage of time.

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