Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Donald Hall’s poem "Goosefeathers" is a nostalgic reflection on a train journey taken during childhood, encapsulating themes of memory, family, and the passage of time. The poem is rich with vivid imagery and details that transport the reader back to a simpler time, evoking a sense of warmth and comfort associated with familial bonds and rural life.

The poem begins with a twelve-year-old boy sitting alone on a "steamliner," equipped with a shoebox of sandwiches and deviled eggs prepared by his mother. This opening scene sets the tone for the journey, emphasizing the care and love of his mother and the boy’s eagerness, as he eats all the food right away. The train heads north along the Sound, passing by trestles of derelict trolley lines that are now home to seagulls. This imagery not only paints a picture of the journey but also hints at themes of abandonment and change.

As the boy arrives at South Station and takes a taxi across Boston, the poem transitions to a description of the next leg of his journey on a "shabby, black locomotive with coal car." The contrast between the sleek steamliner and the rickety coaches pulled by the old locomotive underscores the shift from urban to rural, modern to traditional. The train’s path takes the boy past empty commuter trains, densely packed suburbs, and eventually into the milltowns of Lawrence and Lowell, signifying the progression from city life to the countryside.

The landscape changes as the train curves into New Hampshire’s pastures filled with Holstein cattle, a symbol of the rural life that awaits the boy. His grandfather, waiting in overalls with a horse and buggy at the depot, represents the continuity of family and the pastoral simplicity that contrasts with the industrial backdrop of the earlier part of the journey.

The poem continues with a description of the welcoming farmhouse and a hearty meal of "fricasseed chicken, corn on the cob, and potatoes." These details evoke the sensory pleasures of home-cooked food and the nurturing environment of the farm. The mention of shutting up the chickens from skunk and fox at nine o’clock adds to the rustic charm and the practical realities of farm life.

As the day ends, the boy and his grandfather sit by the cabinet radio to listen to Gabriel Heatter’s booming news of the war. This detail situates the poem in a specific historical context, reminding the reader of the broader world events taking place beyond the tranquility of the farm. The contrast between the warmth and safety of the farmhouse and the grim news of the war highlights the comfort found in familial routines and the innocence of childhood.

The poem concludes with the boy sleeping through the night on his "goosefeather bed," a final image that encapsulates the overall sense of comfort and security. The goosefeather bed, soft and warm, symbolizes the ultimate refuge and the enduring memories of childhood safety and love.

"Goosefeathers" by Donald Hall beautifully captures a moment in time, blending personal memory with rich, evocative imagery. Through the detailed recounting of a train journey and the subsequent arrival at his grandfather’s farm, Hall explores themes of family, nostalgia, and the contrast between urban and rural life. The poem serves as a testament to the enduring power of childhood memories and the simple, profound joys of familial bonds.

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