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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
The farmer observes his family through the window, their figures illuminated by the glow of a television—another symbol of modernity that contrasts with the historical depth of their home, with its windows from just after the Civil War. This juxtaposition underscores the generational shifts and the blending of past and present within the family's daily life. As he reflects on the changes in tobacco farming, from the introduction of chemical inhibitors and tractor-drawn harvesters to the unreliability of hired hands, the farmer grapples with the loss of traditional farming practices that were passed down from his father, who was illiterate. The poem touches on the reliance on family and blood kin for the harvest, highlighting the importance of these bonds in the face of an increasingly impersonal agricultural industry. The use of migrants, described as "hard-working, ignorant of the ways of tobacco," points to the broader societal and economic shifts affecting agriculture, where traditional knowledge and practices are being replaced by a more transient and detached labor force. The mention of quotas, declining prices, and the growing awareness of cancer risks associated with tobacco further complicates the farmer's relationship with his livelihood, introducing elements of uncertainty and existential threat to his way of life. As the farmer gazes across the landscape at Antares, a star he does not recognize by name but feels connected to, he experiences a moment of profound isolation and dislocation. This celestial reference serves as a metaphor for the farmer's own place in the world—a world that has become as unfamiliar and distant as the night sky. The light pollution from the yard light and the television, with their blue hues, further emphasizes the alienation from the natural rhythms and cycles that once defined his existence. Through this poignant portrayal of a farmer navigating the complexities of modern agriculture and family life, Applewhite reflects on the broader themes of change, tradition, and the search for identity in a rapidly evolving world. "Wilson County Farmer" is a meditation on the resilience and vulnerability of those who are tethered to the land, as they confront the inevitable transformations brought about by time and technology.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A WINTER PIECE by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE SNOW-SHOWER by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE HEMLOCK by EMILY DICKINSON TO THE MEMORY OF MR. OLDHAM by JOHN DRYDEN HIS REQUEST TO JULIA by ROBERT HERRICK OLD MOTHERS by CHARLES SARSFIELD ROSS REPRESSION OF WAR EXPERIENCE by SIEGFRIED SASSOON |
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